2025 was a year marked by immense uncertainty. Cuts to nutrition assistance and climate smart agriculture programs in the United States, the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and declining Official Development Assistance from countries including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have raised hard questions about what the future holds.

But around the world there is so much resilience and excitement as organizations prove food and agriculture systems can be a solution to our most pressing social and environmental challenges. They are establishing models that nourish children and support local farmers. They are creating more opportunities for women and young farmers to become leaders in their communities. And they are cultivating new and innovative partnerships to fund and scale the solutions already working on the ground.

As we enter 2026, here are 126 organizations and initiatives to learn about, engage with, and support as they work to build a more equitable, regenerative, and delicious future.

1. African Population & Health Research Centre, Kenya

APHRC is an African-founded, African-led research-to-policy institution driving evidence-informed decisions on health and development. Headquartered in Nairobi, they work across 35+ countries to strengthen African research leadership and advance sustainable progress across the continent. They are also behind the award-winning initiative Restoring Nairobi to “A Place of Cool Waters,” to transform Kenya’s capital into a greener, food secure city.

2. Agroecology Fund, International

Since 2011, the Agroecology Fund has pooled resources to strengthen grassroots agroecology movements advancing fair, biodiverse, climate-resilient food systems. Guided by civil society advisors, it supports community-led organizing, learning, and policy advocacy. With US$41 million granted in 100+ countries, the Fund helps build food systems where producers and consumers govern locally—and where agroecology, not industrial agriculture, shapes a just future for people and planet.

3. AKADEMIYA2063, Africa

AKADEMIYA2063 equips African governments with the data, analysis, and technical capacity needed to achieve Agenda 2063’s vision of prosperity and sustainability. Based in Rwanda with a regional office in Senegal, it leads core initiatives to strengthen knowledge systems, empower African experts, and accelerate evidence-based agricultural transformation across the continent. Together with GAIN, they recently launched a toolkit to help governments align policies across sectors to accelerate food systems transformation.

4. Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Africa

AFSA unites a powerful network of 48 member alliances across 50 countries working to secure food sovereignty rooted in agroecology, traditional knowledge, and community rights. Representing small-scale food producers, Indigenous Peoples, and environmental defenders, AFSA amplifies African-driven solutions and resists industrial agriculture that threatens land, culture, and biodiversity—mobilizing a strong, unified voice for just and resilient food systems.

5. American Farmland Trust (AFT), United States

American Farmland Trust is safeguarding the future of U.S. agriculture by protecting farmland, restoring soil health, and keeping farmers on the land. From advancing smart land-use policies to supporting new generations of producers, AFT links food, climate resilience, and rural prosperity. Amid rapid land loss, AFT’s No Farms No Food message continues to spotlight farmland as the foundation of our food system.

6. Annie’s Project, United States

Annie’s Project empowers women farmers, ranchers, and growers with the business skills and confidence needed to lead thriving agricultural operations. Through peer networks, practical training, and locally tailored learning environments, participants strengthen decision-making across financial, legal, and risk-management challenges. Honoring a legacy of women as equal partners on the land, Annie’s Project is helping shape stronger farms, families, and communities.

7. Aragón Agri-Food Institute, Europe

Based at the Aula Dei research campus in Spain, CITA drives scientific innovation to strengthen sustainable agriculture, forestry, and rural economies. Its teams advance agroecology, climate resilience, and the bio- and circular economy through collaborative research and living labs. From conserving genetic resources to improving livestock and plant systems, CITA helps shape a more competitive and sustainable agrifood sector across Europe.

8. Arrell Food Institute, Canada

Based at the University of Guelph, the Arrell Food Institute connects scientists, policymakers, industry, and communities to advance sustainable, equitable food systems. Its work spans reducing waste in supply chains, supporting climate-smart production, and improving nutrition access. Through initiatives like ag-tech innovation and net-zero food system challenges, AFI helps Canada lead in resilient food futures.

9. Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Asia

AFA unites small-scale farmers, fishers, Indigenous Peoples, and pastoralists across Asia to advance food sovereignty and resilient rural livelihoods. Through advocacy, cooperative development, youth engagement, and farmer-to-farmer learning, AFA strengthens secure land rights and agroecological production. With members in 20+ countries, the alliance amplifies community voices in policies that shape a just farming future for the region.

10. Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia

For nearly 60 years, the Australian Conservation Foundation has mobilized people across the country to protect wildlife, forests, rivers, and reefs. From securing World Heritage protection for the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu to advancing clean energy and stronger nature laws, ACF challenges harmful industries and empowers communities—driving bold action so nature and people can thrive together in Australia’s future.

11. Agroecology & Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA), Australia

AFSA is a farmer-led alliance working to democratize Australia’s food system through agroecology, land justice, and First Peoples’ sovereignty. From legal support for smallholders to campaigning for scale-appropriate regulation and local processing infrastructure, AFSA empowers producers and communities to reclaim control of food and land. Connected to La Via Campesina, the Alliance drives policy reform and grassroots solutions for just, local, climate-resilient food systems.

12. Better Food Future, International

Better Food Future brings industry, government, and civil society together to build resilient, transparent, and climate-smart food systems. By aligning sustainability goals with global data standards, the initiative strengthens traceability in seafood and cattle, expands fair market access for small-scale producers, and eliminates deforestation from supply chains—driving measurable progress and shared prosperity from source to shelf.

13. Black Feminist Project, United States

The Black Feminist Project advances food and reproductive justice for Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people in the South Bronx. Through Black Joy Farm, sliding-scale community meals, and youth programs like Guerrilla Girls and Sis, Do You!, the organization combats food apartheid, builds leadership, and cultivates joy and autonomy—placing MaGes and mother-led families at the center of community power.

14. Broadway Green Alliance, United States

The Broadway Green Alliance mobilizes theatre-makers and audiences to shrink the industry’s environmental footprint—from switching 100,000 marquee bulbs to efficient LEDs to diverting tons of textiles and electronics from landfills. With 1,600+ Green Captains on Broadway and campuses nationwide, BGA equips artists with practical sustainability tools and uses the power of storytelling to inspire climate-positive action.

15. Buğday Association, Turkey

Born from a grassroots ecological movement in the 1990s, Buğday Association works to build a culture of ecological living in Turkey. Through projects spanning seed exchange, pesticide-free farming, composting, agroecology education, and Turkey’s 100 percent Ecological Markets, Buğday strengthens links between rural producers and urban consumers while championing nature-friendly production and traditional knowledge.

16. C40 Food Systems, International

Part of a global network of 97 cities, C40 Food Systems helps mayors transform urban food into a powerful climate solution. The program supports cities to cut emissions from production to waste, improve food access and nutrition, and build resilience through circular, plant-forward, and equitable food policies—advancing a fair, green transition that protects people and the planet.

17. CARE International, International and CARE USA, United States

For 80 years, CARE has worked alongside communities to confront crises, defeat poverty, and advance dignity. Centering women and girls, CARE delivers lifesaving assistance, strengthens local leadership, and drives long-term change—from emergency response and food security to health, education, and economic opportunity. In 2024, CARE and partners reached 58.7 million people across 121 countries, proving that hope and equality can thrive even in the hardest places.

18. CGIAR, International

CGIAR is a global research partnership transforming food, land, and water systems through science and innovation. Its network includes the Africa Rice Center, CIFOR, CIMMYT, ICARDA, ICRISAT, IFPRI, IITA, ILRI, CIP, IRRI, IWMI, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICRAF, and WorldFish. Together, these centers advance climate-resilient crops, equitable food policies, regenerative land management, and sustainable aquatic and livestock systems—delivering research and partnerships that strengthen nutrition, farmer livelihoods, and environmental stewardship worldwide.

19. CORAF, West and Central Africa

CORAF unites the agricultural research systems of 23 countries to drive innovation, boost productivity, and strengthen food and nutrition security across West and Central Africa. Through regional centers of excellence, technology scaling, market access initiatives, and policy support, CORAF helps family farmers adopt climate-smart solutions and fosters a future where communities prosper through resilient, competitive, and sustainable agriculture.

20. Charlie Cart Project, United States

With its mobile kitchen classrooms, the Charlie Cart Project brings hands-on food education directly into schools, libraries, and community centers. Their integrated curriculum helps children and adults learn cooking skills, nutrition basics, and the origins of their food. In the last decade, they have reached over 500,000 children and families through our 500 community partners across the country.

21. City Harvest, United States

For more than 40 years, City Harvest has led the food-rescue movement in New York City—recovering over 86 million pounds of surplus food each year and delivering it, free of charge, to 400 pantries, soup kitchens, and Mobile Markets® across all five boroughs. With a focus on fresh produce, culturally responsive foods, nutrition education, and community partnerships, City Harvest fights hunger, reduces waste, and strengthens local food systems so every New Yorker can thrive.

22. Climate Group, International

Climate Group accelerates urgent climate action by mobilizing powerful networks of 500+ multinational companies and 180+ state and regional governments. Working across high-emitting systems—energy, transport, heavy industry, and food—it drives commitments, enforces accountability, and turns ambition into measurable progress. Its global collaborations push organizations to act now and help steer the world toward net-zero by 2050.

23. Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), United States

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a worker-led human rights organization transforming U.S. agriculture through organizing, enforcement, and consumer power. Since 1993, CIW has exposed and helped prosecute major forced-labor rings, liberated over 1,200 workers, and pioneered the Fair Food Program—a worker-driven model that raises wages, prevents abuse, and sets enforceable standards across farms in multiple states and crops.

24. Conflict Cuisine Project, International 

The Conflict Cuisine Project explores the deep links between food and war, using culinary traditions as a lens to understand conflict, diaspora, and peacebuilding. Through gastrodiplomacy, education programs, and collaborations with chefs and policymakers, the project shows how recipes, foodways, and shared meals can foster dialogue, integration, and a more nuanced understanding of global insecurity.

25. Community Kitchen, United States

Community Kitchen is a pilot sliding-scale restaurant at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, where chef Mavis-Jay Sanders serves multi-course, locally sourced, plant-forward dinners priced at US$15, US$45, or US$125 based on income and wealth—no questions asked. Co-founded with Mark Bittman, the project aims to prove that dignified, high-quality dining can be accessible, community-centered, and a model for policy change.

26. Crop Trust, International

The Crop Trust safeguards the world’s crop diversity by funding and strengthening genebanks and backing global seed reserves like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Its Food Forever strategy aims to permanently secure key collections and make them more accessible to researchers and farmers. Through long-term partnerships, technical support, and capacity building, the organization helps ensure agriculture can adapt to climate, conflict, and biodiversity loss.

27. Culinary Institute of America, United States

The Culinary Institute of America prepares future food leaders through its longstanding commitment to excellence, research, and innovation. CIA co-founded and leads the  Menus of Change University Research Collaborative, a worldwide partnership of universities leveraging campus dining to study behavior change and bring plant-forward, climate-smart menu innovation into practice. 

28. Cultivemos Network, United States

Cultivemos—meaning “we cultivate”—links Northeast farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers to mental-health resources, culturally relevant support, and community-driven education. Through partnerships with Farm Aid and others, the network provides bilingual materials, resilience trainings, and a growing service-provider community designed to reduce stress, strengthen well-being, and ensure agricultural families can access the care they need.

29. Dion’s Chicago Dream, United States

Dion’s Chicago Dream advances health equity by redesigning food access through last-mile logistics. Founded in Englewood, the nonprofit delivers fresh, pre-measured produce directly to households through Dream Deliveries, community Dream Fridges, and networked Dream Vaults—collectively providing millions of pounds of healthy food. By pairing nutritional philanthropy with workforce development and neighborhood partnerships, the Dream builds community, stability, and hope across Chicago.

30. Edible Schoolyard Project, United States

The Edible Schoolyard Project, founded by Alice Waters in 1995, transforms public education by integrating organic gardens, kitchens, and cafeterias into academic learning. Its Berkeley demonstration site anchors a national movement where students cook, garden, and study food systems as part of their core curriculum. Through free classroom resources and the Alice Waters Institute, the organization advances edible education, climate action, and community well-being.

31. EAT, International

EAT works at the intersection of science, policy, business, and civil society to accelerate the shift toward healthy, fair, and sustainable food systems. Through science-based initiatives like the EAT–Lancet Commission report, global convenings such as the Stockholm Food Forum, and city-level efforts advancing the Planetary Health Diet, EAT works to transform evidence into collective action and partnerships that support people and the planet.

32. EiT Food, Europe 

EIT Food brings together innovators across Europe to accelerate the shift toward a healthier, more sustainable, and consumer-centered food system. Backed by the EU, it invests in research, education, entrepreneurship, and public engagement to advance three core missions—healthier diets, resilient and transparent supply chains, and a net-zero food system—linking startups, industry, and communities to drive system-wide change.

33. European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA), Europe

The European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture (EARA) is a farmer-led coalition advancing ecological, economic, and social regeneration across Europe’s agrifood system. Rooted in diverse farming contexts, EARA elevates farmer expertise in EU policy and builds broad alliances through its Regenerating Europe Tour—a series of strategic dialogues, farm visits, and workshops across Member States designed to accelerate a soil-centered, regenerative agricultural transition.

34. FAIRR Initiative, International

FAIRR is an investor network mobilizing more than US$90 trillion in assets to address the financial and systemic risks tied to intensive animal agriculture. Through rigorous research, company benchmarking, and coordinated investor engagement, FAIRR equips members to navigate climate, biodiversity, labor, and antimicrobial resistance risks while identifying opportunities across the protein value chain to accelerate a more sustainable and resilient global food system.

35. Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC), United States

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC) is a union and social movement advancing farmworkers’ rights across the Midwest and South. Founded in the 1960s by Baldemar Velásquez, FLOC pioneered tri-party bargaining—bringing corporations, growers, and workers to the same table—to secure fair wages, safer housing, and grievance protections, while mobilizing broad public support to shift power toward those who labor in the fields.

36. Feeding Change, United States

The Milken Institute’s Feeding Change program works to build a more nutritious, sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system by activating the necessary social and financial capital needed to drive this transformation. Some of their recent policy briefs and reports have called for employer-led nutrition strategies, expanded access to pharmacy-based care, and natural capital solutions. 

37. First Nations Development Institute, United States

First Nations Development Institute strengthens the economic, cultural, and ecological well-being of Native communities by supporting Tribal sovereignty and investing in Native-led solutions. Since 1980, its national grantmaking program has directed thousands of awards to projects advancing land stewardship, food systems, economic justice, and Native arts—reinforcing community assets, uplifting Indigenous knowledge, and sustaining self-determined futures across Tribal nations.

38. Food is Medicine Institute, United States

The Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts advances the integration of nutritious food into healthcare by generating evidence, training clinicians, and supporting patient care models such as medically tailored meals, groceries, and produce prescriptions. Through interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and community partnerships, the Institute works to embed FIM into clinical systems, reduce health disparities, and strengthen a more equitable, prevention-focused healthcare system.

39. Food Recovery Network (FRN), United States

Food Recovery Network mobilizes thousands of student leaders, food businesses, and farms to keep surplus food out of landfills and redirect it to community organizations fighting hunger. Launched in 2011 at the University of Maryland, FRN now operates nearly 200 campus and community programs, recovering millions of pounds of fresh food and expanding local food access while reducing waste and emissions nationwide.

40. Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), United States

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) advances policies that ensure every person in the U.S. can access nutritious food. Through research, advocacy, and support for a nationwide network of anti-hunger partners, FRAC strengthens federal nutrition programs, expands benefits, addresses racial inequities, and tackles the root causes of poverty-related hunger to build a healthier, more food-secure nation.

41. Food Security Leadership Council, International

The Food Security Leadership Council unites leaders from science, agriculture, industry, and global development to reimagine U.S. engagement in global food security. Guided by evidence and nonpartisan analysis, the Council elevates the impacts of U.S. policy, advances a strategic blueprint for international action, and convenes emerging leaders to address rising hunger driven by climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.

42. Food Systems for the Future (FSF), International

Food Systems for the Future advances market-based, nutrition-focused solutions to build equitable and sustainable food systems. Led by Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, the organization works across the U.S. and Africa to expand access to affordable, diverse, and nourishing foods through policy engagement, research, coalition-building, and partnerships that strengthen local capacity and drive systemwide change toward a malnutrition-free world.

43. FreshRx Oklahoma, United States

FreshRx Oklahoma partners with local growers and clinicians to help North Tulsa residents manage Type II diabetes with nutrient-dense, regeneratively grown produce and yearlong support. Launched in 2021 after evidence showed food access was undermining diabetes care, the USDA-funded program provides biweekly produce, cooking and nutrition classes, and regular health screenings—advancing health equity through a Food is Medicine model rooted in community.

44. Friends of the Earth, International

Friends of the Earth mobilizes a nationwide network to advance bold, justice-centered environmental action. Since 1969, the organization has pushed for transformative policies that confront the climate and biodiversity crises head-on—rejecting half-measures, challenging corporate power, and championing systemic solutions. Through advocacy, coalition-building, and movement organizing, they work to protect people and the planet while building durable political power for long-term change.

45. Full Plates Full Potential, United States

Full Plates Full Potential works to end childhood food insecurity in Maine by strengthening and expanding the child nutrition programs that reach students every day. The organization helped lead the passage of School Meals for All and continues partnering with schools and communities to ensure every child has reliable access to nutritious meals that support learning, equity, and long-term well-being.

46. Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International

GAIN works to improve access to nutritious, safe, and affordable food by transforming food systems alongside governments, businesses, and civil society. They focus on availability, affordability, desirability, and sustainability of healthy diets—especially for women, children, and other vulnerable groups—through programs that strengthen markets, advance fortification, shape policy, and expand nutrition-focused innovation worldwide.

47. Global Alliance for Latinos in Agriculture (GALA), International

GALA strengthens Latino farmers and ranchers worldwide through regenerative agriculture, conscious capitalism, and alignment with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The organization advances youth leadership, digital and carbon-literacy training, and cross-cultural knowledge exchange to revitalize rural communities, foster family-farm prosperity, and build resilient, sustainability-driven agricultural livelihoods across generations.

48. Global Alliance for the Future of Food, International

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is a coalition of philanthropic foundations working with partners worldwide to accelerate the transition to equitable, climate-resilient food systems. The Alliance advances systems-level solutions by convening diverse actors, generating evidence, and driving collaborative action toward food systems that uphold health, sustainability, and human rights for present and future generations.

49. Global Food Institute (GFI) at GW, United States

The Global Food Institute at George Washington University advances evidence-based solutions across policy, innovation, and community well-being to transform food systems. Through interdisciplinary research, teaching, and convenings, GFI links science to real-world action, shaping how food is grown, distributed, and experienced to improve human and planetary health.

50. Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, United States

Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming advances a resilient regional food system by training the next generation of farmers, promoting regenerative practices, and strengthening fair, community-based markets. Working from the Hudson Valley and sharing lessons nationally, Glynwood aligns ecological stewardship with thriving local economies and equitable access to nutritious food. 

51. Gönül Mutfağı, Turkey

Launched by chefs Türev Uludağ and Ebru Baybara Demir, Gönül Mutfağı served over 17 million meals to earthquake survivors in 2023 through the work of 4,000 volunteers. The initiative strengthens long-term recovery by employing local residents through the From Soil to Plate cooperative and supplying 10,000 breakfasts each day to Hatay students.

52. GrowNYC, United States

Since 1970, GrowNYC has helped New Yorkers access fresh food, vibrant green spaces, and environmental education. Through producer-only Greenmarkets, community garden support, and education programs, the organization uplifts regional farmers and empowers residents—particularly frontline communities—to shape a healthier, more resilient city.

53. Guyra Paraguay, Paraguay

Focused on protecting Paraguay’s natural wealth, Guyra Paraguay brings together civil society, Indigenous communities, farmers, and scientists to conserve species, restore forests, and promote sustainable livelihoods. Through projects in the Atlantic Forest, agroforestry initiatives, and innovative monitoring and climate-finance programs—such as their shade-grown yerba mate program—the organization works to build a resilient landscape for people and wildlife. 

54. Green Bronx Machine, United States

Green Bronx Machine transforms classrooms and communities through a K–12+ model that weaves urban agriculture into core academics. Students grow and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh produce while improving attendance, engagement, and achievement. Through food education, workforce development, and community partnerships, the organization builds healthier schools and stronger, more resilient Bronx neighborhoods—proving that healthy students help grow healthy communities.

55. Good Food Fund, China

Good Food Fund drives China’s transition toward healthier, more sustainable, and more humane food systems. Through chef training, youth programs, policy-aligned partnerships, and the Good Food Summit, GFF advances plant-based innovation and elevates animal welfare. Its Good Food Academy and incubator programs build knowledge and support emerging leaders working to shift production, consumption, and public awareness toward a better food future.

56. Harlem Grown, United States

Harlem Grown cultivates healthy kids and resilient communities by engaging Harlem youth in hands-on urban farming, nutrition, and sustainability education. Since 2011, the organization has expanded access to fresh food and learning opportunities by operating 14 urban agriculture sites, from soil-based farms to hydroponic greenhouses, while mentoring elementary-aged students to become advocates for their health, community, and environment.

57. Helen’s Daughters, Caribbean

Helen’s Daughters strengthens rural women across the Caribbean by using agriculture as a pathway to broader economic and social opportunity. Working at the grassroots level, the organization provides training, mentorship, micro-investment, and market access while advancing gender equity through public advocacy. Their programs—from an all-female agri-apprenticeship to FarmHers Markets—position women farmers as leaders of sustainable development across the region.

58. High Atlas Foundation, Morocco

The High Atlas Foundation advances community-led development across Morocco by helping rural families build sustainable livelihoods rooted in fruit-tree agriculture, clean water access, and women’s empowerment. Through 15 nurseries producing millions of saplings, carbon-offset programs, and post-earthquake recovery, HAF supports communities to restore land, preserve cultural heritage, and create long-term, locally driven pathways to economic resilience.

59. IndigeHub, United States

IndigeHub strengthens Indigenous self-determination by creating shared resource hubs that fuel entrepreneurship, food sovereignty, and community resilience. Through coworking spaces, commercial kitchens, and emerging food hubs, the organization expands access to tools, training, and local markets. Their culturally grounded model reduces barriers on tribal lands, supports small businesses, and equips communities to build sustainable, long-term prosperity.

60. Instituto Regenera, Brazil

Instituto Regenera works to advance regenerative food systems by co-creating applied knowledge that drives transparent, fair, inclusive, and sustainable practices. Rooted in the idea that food is climate, biodiversity, and culture, the organization partners across sectors to strengthen emerging models that restore ecosystems, uplift communities, and embed regeneration at every stage of the food system. During COP30, the organization helped secure a commitment from the Brazilian government to source at least one third of food served at the conference from local family farmers.

61. Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Americas

IICA is the Inter-American System’s specialized agency for agriculture, working with 34 Member States to strengthen rural well-being and agricultural development. Through technical cooperation spanning innovation, family farming, trade, digitalization, and agricultural health, IICA supports countries in building competitive, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems resilient to climate shocks and aligned with long-term regional development goals.

62. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Africa

icipe advances insect science for sustainable development across Africa, pioneering environmentally safe tools to manage pests and disease vectors while conserving biodiversity. Through its 4Hs approach—Human Health, Animal Health, Plant Health and Environmental Health—the Centre strengthens food security, rural livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience. As the continent’s only international arthropod research institution, it also builds scientific capacity through extensive training and partnerships.

63. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International

IFAD works to end rural poverty by investing in small-scale farmers and strengthening food systems. A U.N. agency and international financial institution, it provides grants and low-interest loans that expand market access, boost production, and build climate resilience. IFAD’s people-centered approach ensures women, youth, and Indigenous communities shape and benefit from rural transformation.

64. International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), International

IPES-Food unites 25 leading researchers and practitioners to accelerate food system transformation. From analyzing power dynamics to proposing concrete policy reforms, the panel produces influential reports and builds alliances that center equity, sustainability, and health. Rooted in science and informed by frontline realities, IPES-Food provides a clear roadmap for fixing failing food and agriculture systems.

65. International Potato Center, International

Headquartered in Lima, Peru, the International Potato Center (CIP) supports science-based solutions to improve root and tuber agri-food systems. They do this to ultimately enhance nutrition security, support sustainable business, and improve communities’ livelihoods. CIP leads the project Lima 2035, which aims to make the city of Lima’s food and agriculture systems regenerative and human-centered.

66. James Beard Foundation (JBF), United States

The James Beard Foundation strengthens the independent restaurant sector by recognizing excellence and equipping chefs and culinary leaders to drive a more equitable, sustainable food system. Through its awards, training programs, and national initiatives, JBF champions Good Food for Good—supporting an industry that enriches American culture and empowers the people who shape our food future.

67. John Hopkins University Center for Health Security and Center for a Livable Future, United States

At Johns Hopkins University, the Centers for Health Security and a Livable Future are working to reshape our systems in support of human and planetary health. The Center for Health Security works to protect communities from epidemics, biological threats, and public health emergencies while the Center for a Livable Future (CLF) advances alternatives to industrial food systems. CLF also recently launched a program to support the next generation of food and agriculture journalists. 

68. Kiss the Ground, United States

Kiss the Ground advances the regenerative movement by elevating healthy soil as a solution for human and planetary well-being. Through films, digital storytelling, education, and direct farmer support, the organization has inspired millions and helped transition more than two million acres toward regenerative agriculture—mobilizing public awareness toward a tipping point for systems-scale change.

69. La Via Campesina, International

Formed in 1993, La Via Campesina brings together 200 million small-scale food producers in 81 countries to defend land, water, seeds, and territory. The movement centers food sovereignty—healthy, culturally rooted food produced sustainably—and trains members in agroecology and peasant feminism. Its sustained mobilization shaped major global governance spaces, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants.

70. Local2030 Islands Network (L2030IN), International

This global network amplifies the leadership of island communities working toward the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Members share knowledge, strengthen public-private partnerships, and implement initiatives in support of a circular economy to create solutions that are locally driven and culturally informed.

71. McKnight Foundation, United States

The McKnight Foundation is working toward a more just and creative future through investments that celebrate culture bearers, strengthen farmer-centered agroecological research, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and more. Taking a silo-breaking approach, they also blend their program areas to bring food and the arts together. 

72. Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, International

Launched in 2015, the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact unites over 250 cities in a mayor-led commitment to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban food systems. As the leading global framework for municipal food policy, the Pact drives action through a shared 37-point agenda, peer learning, capacity building, and annual Milan Pact Awards showcasing innovative city solutions.

73. Naandi Foundation, India

The Naandi Foundation works across 438 districts in 21 states of India to create a better future for farmers and girls. In support of farmers, the organization encourages knowledge-sharing and the use of sustainable agricultural inputs, finding innovative ways to bring a regenerative and profitable agriculture system. Their goal in the coming years is to support 10 million girls with schooling and employment and 100 million farmers by planting 1 billion trees.

74. National Farm to School Network, United States

The National Farm to School Network builds equitable farm to school systems that support children, farmers, and communities. Through policy leadership, hands-on training, and a nationwide coalition spanning all 50 states, NFSN helps schools serve local food, integrate gardens and food education, and strengthen regional economies—advancing a vision of a racially just and community-driven food system.

75. National Farm Worker Ministry, United States

The National Farm Worker Ministry brings together denominations, congregations, and advocates to back campaigns led by farm workers seeking fair pay, safe conditions, and basic rights. Grounded in faith and racial justice, NFWM organizes actions, educates supporters, and builds solidarity networks that help transform the systems shaping life and labor in U.S. agriculture.

76. National Farmers Union, United States

The National Farmers Union (NFU) represents more than 220,000 family farmers and ranchers, advancing policies rooted in grassroots decision-making. NFU works to strengthen rural economies through farmer-driven advocacy, cooperative solutions, and education, promoting fair markets, resilient communities, and a future where family agriculture can thrive. In response to the increase in political and economic uncertainty farmers are facing in the last year, NFU has continued fighting to put growers first. 

77. National Young Farmers Coalition, United States

The National Young Farmers Coalition is a farmer-led network shifting power and transforming federal policy to equitably resource a new generation of growers. The Coalition centers BIPOC leadership and organizes young farmers nationwide to secure land access, climate resilience, and structural change so farming can remain viable, just, and community-rooted.

78. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), International

Since 1970, NRDC has paired legal action, scientific expertise, and grassroots advocacy to safeguard people and the planet. With offices across the U.S. and in Beijing, its attorneys, scientists, and policy experts tackle climate pollution, toxic exposures, biodiversity loss, and environmental inequity while advancing durable protections for communities and ecosystems.

79. New York Botanical Garden, United States

Each year the New York Botanical Garden reaches tens of thousands of families through exhibitions, botanical experiences, art, music, and events. Their scientists work around the world to find actionable, nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity loss crises, striving to create a green future for all. 

80. Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation, United States

Rooted in Niman Ranch’s commitment to smaller-scale, humane farming, the Next Generation Foundation supports young producers through scholarships and targeted grants. With over US$2 million distributed since 2006, the Foundation helps new farmers pursue education, adopt regenerative methods, expand their operations, and build resilient rural livelihoods.

81. North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS), North America

Founded by Chef Sean Sherman, North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) is rebuilding a regional Indigenous food system through education, enterprise, and access. From its Minneapolis-based Indigenous Food Lab—combining a professional kitchen, market, and training center—NATIFS supports tribal communities in restoring Native foodways, expanding Indigenous culinary businesses, and advancing Indigenous food sovereignty across North America.

82. NOW Partners Foundation, International

For over three decades, NOW Partners Foundation has collaborated with businesses, investors, and institutions to advance regenerative land use, equitable leadership, and new industry logics. Their global partnership guides companies through transitions that integrate profitability with positive impact, demonstrating how Regenerative Value Creation can scale solutions that restore ecosystems, strengthen communities, and build resilient economies.

83. ONE Campaign, International

The ONE Campaign unites activists, data experts, and trusted messengers to influence global decision-makers and secure investments that strengthen opportunity and health across Africa. Strictly nonpartisan and independently funded, ONE pairs hard evidence with public pressure to drive lasting policy change—amplifying millions of voices for a world where dignity and equity are shared by all.

84. One Fair Wage, United States

One Fair Wage unites service workers, employers, and allies to confront the legacy of subminimum pay and win lasting wage justice. By driving research, mobilizing voters, and advancing bold state and local reforms, the organization works to guarantee every worker—tipped, gig, youth, disabled, or incarcerated—a full, fair minimum wage with tips as a true supplement.

85. OzHarvest, Australia

Australia’s largest food-rescue network, OzHarvest saves quality surplus food from thousands of donors and delivers it free to charities nationwide—over 300 million meals so far. Alongside rescue, they run national education programs, innovate with projects like OzHarvest Market and Refettorio, and push for systemic change to halve food waste and strengthen food security.

86. Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), East, Central, and Southern Africa

PELUM unites civil society organizations from 12 African countries to scale ecological land-use management with smallholder farmers. Founded in 1995, the network drives agroecology training, collaborative learning, and farmer-centered advocacy, expanding sustainable practices and strengthening food sovereignty. Its regional chapters support programs that improve livelihoods while regenerating ecosystems and boosting community resilience.

87. Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN), International

PAN is a global medical nonprofit working to reduce diet-related deaths by making nutrition central to clinical practice. Through medical education, hospital partnerships, and national branches across four continents, PAN equips health professionals to champion healthy, sustainable diets and drive food-system changes that address chronic disease, climate impacts, and pandemic risk.

88. Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), United States

PFI is a farmer-led network advancing resilient agriculture in Iowa. Members—conventional and organic, large and small—share knowledge through field days, research trials, and peer learning to strengthen stewardship, profitability, and community well-being. United by a land ethic and a commitment to welcoming all, PFI helps farmers build operations grounded in sustainability and shared experience.

89. Project Dandelion, International

Project Dandelion is a women-led global campaign uniting movements, leaders, and communities to demand a climate-safe world. Rooted in climate justice, it mobilizes millions to act, elevates women’s leadership, and advances seven core demands—from ending fossil fuel subsidies to scaling fair, renewable energy—building a powerful, shared symbol for urgent, collective action.

90. Project Drawdown, United States

Project Drawdown is an independent nonprofit advancing bold, science-based climate solutions. Through cutting-edge research, strategic engagement with policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, and powerful storytelling, it shifts resources and public narratives toward effective action. Its work guides climate strategies worldwide, elevating solutions that cut emissions, protect ecosystems, and expand human well-being.

91. ProVeg International, International

ProVeg International accelerates food-system transformation by replacing animal products with plant-based and cultivated alternatives. Active across five continents and holding consultative and observer status with key UN agencies, ProVeg works with companies, investors, and communities to tackle climate, health, and hunger challenges through diet change—aiming to halve global animal-product consumption by 2040.

92. Rainforest Alliance, International

Working across over 60 countries, the Rainforest Alliance mobilizes market power and community leadership to protect forests, restore biodiversity, and improve rural livelihoods. Its global alliance advances regenerative production, responsible sourcing, and climate action, ensuring that farmers, companies, and consumers all contribute to—and benefit from—a future where people and nature thrive in balance.

93. ReFED, United States

ReFED uses data, research, and cross-sector partnerships to drive measurable impact on food loss and waste. In collaboration with the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC), they are working with foodservice operators to repurpose surplus food and reduce food waste across college campuses. Their recent toolkit is now helping more chefs implement solutions in their own dining halls. 

94. Regen Places Network, Australia

Across Australia, the Regen Places Network brings communities together to combat people’s disconnection from the environment and one another by developing climate-smart, place-based food and land use strategies. By 2030, they aim to develop 2,030 leaders committed to restoring ecosystems and building resilient food systems, who will make up a far-reaching network of conveners and communities.

95. Regen10, International

Designed as a global multi-stakeholder platform, Regen10 is working to mobilize farmers, companies, researchers, and governments to scale regenerative agriculture. The initiative works to transform how food is produced by improving soil health, strengthening livelihoods, and advancing climate-resilient systems. 

96. Resilient Cities Network, International

Resilient Cities Network works with nearly 100 cities in over 40 countries around the world to future-proof urban centers. Their work is organized around three pillars—climate resilience, circularity, and equity—as they bring together global knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to support member cities.

97. Rodale Institute, United States

For decades, the Rodale Institute has pioneered research in organic agriculture research, education, and farmer training. Their long-term field trials provide some of the world’s most influential data on soil health and climate impacts. The organization continues to expand knowledge and support farmers transitioning to regenerative organic methods.

98. Rooted East, United States

Rooted East, a Black-led food collective is fighting food apartheid and working to advance food justice in East Knoxville, Tennessee. Their recent documentary “Roots of Resilience” tells the story of the organization and how they’re using garden education and land partnerships to create a self-sustaining food system.

99. Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), India

In the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Ryss is working alongside farmers to scale the adoption of chemical-free, climate-resilient farming practices. After demonstrating success in India, Ryss collaborated with NOW Partners to bring the model to communities in Zambia. Projects are also underway in Sri Lanka, and Brazil, with nine additional countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have been identified for future implementation as funding is secured.

100. Salesian Sisters’ Valponasca Learning Farm, Zambia

The Salesian Sisters’ Valponasca Learning Farm provides hands-on agricultural education to promote regenerative practices while empowering women and youth. Together with Rythu Sadhikara Samstha and NOW Partners, they are working to facilitate a pilot project that adapts the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming model to the local environment.

101. Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, International

Active in more than 60 countries, the SUN Movement works with governments to prioritize nutrition in national policies and investments. It unites civil society, donors, and the private sector to strengthen systems that support maternal and child health. The movement accelerates coordinated action to end malnutrition in all its forms.

102. SDG2 Advocacy Hub, International

The SDG2 Advocacy Hub drives coordinated global action to achieve SDG2—ending hunger, advancing food security and nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030. Bringing together NGOs, civil society, UN agencies, and private-sector partners, the Hub strengthens campaigns, supports country-level efforts, and equips advocates with shared tools to maximize collective influence across the Global Goals.

103. Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India

Founded by Elaben Bhatt in 1972, SEWA represents 3.2 million self-employed women across India’s informal economy. As the country’s largest women-led trade union, SEWA advances full employment and self-reliance by organizing workers, strengthening cooperatives, expanding social protections, and building women-owned enterprises that enhance economic security and collective bargaining power.

104. Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Development at the Base (Asprodeb), Africa

Established in 1995, Asprodeb advances sustainable rural development in Senegal by equipping farmer organizations with technical support, professional training, and financial management tools. Born from collaboration between government and peasant movements, it helps family farms strengthen their services, implement development programs, and build productive partnerships across the agricultural sector.

105. Sicangu Food Sovereignty Initiative, United States

Based on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, this initiative works to restore traditional food systems and strengthen community health. Programs include seed saving, gardening, and educational workshops that reconnect youth and families to cultural food practices. Their work centers Indigenous knowledge as a foundation for food sovereignty and resilience.

106. Slow Food International, International and Slow Food USA, United States

Slow Food promotes local, sustainable, and culturally meaningful food systems around the globe. From grassroots chapters in the U.S. to international networks, the organization supports farmers, chefs, and communities in preserving biodiversity and culinary traditions in an effort to champion good, clean, and fair food for all.

107. Solid’Africa, Rwanda

Solid’Africa aims to empower smallholder farmers in Rwanda to access markets, improve yields, and adopt more sustainable practices. The organization offers free medically tailored meals to patients in public hospitals and delivers affordable, nutritious meals to students in public schools. Their approach prioritizes local sourcing from smallholder farmers, and they operate clean cooking kitchens to create a healthier food ecosystem. 

108. Soul Fire Farm, United States

Located in Upstate New York, Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm and training center working to end racism and advance food sovereignty. Their programs include farm tours, multi-day immersive programs for growers of Black, Indigenous, and Latine heritage, and youth-focused workshops. 

109. Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, United States

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation works with young eaters to encourage healthy habits that will stay with them throughout their lifetimes. By partnering and investing in nutrition education and hands-on gardening programming, they support efforts that teach children how to grow and prepare nutritious food while making connections between what they eat and the natural environment. 

110. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, United States

Stone Barns Center is a nonprofit farm and educational hub dedicated to regenerative agriculture and local food systems. Visitors and participants learn sustainable farming practices, nutrition, and culinary skills through hands-on experiences. The center serves as a model for farming that nourishes people and the planet.

111. Sustainable Food Trust, United Kingdom

Sustainable Food Trust works to accelerate the transition to sustainable food and farming systems for the benefit of climate, nature and health. Their focus areas include sustainable livestock, a food secure Britain, measuring sustainability, true cost accounting, supporting local abattoirs. 

112. Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, United States

The Swette Center takes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to facilitate research, education, public engagement, community-strengthening and policy reform in support of sustainable food systems. Their strategic priorities include cultivating the next generation of leaders, advancing organic research and policy, enabling true cost accounting of food, empowering Indigenous foodways, and engaging the private sector.  

113. Terepeza Development Association, Ethiopia

Working across rural Ethiopia, Terepeza Development Association supports smallholder farmers through programs in climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods, and community development. Their initiatives help families build resilience to drought and food insecurity while improving soil and water management. The organization also invests in youth and women’s empowerment to strengthen long-term sustainability.

114. The Common Market, United States

By connecting regional farmers with institutions like schools and hospitals, The Common Market strengthens local economies and expands access to nutritious, sustainably grown food. By advancing forward purchasing commitments for small and mid-scale farms, the organization hopes to rebuild regional food systems in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Texas, and Great Lakes region of the U.S.

115. The Land Institute, International

The Land Institute is reimagining how grains can be grown in harmony with ecosystems. Their work on crops like Kernza aims to reduce soil erosion, improve biodiversity, and cut carbon emissions. Through science, partnerships, and global advocacy, they hope to advance a regenerative future for agriculture systems.

116. The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, International

Focused on the intersection of data, technology, and social impact, the Patrick J. McGovern foundation supports initiatives that strengthen climate resilience, food security, and community well-being. Their investments help organizations scale digital tools that improve agricultural forecasting, resource management, and humanitarian response. 

117. The Rockefeller Foundation, United States

For more than a century, The Rockefeller Foundation has worked to advance global health and food and nutrition security. Through investments in regenerative school meals, they are working to scale regenerative agriculture, connect students to healthy food, and improve educational outcomes. And with their Food is Medicine work, they are supporting programs and research to better understand the potential of produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals, or healthy grocery programs.

118. UJAMAA Cooperative Farming Alliance (UCFA), United States

UCFA works to bring greater diversity and equity to the seed supply by supporting BIPOC growers and connecting them with buyers seeking culturally significant crops. The Alliance strengthens markets for heritage varieties while investing in farmer training and cooperative development. Their efforts help preserve biodiversity and uplift historically marginalized growers.

119. United Nations System, International

The U.N. System includes principal bodies, specialized agencies, funds, and programs working to improve food and agriculture systems, protect the environment, better health outcomes, and promote gender equity. These institutions include U.N. Development Programme, U.N. Environment Programme, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and FAO North America, U.N. Global Compact, UN Women, the U.N. World Food Programme and World Food Program USA, and the World Health Organization.

120. Urban Growers Collective, United States

Urban Growers Collective operates sustainable urban farms across Chicago, using food production as a vehicle for community empowerment. Centering racial equity, they provide job training, youth leadership programs, and food access initiatives that center. Their work helps strengthen local food systems while supporting health and economic opportunity.

121. Wellness in the Schools, United States

Wellness in the Schools partners works to improve students’ health. By partnering with public schools, chefs, and coaches, they aim to shift the culture of schools to prioritize well-being. Over the last year, the organization has gathered leaders in the food and agriculture policy sphere to develop recommendations to guide the Trump-Vance administration’s overhaul of school meals.  

122. Wholesome Wave, United States

Wholesome Wave works to make fruits and vegetables more affordable for families experiencing food insecurity. Through nutrition incentive programs and produce prescriptions, they help households access healthier food while supporting local farmers. 

123. Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA), United States

Through training, education, and advocacy, WANDA is cultivating a thriving community of Black women leaders across food and agriculture systems. They hope to see more women and girls gain the skills they need to improve their lives and transform their communities from farm to health.

124. World Central Kitchen (WCK), International

In moments of disaster and crisis, WCK, founded by Chef José Andrés, delivers fresh, culturally relevant meals to those who need them most. In the last year, WCK has provided food to communities affected by war and natural disaster, including in Palestine, Ukraine, Haiti, and the Philippines.

125. World Resources Institute (WRI), International

The World Resources Institute works to advance sustainable development through rigorous research and partnerships across government, business, and civil society. They serve as the Secretariat, founding member, and core partner of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), which works to rewire food systems to solve the climate crisis. 

126. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International

WWF is dedicated to conserving biodiversity, addressing the climate crisis, and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. Recognizing the impact that industrialized food and agriculture systems have on the environment, they work to create more regenerative and efficient production systems while encouraging dietary shifts among eaters. 

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Our ocean holds tremendous potential for sustainable food production. Despite covering more than 70 percent of the planet, less than five percent of the ocean is currently used to produce food. With responsible management, it could provide more than six times the nutrition it does now. As land-based agriculture faces increasing pressures of limited water, constrained land, and rising emissions, blue foods and aquaculture offer a critical way forward—they can produce more nutrient-dense calories with fewer environmental impacts.

Farmed salmon has emerged as a cornerstone species of modern aquaculture—a clear example of how an industry can combine deep scientific expertise with emerging technologies to continually adapt and improve. From advanced monitoring systems to new feed ingredients and welfare-focused husbandry, the sector is leveraging innovation to enhance its nutritional value while steadily reducing its footprint. It is not without challenges, but it has progressed significantly from where it began and is evolving faster than many people realize.

Critics sometimes portray salmon farming and ocean conservation as opposing forces. But they are interconnected. The success of coastal communities and aquaculture farmers both depend upon healthy marine ecosystems. Our member companies are committed to investing in innovation, advocating for strong effective regulatory frameworks and partnering with communities, scientists and NGOs to elevate environmental and social standards to ensure the industry continues to play its role in ensuring a responsible blue economy.

The sector’s progress is guided not only by technology and expertise, but also by rigorous collaboration with scientific bodies and independent certification programs. Frameworks such as third-party environmental standards, welfare protocols, and ecosystem monitoring requirements create clear boundaries and roadmaps for responsible production. Many of these standards are tightly linked to broader marine ecosystem management setting limits on site impacts, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring farms operate within the ecological capacity of local waters. These guidelines are continually reviewed, strengthened, and updated as new science emerges, ensuring that farmed salmon producers are consistently held to evolving best practices and measurable performance benchmarks. This ongoing cycle of assessment and improvement helps drive the industry toward higher levels of transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

At the recent EAT Stockholm Food Forum, leaders from across food systems including farmers, Indigenous communities, researchers, chefs, and business leaders came together to advance a healthier, more equitable food future. Salmon farming was part of that dialogue, sharing how ocean-based food production can model responsible innovation and climate resilience.

Outdated assumptions shouldn’t hold back progress. Like every form of food production, salmon farming still faces challenges and must continue to improve. But today’s responsible aquaculture shows that sustainability, innovation, and animal welfare can align, delivering nutritious, low-impact food while safeguarding ocean health.

When we look closely, we see a story of possibility: an industry in evolution constantly learning, adapting and improving. Farmed salmon is helping redefine what responsible food production can be, nourishing people while protecting the planet.

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The post Op-Ed | Seeing Aquaculture Clearly: Why it’s Time to Update Our Perceptions of Salmon Farming appeared first on Food Tank.

In a small tilapia farm in Honduras, fish mortality once reached nearly 100 percent during the warm season due to a bacterial outbreak. That changed when Jeffry Palma, an aquaculture specialist from Cargill, worked with CARE and local farmers to introduce a targeted vaccine, along with instruction in disease prevention and pond management. Jeffry helped secure the vaccine from a trusted supplier and led hands-on training with farmers on how to administer it safely and effectively.

The result? Mortality rates dropped to just 2 percent, and communities began to see a path toward greater food security and resilience.

This kind of quiet transformation—powered by cross-sector collaboration and technical innovation—is taking place in food and agriculture systems around the world. And in a year like 2025, that progress matters more than ever.

We’re just five years from the target date of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The world is behind where it needs to be—but progress is happening in places where collaboration unlocks new potential.

At Cargill, we believe that innovation at scale drives lasting impact. It’s not about disruption for disruption’s sake. It’s about advancing practical solutions that work for farmers, improve social and environmental outcomes, and move the entire system forward.

Cargill’s crop innovation scientists are working every day to improve plant genetics, defend crops from disease, and pioneer new functional traits—helping farmers grow more resilient plants to feed a growing global population. They are among the many research and development experts at Cargill helping create a stronger food system. This includes, for example, producing stevia through fermentation in a way that reduces land-use-related impacts by 96 percent, water use by 97 percent, and the carbon footprint by 81 percent compared to conventional sugar.

We’re also eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs) from all our edible oils—including in markets without regulation—and earned the #1 global ranking from the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) for doing so.

Finally, we see a lot of potential by working with TREES Consulting to create and publish the first Gold Standard-approved methodology for using feed supplements to reduce methane emissions in beef production.

In all of these ventures, it’s collaboration—especially with farmers and partners—that turns scientific advances into real-world progress. Importantly, we recognize that farmers are some of the most innovative and knowledgeable stakeholders in food and agriculture systems. Whether adopting new technologies, integrating regenerative practices from cover crops to agroforestry, or navigating supply chain pressures, their ingenuity is critical to building a more resilient agricultural future.

In Honduras and Guatemala, our partnership with CARE has helped smallholder producers adopt biodigesters that generate biogas and organic fertilizer—reducing emissions and helping participating households transition away from firewood and synthetic fertilizers. As Maria Pereira, a farmer from the community of El Bejuco, shared: “I no longer think about going for firewood, I just turn on the gas and the fire is already working.” This shift has freed up time that Maria now uses to run a food business in her community, improving her family’s income and independence.

In the United States, our Success from the Ground Up program supports state and local organizations that bring regenerative agriculture education directly to farmers. The program provides small and mid-sized grants to farmer networks, soil health coalitions, universities, and conservation groups—enabling on-the-ground innovation through regional roadshows, mobile apps, peer learning cohorts, and multimedia tools. These efforts are designed to meet farmers where they are, helping them build confidence and capacity to implement regenerative practices that work for their operations.

This farmer-first approach extends across our global partnerships. In early 2025, Bathiar Dollah, a farmer and community leader in Malaysia, was invited to join Solidaridad’s Smallholder Support Programme, an initiative supported by Cargill. Reflecting on the experience, he shared: “We learned about farm management, techniques for fertilization, prevention of Ganoderma [a harmful fungus], and much more. I think the programme is really good for us.”

Through this initiative, more than 800 smallholders have been trained in sustainable practices like better pruning, harvesting, and nutrient management—resulting in a 13.7 percent average yield increase among closely monitored participants. Bathiar is now applying these learnings on his own farm and sharing them with others in his community, demonstrating how farmer-focused partnerships can scale impact across regions.

We know the private sector alone can’t transform the food system. But we also know that this transformation cannot happen without business at the table. The future of our food system depends on more of us coming together to test, scale, and invest in solutions that nourish people and the planet.

It’s time to reinvent, redefine, and reimagine what’s possible—together.

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There are several reasons seafood is often overlooked. First, there’s an awareness gap: unlike commodities like corn, soy, beef, pork, or chicken, seafood comes in thousands of species, harvested wild or farmed in ecosystems across the globe. Seafood is the last category of commercially available food where half of the source comes from the wild. Most foods we eat today are farmed. Policymakers and investors may see this diversity as too complex to package into a single solution.

Second, misperceptions linger. Concerns about mercury, overfishing, and bycatch often overshadow the fact that 80-90 percent of grocery retailers in the United States already have sustainable seafood policies in place, and that aquaculture is now the fastest-growing food production sector worldwide. Meanwhile, strong scientific evidence shows that the health benefits of eating seafood far outweigh potential risks. A recent landmark commentary published in Neurotoxicology by an international panel of leading scientists outline how current fish consumption advice may limit children’s full neurodevelopmental potential.

Third, there’s the issue of policy fragmentation. Land-based agriculture is mostly consolidated and represented by strong federal programs, while seafood sits at the intersection of agriculture, commerce, risk management, and natural resources agencies. With no single champion, seafood gets sidelined in high-level food systems discussions.

Leaving seafood out of the future of food equation is a mistake. For one, seafood provides a nutritional profile unmatched by land-based proteins. Fish and shellfish are the richest dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. These key nutrients are essential for brain development, heart health, and mental wellness. Mothers who eat seafood during pregnancy have babies with higher IQ. Adequate omega-3 intake reduces preterm birth risk by two-thirds and lowers cardiovascular disease risk by up to 50 percent.

Seafood is also a climate-smart food. Many seafood species have a fraction of the carbon footprint of land-based protein. Shellfish like mussels and oysters help clean the water where they grow, providing ecosystem services while feeding people. As the world seeks lower-carbon diets, seafood should be a go-to solution.

And from a food security perspective, the ocean is a vast, underutilized resource. The Blue Food Assessment, a global scientific collaboration, has shown that sustainable expansion of aquatic foods could significantly improve nutrition security without overshooting environmental boundaries. In a world expected to reach nearly 10 billion people by 2050, we cannot afford to leave this potential food solution untapped.

So how do we make sure seafood gets a seat at the table in future food systems planning? A few clear steps can help:

We need to integrate seafood into national dietary guidelines and public health campaigns. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend eating seafood twice a week, yet 90 percent of Americans fall short. Emphasize public health messaging, available on Seafood Nutrition Partnership’s website, including seafood’s role in preventing chronic disease and supporting cognitive development.

It is necessary to ensure seafood is part of global food security convenings. When governments, philanthropies, investors, and NGOs gather to talk about the “future of food,” seafood must be on the agenda. Seafood and blue food should not be an afterthought; they should be front and center.

In addition, we need to build a bridge of understanding between agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture. Develop shared language and principles for producing food on land and water sustainably in food systems planning. Some early promising work in this arena has begun at Walton Family Foundation.

The government needs to invest in seafood infrastructure. Building stronger domestic supply chains, both wild-capture and aquaculture, will reduce reliance on imports, create jobs, and strengthen food systems resilience.

And we need to correct the narrative on sustainability and safety. Policymakers and the public need to understand that most seafood available today in the U.S. is responsibly managed and safe to eat, and that great progress has been made in the last 20 years and continues rapidly in improving practices.

The truth is simple—what we eat matters for our health, our economy, and our planet. Seafood is not just another food group; it is an essential pillar of a resilient food system. Excluding seafood from discussions about the future of food is not only shortsighted, but also dangerous.

As leaders debate how to nourish billions more people in a warming world, they must recognize seafood’s unique role in delivering nutrition, supporting livelihoods, and protecting ecosystems.

If we want healthier children, stronger communities, and a food system that can stand the test of time, it’s time to bring seafood fully into food systems conversations.

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This sort of treatment violates most people’s expectations for humane handling of farmed animals, including fish. Recent surveys show that an overwhelming share of residents in the United Kingdom, nine countries across the European Union, and the United States believe that farmed fishes should have strong welfare protections and want to buy fishes raised humanely.

The stakes of meeting society’s expectations are high—on multiple fronts.

Aquaculture raises a staggering number of individual animals for human consumption. Unlike farmed land animals, production of farmed aquatic animals is reported in tonnage, i.e., weight of the animals, rather than in number of individuals. Based on tonnage reported by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), recent estimates suggest that the world farmed between 250 and 408 billion individuals—including 59 to 129 billion vertebrates, like fishes—in 2018. By comparison, the world slaughtered 78 billion land animals that same year.

In addition, the individuals raised in aquaculture represent a wide range of species that, in most cases, humans have only recently started to farm. According to the FAO, 530 animal species have been produced in aquaculture since 1950 as of 2022, spanning fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, marine invertebrates, frogs, and turtles. Industry brought most of these animals under human control only in the last few decades, an exponential rate of attempted domestication. In contrast, the roughly 20 species in terrestrial animal agriculture were domesticated thousands of years ago.

Also, attempting to farm so many species so quickly has come at a high cost to the animals. Every species has unique and specialized welfare needs—specific conditions required for their biological, behavioral, and emotional well-being. Moreover, certain traits, like having involved parental care or courtship rituals, are particularly difficult to satisfy in farming systems. Recent work has shown that approximately one-third of the species in aquaculture have traits that place them at high welfare risk.

Among these species are the red swamp crayfishes, who care for their young for a three to four months and actively search for them if separated, and the bumphead parrotfishes, who live for up to 40 years and gather in the hundreds under the full moon to spawn. It’s easy to see how restrictive farming systems, optimized for production, are inherently at odds with these animals’ basic needs and well-being.

Exacerbating these welfare risks is the dearth of specific information about aquacultured animals’ welfare needs. Humans have had thousands of years to develop understanding of farmed land animals’ basic needs, but mere decades—or less—to do so with most aquatic species. A 2021 assessment of the scientific welfare literature for farmed aquatic animals revealed that species-specific information was available for only 84 species, about one-third of individuals farmed. For 231 farmed species—128-183 billion animals, nearly half of those raised in aquaculture—there were no welfare publications at all. This isn’t an animal welfare knowledge gap. It’s a Grand Canyon.

Even when welfare harms are documented, they are seldom recognized as harms in the scientific literature. In a recent paper, we identified four types of harms driven by aquaculture, collectively termed “dewilding”: environmental degradation, harms to wildlife, captivity effects, and changes in humans’ perceptions of the nonhuman world. Across nearly 800 scientific papers documenting dewilding, harms to captive animals were most frequently documented. Yet they were also rarely acknowledged as harms. Some studies, for example, described disease prevalence on farms and infection characteristics—without noting their associated welfare impacts. This finding signals a deeper issue. It’s not just that aquaculture raises many species with welfare risks and without welfare information; the scientific literature and attendant discourse can fail to recognize animal suffering even when it’s visible.

Aquaculture also changes the animals themselves. Animals like Atlantic salmon are selectively bred to maximize production, e.g. to grow larger and faster. One company even tried to genetically engineer salmon to achieve these goals. But those aren’t the only changes occurring. Animals adapt to their captive environments, and these changes can occur in just a few generations. Salmon farmers don’t necessarily want fishes to behave more aggressively than their wild counterparts, but crowded farms and predictable food set the stage for more aggressive fishes to eat more and be more successful. Both intentionally and inadvertently, aquaculture shapes animals to become optimized units of production, reflecting an increasingly human-centric world.

Humanity certainly needs strategies to feed a growing global population. Aquatic foods can offer numerous benefits, including food security, nutrition, employment, and environmental health. As we build this food system, however, we need to scrutinize the true value of those benefits—are certain aquaculture sectors, for example, exacerbating malnutrition in countries from which they source fish feed?—and weigh them against the expense to other animals. Before we stumble into creating systemic welfare harms and more incidents of animal cruelty, we can and should ask: how can we farm with an eye toward minimizing or altogether avoiding welfare harms?

Building a sustainable, nutritious food system while minimizing risks to other animals isn’t a pipe dream. Aquatic plants like seaweed, which entail no farmed animal welfare risk, offer one possible nutritious, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable path. The decisions we make now about aquaculture will shape the future of our food system, planet, and our relationship with other animals. Will we make the right choice, for us and for them?

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“The ocean is the ultimate shared resource. But we are failing it,” says U.N. Secretary General António Guterres. “Fish stocks are collapsing. Over-consumption and illegal fishing are pushing marine life to the brink. Plastic pollution is choking ecosystems.”

At the conference, 18 additional countries ratified the High Seas Treaty, bringing the total to 49. The agreement provides the first legal framework to protect the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction. 

Although the Treaty was first adopted in 2023, 60 countries must ratify it for it to be fully implemented. According to the World Resources Institute, the High Seas Treaty is critical to achieving the international 30×30 agenda, which sets out to protect 30 percent of all land and water by 2030. 

Calling on additional countries to ratify the agreement, Guterres states, “The entry into force is within our sight, and I call on all remaining nations to join swiftly. We do not have a moment to lose.”

Negotiators are also working to finalize a global treaty on plastic pollution. If passed, the legally binding treaty will be the first to regulate plastics across their entire lifecycle. 

“We are choking with plastic,” says Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, who is leading treaty negotiations. “If we do not do something to tackle plastic pollution, we will not have a single ecosystem left, whether it’s terrestrial or marine.”

Between 18-20 percent of global plastic waste finds its way to the oceans, the U.N. estimates. And by 2040, as much as 37 million metric tons could enter the ocean every year if action is not taken.

Protection of the world’s oceans are critically needed for marine ecosystems as well as the people who depend on them, a new report from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows. More than 3 billion people worldwide rely on aquatic foods for vital protein and nutrients. At least 600 million depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. 

The responsible management of the ocean is key to preserving these marine resources for generations to come. The report reveals that 77 percent of fish consumed globally comes from sustainable sources, where well-managed fisheries result in high yields. Still, at least one third of stocks are being overexploited.

But Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General at FAO, says that there are shining examples of success, where stocks have been brought back from the brink of collapse, to learn from. Pointing to tuna, Barange says there has been a “significant turnaround,” and he believes that the same progress can be made elsewhere.

“Management works,” Barange says. “We know how to rebuild populations.”

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Steff van Niekerk, Unsplash

The post Treaties to Turn the Tide: Can We Save the Ocean in Time? appeared first on Food Tank.

“The mission of [ShrimpVet] is to revolutionize the way we do farming in Vietnam and globally,” Loc Tran, ShrimpVet’s Founder, tells Food Tank.

The carbon footprint of South Asian farmed shrimp is among the highest in aquaculture, emitting 13 kilograms of CO2 equivalents per kilogram, according to Nature. When land conversion is included, shrimp aquaculture emissions can surpass those of beef production. Soy-based shrimp feed is also a driver of deforestation, according to the Global Seafood Alliance.

“The shrimp industry has been criticized for being very high in carbon footprint,” Tran tells Food Tank. “We have to have a very holistic approach in order to reduce that carbon footprint and to protect the planet.”

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), shrimp aquaculture is a leading cause of mangrove destruction, water pollution, and depletion of wild shrimp stocks. In Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta—the country’s aquaculture hub—mangrove coverage has nearly halved since 1973, research in Ocean and Coastal Management finds.

Mangroves are critical coastal ecosystems, sequestering up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests, buffering coastlines against extreme weather, and providing habitats for over 1,500 species, according to the U.N.Environment Programme (UNEP).

Vietnam’s shrimp industry—which ranks among the three largest globally—is also strained by extreme weather events, high production costs, inflation, and disease, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Tran and his team seek to address these challenges. A 30-hectare farm, located in the southern Mekong Delta, serves as a testing ground for their research. Part of their approach involves reforesting mangroves.

“For every 10 hectares [of farm], we plant two to three hectares of mangroves,” says Tran. “For every hectare of mangroves, we can gain up to 130 tons of carbon sequestration.”

The farm integrates mangroves with fishponds to naturally treat wastewater. Untreated wastewater from shrimp farming can lead to algal blooms, groundwater contamination, and antimicrobial resistance, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

“When you feed the shrimp, about 30 percent of the dried matter will be utilized by the shrimp, and the rest 70 percent will be released as organic waste,” explains Tran. The fish feed on this waste, and the treated, nutrient-rich water is released through the mangroves.

“Phosphorus can create red tide. So that is why mangroves will be the last barrier, so we will convert those dissolved nutrients into biomass of the mangroves,” Tran explains. Red tides, or harmful algal blooms, make shellfish toxic to eat.

Tran has also eliminated antibiotics, which can leave antibiotic residues and create antimicrobial resistance, which threatens human health.

Instead, ShrimpVet focuses on mitigating disease risk factors, from improving the genetic quality of the shrimp to enhancing water quality, nutrition, and shrimp gut health.

“We don’t gamble,” says Tran. “We start to analyze the risk factor associated with each [aspect of] farming. And then we address them one by one.”

Risk-mitigating practices include introducing beneficial bacteria into ponds, optimizing stocking densities, and monitoring and adjusting for weather conditions. Tran says that these practices, which reduce the amount of stress that the shrimp experience, also produce tastier shrimp.

Though Tran is careful, he is also efficient: by incorporating trucks and automated systems into his operation, Tran says his harvest is ten times more efficient than traditional methods. The company’s 15 workers produce 1,500 tons of shrimp annually, which means Tran can pay his workers US$15,000-20,000. The average annual household income in Vietnam was US$2,502 in 2023, according to the Capital Economics International Conference (CEIC).

Aquaculture will need to evolve to meet growing global demand, according to Kevin Fitzsimmons, Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Arizona and former President of the World Aquaculture Society. “Probably in the next three, four years, maybe five years, 60 percent of all the seafood in the world will be farm raised. It’s already over 50 percent,” says Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons, a member of the Future of Fish Feed (F3) group, is also advocating for more sustainable aquaculture feed using ingredients like insect meal, algae, and brewing byproducts.

“We’d like to see F3 become the equivalent of grass-fed beef or free-range chickens,” he says.

Tran is on board with the initiative.

“We can do the F3, we can do sustainable feed formulation, of course we can,” Tran says.

Tran is in discussion with provincial governments about acquiring more unproductive land to scale his initiative and reforest more mangroves.

Tran hopes other farmers will copy his model. “We aim to be the most transparent food producing company in the sector,” he says. “I want to make a business model that is accessible to other investors, other farmers…So spread the word. Open source.”

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo Courtesy of Loc Tran 

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Over the past few years, Food Tank has been working to pay closer attention to blue foods—aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic plants, and seaweed. 

Marine and freshwater food systems support the livelihoods of roughly 800 million people worldwide, according to the Blue Food Assessment. And these foods provide essential nutrients to more than 3 billion eaters, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reports. 

“To understand that a fish farm reflects the same values as a land farm…we begin to see ourselves in that,” author, chef and blue foods advocate Barton Seaver tells Food Tank. That allows eaters to see a fishery or fish farm as “the sum of the labors and aspirations of a community.”

But these aquatic ecosystems are facing significant stress, with a study in Nature Sustainability showing that more than 90 percent of blue food production is at risk due to environmental changes. This is true across the globe, but major producers across Asia and the United States are up against some of the greatest threats. 

Fortunately from storytellers like the team at Fed By Blue—behind the docuseries “Hope in the Water”—to nonprofit leaders like Imani Black of Minorities in Aquaculture, there are advocates working to make blue food systems more resilient to future shocks and more inclusive.

Learn more about these champions of blue food systems in a new piece on Forbes by clicking HERE. 

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Fredrik Ohlander

The post It’s Not Too Late to Protect Blue Food Systems appeared first on Food Tank.

The momentum to transform food and agriculture systems has never been more urgent—or more inspiring.

Around the world, organizations are driving change through initiatives designed and led by farmers to build climate resilience. They are creating bold partnerships that bring together visionaries and amplify new perspectives. These organizations are advocating for people- and farmer-centered policies that will make healthy, delicious, and regeneratively grown food more affordable and accessible and more economically sustainable for producers. These leaders are addressing the crises of today. And they are building the systems that communities need for tomorrow—those that nourish, sustain, and unite us all.

As we enter a new quarter century, here are 125 organizations to follow and support in 2025.

1. 40 Acres & A Mule Project, United States

40 Acres & A Mule seeks to acquire Black-owned farmland to be used to celebrate and preserve the history, food, and stories of Black culture in food and farming. Founded to address the legacy of land loss and the unrealized promise of reparations, 40 Acres aims to create a sanctuary for teaching farming, and archive Black foodways and the importance of Black farms.

2. Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI), Africa

ANAPRI is a network of agricultural policy research institutions located in 15 countries in Central, East, West, and southern Africa. ANAPRI’s mission is to provide data-driven, objective, and innovative research and policy advice to national, regional, and continental stakeholders to ensure long-term food security, environmental sustainability, and economic growth across Africa.

3. Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Africa

AFSA is a coalition of civil society organizations advocating for food sovereignty and agroecology across the continent. They represent smallholder farmers, indigenous communities, and environmentalists, promoting sustainable practices and empowerment through their network of 30 active member communities.

4. American Farmland Trust (AFT), United States

AFT is dedicated to protecting and preserving farmland and ranchland in the U.S., promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on their land. “Land, practices, people: It all comes together, with each building off of one another,” says John Piotti, President and CEO of AFT. AFT works to save the land that sustains us and empower the farmers and ranchers who steward that land.

5. Arrell Food Institute, Canada

The Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph is dedicated to advancing sustainable and resilient global food systems through cutting-edge research, innovation, and collaboration. It connects expertise across disciplines to enhance food security, improve distribution, and position Canada as a leader in agricultural innovation.

6. Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Asia

AFA empowers small-scale farmers, fishers, Indigenous peoples, and rural communities across Asia through advocacy, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. AFA promotes secure land rights, sustainable farming practices, and the growth of cooperatives to enhance livelihoods and resilience. Its initiatives aim to combat hunger, reduce poverty, and inspire youth to engage in sustainable agriculture. “When we unleash the potential” of small scale farmers, the world will see “a dramatic increase” in the availability of healthy foods and communities lifted out of poverty, argues Esther Penunia, AFA’s Secretary General.

7. Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), Bangladesh

BARCIK has been dedicated to promoting sustainable development and environmental conservation since 1997. By integrating indigenous knowledge and practices, it empowers local communities while advancing cultural and natural diversity. Through research, education, and dialogue, BARCIK fosters innovation rooted in traditional wisdom to build harmony between people and the environment.

8. Better Soils, Better Lives, Africa

Better Soils, Better Lives works to address worsening droughts caused by deteriorating soil quality, a major driver of the global hunger crisis. The initiative aims to triple the productivity of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa in 20 years by promoting green manure and cover crops that restore soil health, combat drought, and enhance farm resilience. By tackling soil degradation, the organization provides sustainable solutions to end food dependency and create thriving agricultural communities.

9. Black Urban Growers (BUGs), United States

BUGs is committed to fostering a strong, supportive community for cultivators in both urban and rural settings, while empowering Black leadership in agriculture. Founded in 2010, the organization hosts the annual Black Farmers & Urban Gardeners National Conference, which advocates for food sovereignty and reimagines Black futures through collective Black agrarian leadership. BUGs is dedicated to nurturing land-based stewardship and advancing food justice while celebrating the resilience and contributions of Black growers.

10. Bread for the World, United States

A faith-based Christian advocacy organization, Bread for the World is working toward a world without hunger by through education and policy advocacy. For more than 50 years, they have helped strengthen national nutrition programs and called on policymakers to strengthen and improve U.S. international assistance. Their policies and programs have impacted 320 million Americans and more than 7 billion people worldwide.

11. Botswana Farmers Association, Botswana

The Botswana Farmers Association works to elevate smallholder farmers in Botswana and reduce poverty through capacity building and advocacy. Made up of more than 7,700 members, the organization advocates for better policies, promotes climate-smart agriculture, and supports market access for their members. They also foster unity among farmers and collaborate with partners to enhance production and marketing opportunities.

12. Chennai Urban Farming Initiative, India

The Chennai Urban Farming Initiative (CUFI) aims to transform urban spaces, including rooftops and vacant lots, into vegetable gardens in Chennai, India. Focused on climate resilience, the initiative promotes green spaces that help to cool the city, improve food access, and create economic opportunities, particularly for marginalized communities. CUFI’s efforts include training residents in urban farming, providing mobile garden kits, and supporting women’s empowerment through agricultural entrepreneurship.

13. CDC Foundation, United States

The CDC Foundation helps the nation’s public health system do more, faster by forging partnerships with corporations, foundations, organizations, and individuals. Through these collaborations, the Foundation strengthens efforts to protect public safety. Since the Biden-Harris Administration launched the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the CDC Foundation has helped the White House secure and track commitments from organizations in support of the Strategy’s goal to end hunger and reduce diet related diseases. “We have data systems that are being unlocked, partnerships that have never been thought of before,” says Judith Monroe, the CDC’s Foundation’s President and CEO.

14. Chef Ann Foundation, United States

The Chef Ann Foundation is dedicated to improving school food by partnering with schools to serve healthier, scratch-cooked meals made from whole ingredients. The Foundation helps to provide school food professionals with the resources, training, and support they need to offer nutritious, delicious meals that promote children’s health and well-being. The Chef Ann Foundation has reached millions of students across the U.S., helping to create healthier school food environments nationwide.

15. CGIAR, International

CGIAR is a global research partnership dedicated to advancing sustainable and resilient food, land, and water systems. CGIAR conducts its research through 14 centers: the Africa Rice Center, CIFOR, CIMMYT, ICARDA—which has been continuing its work in countries like Syria even in the face of conflict—ICRISAT, IFPRI, IITA, ILRI, CIP, IRRI, IWMI, The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICRAF, and WorldFish. They also collaborate with partners, including national research institutes, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Through the One CGIAR transition, they are striving toward greater institutional integration that enables their centers to better support one another in support of their shared goals.

16. Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), International

CPI is an analysis and advisory organization specializing in finance and policy, focused on helping governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. “The food system can’t change overnight, but the flow of finance can,” says Dharshan Wignarajah, CPI’s UK Director. With expertise in sustainable finance, CPI works to accelerate investment, support energy access, and provide actionable insights that enable partners to reduce costs and unlock funding for climate solutions.

17. Congressional Hunger Center, United States

The Congressional Hunger Center develops and connects leaders to advocate for policies that address hunger and its root causes. Through programs like the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Fellowships, it empowers emerging leaders, particularly those with lived experience of hunger, to bridge policy and practice. The Center fosters a strong network of alumni and partners to drive equitable, community-based solutions for food security.

18. West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), West and Central Africa

CORAF is the largest sub-regional agricultural research organization in Africa, working across 23 countries to improve food and nutrition security. The organization champions localized, farmer-led solutions to address the region’s unique challenges while empowering farmers, supporting gender equity, and fostering youth involvement in agriculture “From the beginning, we identify the issues together [with farmers], then we design the approach to solving together,” Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, former Executive Director of CORAF, tells Food Tank.

19. Crop Trust, International

Crop Trust is dedicated to preserving plant genetic diversity to secure agricultural, food, and nutrition sustainability. Through its Seeds for Resilience project, Crop Trust aims to strengthen national gene banks across sub-Saharan Africa, helping local farmers access diverse, climate-resilient crops. “Every seed is important. Each one is unique and potentially holding traits to transform our food systems to face global threats,” says Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust.

20. EARTH University, Costa Rica

EARTH University is dedicated to developing ethical leaders who can address global challenges in food systems and sustainable development. They offer a rigorous Agricultural Sciences undergraduate program that emphasizes entrepreneurship, environmental responsibility, and social commitment. The University’s mission is to prepare students to drive positive social and environmental change, fostering a future of shared prosperity.

21. EAT, International

EAT seeks to transform global food systems by integrating science, innovation, and collaboration across sectors. With a focus on the interconnected challenges of food security, health, and environmental sustainability, EAT works to develop evidence-based, sustainable solutions that promote healthy diets, reduce waste, and address climate change. Their mission is to create a fair and sustainable food system that benefits both people and the planet, leaving no one behind.

22. EcoAgriculture Partners, International

EcoAgriculture Partners is dedicated to advancing sustainable land use by fostering collaboration across communities, governments, and businesses. With over 20 years of experience, they design innovative solutions that integrate conservation, climate health, and economic development through holistic landscape management. Their work empowers local leaders to access resources, influence policies, and build partnerships that support resilient ecosystems and improve livelihoods for communities worldwide.

23. Edible Schoolyard Project, International

The Edible Schoolyard Project, founded by Chef Alice Waters, is on a mission to transform public education through experiential learning in organic school gardens, kitchens, and cafeterias. With thousands of gardens around the world, the initiative empowers students with practical skills in cooking and gardening, fosters critical thinking about the food system, and inspires them to take action for positive change in their communities. “There’s nothing more meaningful than planting a seed and watching it grow,” says Waters. She also launched the Alice Waters Institute for Edible Education and Regenerative Agriculture to connect education institutions with local producers and further advance school supported agriculture.

24. EiT Food, Europe

EiT Food, co-funded by the European Union, accelerates innovation to build a sustainable and healthy food system for all. The organization invests in projects, startups, and individuals, focusing on improving food security, health, and environmental outcomes. Through collaboration across industry, research, and education, EiT Food aims to deliver healthier food options, enhance food supply chains, and support the transition to a net-zero food system.

25. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), United States

EDF leverages science, economics, and advocacy to tackle global environmental challenges, including those in food and agriculture. EDF’s work on sustainable farming aims to reduce climate pollutants, enhance food security, and increase the resilience of agricultural communities facing climate change. They also manage initiatives to advance sustainable fisheries and improve water management practices for a healthier, more equitable future that supports people and the planet.

26. Environmental Working Group, United States

For more than 30 years, Environmental Working Group has provided eaters with the information they need to make smart, healthy choices that contribute to the wellbeing of people and the planet. Their team of scientists, policy experts, lawyers, and communications and data experts work to reform the country’s agricultural and chemical safety laws, targeting issues including food and water, farming and agriculture, and forever chemicals. They also launched The New Lede, a news initiative specializing in coverage of environmental issues.

27. FAIRR Initiative, International

The FAIRR Initiative is a global network of investors advancing sustainability in the food sector by addressing critical environmental, social, and governance challenges. By providing cutting-edge research, policy coordination, and tools like the Protein Producer Index, FAIRR empowers its members to promote sustainable practices and mitigate risks within food systems.

28. Fairtrade International, International and Fairtrade America, United States

Fairtrade International is a global organization working to empower producers and combat poverty while supporting environmental sustainability. They do this through standards, their FAIRTRADE Mark, producer support, programs, and advocacy. Their U.S. branch, Fairtrade America, supports and challenges businesses in the country to improve the terms of trade and put money back in the hands of farmers and workers.

29. Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO (FLOC), United States

FLOC is a social movement and labor union representing farmworkers through the Midwest and South of the U.S. They have set international precedents in labor history, including being the first union to negotiate multi-party collective bargaining agreements, and the first to represent H-2A workers under a labor agreement. Today, FLOC continues to champion the rights of agricultural workers through campaigns, grievance resolution, and grassroots community organizing.

30. Fed by Blue, United States

Fed by Blue is a science-driven initiative dedicated to transforming blue food systems by promoting transparency, sustainability, and education. It works to highlight the essential role of responsibly sourced blue foods in advancing nutrition equity, protecting waterways, and boosting biodiversity. By broadening access to responsible practices, educating future generations, and supporting innovative policies, Fed by Blue aims to build a resilient and equitable food future.

31. First Nations Development Institute, United States

The First Nations Development Institute is dedicated to strengthening Native American economies and supporting the economic well-being of Native communities. By providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy, the institute focuses on areas like financial empowerment, Native land stewardship, and youth investment. “Do we know who’s growing our food? Do we know the history of that commodity in that package? Do we know where the waste is going?” A-dae Romero-Briones, Vice President of Research and Policy, Native Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative at the Institute asks. “We should all be self-examining what we know about our food system, how we interact with it.”

32. Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute, United States

Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute is a Native-American women-run organization focused on teaching sustainable Indigenous practices in Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. The Institute offers classes on gardening, animal husbandry, and traditional crafts, while also preserving vital knowledge like seed saving and cultural traditions.

33. Food Is Medicine Institute, United States

The Food Is Medicine Institute is a university-wide collaborative at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University working to integrate food-based nutritional interventions into healthcare to prevent and manage diseases while promoting health equity. They also focus on policy advocacy, training healthcare professionals, and advancing research to expand nutrition’s role in healthcare. “Billions of dollars a year right now are going through healthcare, into healthy food. It’s an exciting movement,” says Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and the Director of the Food is Medicine Institute.

34. Food Recovery Network (FRN), United States

FRN is a student-led movement dedicated to combating hunger and food waste across the U.S. By recovering surplus food from campuses, businesses, and events, FRN donates it to local nonprofits, providing meals to those in need. “We all deserve access to nutritious food—food is a right,” Regina Harmon, Executive Director of FRN, tells Food Tank. With 8,000 students and local partners, FRN operates on 187 campuses.

35. Food Systems for the Future (FSF), International

FSF supports innovative, market-driven businesses that improve nutrition outcomes in the United States, across Africa, and around the world. By building partnerships, FSF helps scale solutions to malnutrition while advocating for policy changes and fostering collaborations across the food system. Their mission is to ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all, driving sustainable food system transformation for both human and planetary health.

36. FoodCorps, United States

FoodCorps is dedicated to nourishing every child in every school. Serving schools across 18 states and D.C., the organization fosters a sense of belonging through hands-on food education that empowers kids to understand the joy and power of food. With a goal to ensure that by 2030 every child has access to food education and nourishing food, FoodCorps is building a movement that transforms the way kids experience food and supports their health and education.

37. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), United States

FFAR was founded to address the most pressing food and agriculture challenges with bold, collaborative science. By building public-private partnerships, FFAR funds pioneering research in key areas such as sustainable production systems, agroecosystems, healthy food systems, and strengthening the scientific workforce. Their work is grounded in a commitment to driving systemic change and improving access to affordable, nutritious food while promoting environmental sustainability.

38. Future Food Institute, International

The Italian-based Future Food Institute trains the next generation of changemakers to empower communities, engage government and the private sector, and catalyze progress toward achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. They do this through three action areas focused on knowledge and education, research and development and innovation, and community and incubation.

39. Garda Pangan, Indonesia

Garda Pangan is a community organization dedicated to addressing food waste and hunger relief in Indonesia. By rescuing surplus food from the hospitality sector, such as hotels, restaurants, and bakeries, the organization redistributes edible food to those in need while diverting expired food to farms for animal feed and composting. Since its inception, Garda Pangan has rescued more than 8 tons of food, benefiting tens of thousands of people.

40. Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), International

GAIN is committed to advancing healthier diets for all by improving access to safe, nutrition, and affordable food. They operate a diverse range of programs, from fortifying staple foods to supporting small businesses. As part of an initiative in Bihar, India, for example, GAIN has empowered women through micro-enterprises producing fortified foods, benefiting over 45,000 people while promoting sustainable livelihoods. They also involved in the International Advisory Group for the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, taking place in Paris, France.

41. Global Alliance for Latinos in Agriculture (GALA), International

GALA empowers Latino farmers and ranchers globally through family-focused initiatives that prioritize sustainability, prosperity, and innovation. Guided by conscious capitalism, a vision of a thriving Latino agricultural community, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, GALA fosters regenerative farming, digital education, and cultural exchange to revitalize rural areas and build enduring resilience. “There is no life limit on healthy soil,” says farmer Gerardo Martinez, CEO of GALA. “You can continue to build it and build it, and it will just become more and more productive.”

42. Global Alliance for the Future of Food, International

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food unites philanthropic foundations to transform food systems to be more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. The Alliance develops tools, fosters innovation, and drives action to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, food security, and agricultural justice. Through partnerships and strategic initiatives, they empower diverse stakeholders to build a healthier and more sustainable future for food.

43. Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), International

GFN works in over 50 countries to alleviate hunger by creating, supporting, and strengthening food banks. By recovering surplus food, organizations in GFN including Red de Bancos de Alimentos de México in Mexico, Red de Alimentos in Chile, and the Korea Foodbank in South Korea nourish people in need, reduce food waste, and help build resilience. Through their community-led approach, GFN aims to create innovative solutions to hunger and advance sustainable food systems worldwide.

44. Global Food Institute (GFI) at George Washington University, United States

Food is “a unique and powerful way to gain traction for needed solutions,” says GFI’s Executive Director, Stacy Dean. The Institute is dedicated to transforming food systems to address hunger, the climate crisis, and threats to public health. By combining interdisciplinary research, policy innovation, and collaboration, GFI aims to reimagine how food is grown, distributed, and consumed for a healthier planet and better lives.

45. GRAIN, International

GRAIN partners with small-scale farmers and social movements across Asia, Africa, and Latin America to promote community-driven, biodiversity-focused food systems. By addressing corporate control, land rights, and seed sovereignty, GRAIN empowers local communities and advocates for food sovereignty as a critical solution to the climate crisis. Through research, collaboration, and capacity building, the organization strives to reshape global food systems toward equity and sustainability.

46. GRACE Communications Foundation, United States

GRACE Communications Foundation advances sustainable solutions in food advocacy, philanthropy, and health promotion to address critical global challenges. Through initiatives like FoodPrint, GRACE raises awareness of food system impacts and empowers consumer action. The foundation promotes healthier communities by fostering collaboration, education, and innovative approaches to well-being.

47. GrowNYC, United States

GrowNYC is an environmental nonprofit that provides New Yorkers with access to fresh food, green spaces, and tools for sustainable living. Its programs include Greenmarket farmers markets, urban gardens, and environmental education initiatives that serve millions annually. GrowNYC envisions a city where all residents have the resources to build healthier communities and care for the environment

48. Green Bronx Machine, United States

Green Bronx Machine uses urban agriculture to build healthy, equitable communities by addressing food insecurity and supporting workforce development. Through school-based programs, students grow vegetables while improving academic performance and promoting healthy living. The organization envisions thriving neighborhoods where education and local food systems empower all to succeed.

49. Heifer International, International

Heifer International works to end hunger and poverty sustainably by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities. Their program involves a seek investment of livestock or agriculture, followed by a formal mentorship, helping families build resilient businesses and training the next generation of leaders. Focusing on women’s empowerment and sustainable agriculture, Heifer aims to foster lasting change from the ground up.

50. Harlem Grown, United States

Harlem Grown inspires youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. By transforming abandoned lots into thriving urban farms, the organization increases access to healthy food while fostering mentorship and community engagement. Harlem Grown’s programs empower elementary-aged students and promote food justice to create lasting, sustainable change in the Harlem community.

51. IndigeHub, United States

IndigeHub empowers Indigenous communities by fostering economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability through shared resource hubs and entrepreneurial support. By providing access to co-working spaces, business infrastructure, and training, IndigeHub helps Indigenous entrepreneurs overcome unique challenges and build self-sufficient, thriving economies. The initiative champions community-driven solutions rooted in Indigenous values to create lasting change.

52. Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Americas

IICA supports its 34 Member States in achieving agricultural development and rural well-being. Through technical cooperation, it advances sustainable agriculture, fosters economic growth, and strengthens food systems across the Americas. IICA’s initiatives address critical areas like rural development, climate resilience, agricultural trade, and innovation to improve livelihoods and promote inclusive, sustainable progress.

53. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Africa

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, icipe uses insect science to tackle food security, health, and environmental challenges in Africa. Through eco-friendly pest control, biodiversity conservation, and its 4Hs approach—human, animal, plant, and environmental health—icipe empowers communities with sustainable solutions and capacity-building initiatives.

54. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International

Operating in more than 90 countries, IFAD is the only United Nations agency exclusively dedicated to transforming agriculture, rural economies, and food systems. They invest in rural communities to help small-scale producers increase yields and improve their livelihoods, develop resilience to climate and economic shocks and conflict, access new technologies, and manage natural resources responsibly.

55. International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), International

IPES-Food is a global think tank advancing sustainable and equitable food systems. Since 2015, its expert panel has provided research and policy recommendations on issues like food insecurity, climate change, and food system reform. Through evidence-based reports—including recent publications on the importance of territorial markets and land grabbing—and advocacy, IPES-Food aims to guide transformative action toward resilient and inclusive food systems.

56. James Beard Foundation (JBF), United States

JBF celebrates and supports the individuals shaping America’s food culture while advocating for equity, sustainability, and excellence across the culinary and hospitality industries. Committed to a future where good food is rooted in talent, equity, and sustainability, JBF recognizes excellence in the culinary and hospitality industries and fosters initiatives to build a more inclusive and resilient food system.

57. Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, United States

The Center for a Livable Future is an interdisciplinary academic center based at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, dedicated to transforming food systems to improve public health and environmental sustainability. The Center addresses critical issues like food equity, animal agriculture, food waste, and the intersection of diets and climate resilience. Through research, education, and outreach, the center aims to build healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food systems globally.

58. Just Food, United States

Just Food is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the New York regional food system by addressing inequities and uplifting historically marginalized communities. They champion food justice and sustainable agriculture, working to expand access to healthy, affordable food and empower communities through education and advocacy. With equity as its guiding principle, Just Food develops community-driven solutions that build health, wealth, and power for those most affected by systemic food disparities.

59. Justice for Migrant Women, United States

Justice for Migrant Women works to uphold the human and civil rights of migrant women, ensuring they can live, work, and move with dignity and safety. Through education, public awareness, and collaborative advocacy, the organization addresses issues like workplace harassment, economic inequity, and civic exclusion while amplifying migrant women’s voices and leadership.

60. Kids in Nutrition (KIN), United States

KIN empowers at-risk youth to lead healthy, sustainable lives through food literacy and improved food access. By combining nutrition education, family engagement, and hands-on resources, KIN instills lifelong habits that promote health equity, prevent chronic diseases, and support environmental sustainability. With student-led chapters nationwide, KIN creates grassroots change, inspiring future generations to make informed dietary choices.

61. La Via Campesina, International

La Via Campesina is a global movement of over 180 organizations across 80 countries, advocating for food sovereignty, environmental justice, and peasants’ rights. Rooted in the principle that control over food systems empowers communities, the movement promotes agroecology, defends peasant rights, and champions sustainable farming practices. The movement continues to grow, and recently added a new chapter to expand into the Arab and North Africa region.

62. Landesa, International

Landesa partners with governments and civil society organizations to develop laws, policies, and programs that strengthen land rights for people experiencing extreme poverty. As part of their work, they operate the Center for Women’s Land Rights, which focuses on women and girls who are more significantly impacted by poverty. Landesa operates in more than 66 countries to alleviate poverty, reduce hunger, and ease conflict for more than 720 million people.

63. Milken Institute, United States

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank committed to tackling global challenges in health, finance, and philanthropy. By conducting rigorous research and convening experts from diverse fields, it develops actionable solutions that drive measurable progress. Through their Feeding Change program, the Institute focuses on creating tangible impact at the intersection of food, health, and finance.

64. Modern Farmer, United States

Modern Farmer is a nonprofit that uses storytelling, community building, and partnerships to raise awareness of issues and catalyze action at the intersection of food, agriculture, and society. Their work focuses on the producers and innovators shaping the food system, food equity, and conscious consumption.

65. Movimento de Pescadores e Pescadoras Artesanais (MPP), Brazil

MPP is a national movement uniting artisanal fisherfolk across Brazil to protect their territories, preserve ancestral practices, and advocate for sustainable small-scale fishing.  The organization champions food sovereignty, human rights, and environmental conservation, defending fishing communities from exploitation and industrial threats.

66. National Association of Smallholder Farmers (NASFAM), Malawi

NASFAM empowers over 130,000 smallholder farmers to improve crop yields, adapt to climate challenges, and access better markets. Central to its mission is promoting gender equity, with women comprising more than half its membership and taking on increasing leadership roles. By fostering education and training, NASFAM helps farmers break cycles of poverty and build sustainable livelihoods for future generations.

67. National Young Farmers Coalition, United States

The National Young Farmers Coalition is dedicated to empowering a new generation of farmers through equitable policy change and advocacy. Addressing critical issues like land access, climate resilience, and racial justice, the Coalition envisions a just agricultural future rooted in community well-being and environmental stewardship. They call for transformative investments to secure farmland for the next generation, ensuring farming remains a public service that benefits all.

68. Native Farm Bill Coalition, United States

The Native Farm Bill Coalition is a nationwide initiative amplifying the voices of Native American producers and Tribal governments to shape U.S. agricultural policy. Focused on food sovereignty, rural development, and Tribal self-determination, the NFBC secured 63 provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill benefiting Native communities and continues to advocate for Tribal priorities in upcoming legislation.

69. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), International

NRDC works to protect the planet’s ecosystems, wildlife, and communities through science, advocacy, and legal action. The organization has helped to shape key environmental laws and continues to advocate for issues like climate change, pollution reduction, and conservation. Their food systems work focuses on issues including food waste, soil health, the role of pollinators, and climate resilience. “How can we use food to reach the public and reimagine a food system that is truly compatible with human health, protecting nature, and tackling climate?” asks Manish Bapna, NRDC’s President.

70. New African Society (NAS), Sierra Leone

NAS is a youth-led organization focusing on self-sufficient communities and addressing poverty through agricultural development. With a mission to combat food insecurity and create socio-economic mobility, NAS works on initiatives such as seed banking to promote food sovereignty and agro-biodiversity. The organization empowers local farmers, particularly women, by providing education and resources to preserve indigenous seed varieties and improve farming practices.

71. Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation, United States

The Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation awards scholarships and grants to future sustainable farmers and agriculture leaders. Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation has worked to combat the burden of student loan debt, helping young people pursue careers in agriculture and sustainability and empowering rural communities.

72. North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS), North America

Founded by Chef Sean Sherman, NĀTIFS is committed to revitalizing Native foodways to address the economic and health challenges facing Indigenous communities. Through initiatives like the Indigenous Food Lab, a professional kitchen and training center, NĀTIFS educates on food service, Indigenous food practices, and business development. The organization envisions a sustainable food system that empowers Native communities, fosters economic growth, and improves health by reclaiming ancestral food knowledge and traditions.

73. Noosa Environmental Education Hub (EEHub), Australia

The Noosa EEHub offers immersive, hands-on programs to engage students with local ecosystems. In collaboration with environmental groups and Aboriginal educators, the Hub offers curriculum-aligned education and Citizen Science projects, empowering students to track environmental changes and take action in their communities. Their most recent youth-led Summit creates space for students of all ages to share ideas and celebrate the climate action they have led in their own schools and communities.

74. NOW Partners Foundation, International

NOW Partners Foundation collaborates with leaders across sectors to create innovations in regenerative land-use and sustainable business practices that benefit communities and nature. As part of their work, they serve as the Secretariat for the Future Economy Forum, a platform offering visions, solutions, and action initiatives to drive impact. During key convenings for climate action, NOW Partners and the Future Economy Forum organize dinner series, where leading food systems stakeholders can engage in open dialogue and identify opportunities for collaboration.

75. One Fair Wage, United States

“There’s really only one future for [the restaurant] industry, and it has to be providing life-sustaining wages,” One Fair Wage’s President Saru Jayaraman tells Food Tank. That’s why the national organization is dedicated to eliminating subminimum wages in the U.S. and improving working conditions for service sector workers. Through its 25 by 250 Campaign, the organization advocates for legislation in 25 states to raise wages for millions of workers by 2026.

76. Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), East, Central, and Southern Africa

PELUM Association is a network of civil society organizations working across 12 countries in eastern, central, and southern Africa to support smallholder farmers. They focus on improving livelihoods through the promotion of ecological land-use management practices and empowering farming communities. PELUM works to amplify the voices of small-scale farmers, foster innovation and best practices, and advocate for policies that benefit sustainable agriculture in the region.

77. Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), United States

PFI works to build resilient farms and communities by supporting farmers with research, education, and personalized assistance. The organization fosters collaboration among farmers from diverse backgrounds, focusing on sustainable practices that benefit both the land and future generations. Through farmer-led initiatives, PFI promotes a more resilient and diversified agricultural system in Iowa, emphasizing stewardship and community-driven solutions.

78. Project Drawdown, United States

Project Drawdown is a leading resource for climate solutions, aiming to stop and reverse climate change quickly, safely, and equitably. The organization focuses on advancing science-based solutions, fostering bold leadership, and shifting the narrative towards opportunity. Through research, stakeholder engagement, and storytelling, Project Drawdown drives global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

79. ProVeg International, International

ProVeg International is a global food awareness organization focused on reducing the consumption of animal products by 50 percent by 2040. Through campaigns and partnerships, the organization advocates for plant-based and cultured food alternatives to address issues such as climate change, health, and animal welfare. With a presence in 14 countries, ProVeg engages a range of stakeholders to help transform the global food system.

80. Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI-USA), United States

RAFI-USA combines on-the-ground services with policy advocacy to tackle injustice in food and agriculture systems and ensure that farmers have access to the tools they need. They run a financial crisis hotline for producers, help farmers connect to U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, and oversee grantmaking programs to help farming businesses thrive. They also publish the Grocery Map Atlas, which highlights inequitable food access and corporate concentration of grocery markets in the U.S.

81. Rainforest Alliance, International

The Rainforest Alliance is an international organization focused on creating a sustainable future by promoting responsible business practices in agriculture, forestry, and supply chains. By working with companies and communities, they aim to improve livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and combat climate change. Their Rainforest Alliance Certified seal ensures that products meet environmental, social, and economic criteria, supporting both people and the planet.

82. re•generation, Canada

re•generation is a Canadian youth-led nonprofit focused on empowering young people to drive the transition to a regenerative economy that prioritizes both human and ecological well-being. They provide career development tools and advocacy initiatives to help students and young professionals engage in sustainability and systems change.

83. ReFED, United States

ReFED is a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on reducing food loss and waste through data-driven solutions. The organization provides insights, cultivates collaborations, and accelerates innovation to drive systems-level change in the food industry. A recent study co-led by ReFED with the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, highlights how grocery stores in the U.S. and Canada that effectively cut unsold food by 25 percent.

84. Regen10, International

Regen10 is a global initiative dedicated to advancing equitable and regenerative food systems. By prioritizing the voices of farmers and land stewards, the organization builds evidence-based frameworks to support the transition to regenerative practices, focusing on positive outcomes for people, nature, and climate. They aim to guide the scaling of regenerative approaches and foster a more sustainable, inclusive global food system.

85. Rescatemos El Valle, Mexico

Rescatemos El Valle is a campaign aimed at preserving Mexico’s El Valle de Guadalupe, a key wine-producing region under threat from urbanization and economic development. The initiative, led by local winemakers, chefs, and community members, seeks to protect the valley’s agricultural heritage by advocating for stricter land-use regulations and the designation of the area as a “zone of natural and cultural beauty.”

86. Rodale Institute, United States

Rodale Institute advocates for regenerative organic agriculture, conducting pioneering research on soil health and sustainable farming practices. The organization works to advance organic farming through education, farmer training, and consumer awareness, aiming to improve both environmental and human health. And through initiatives like the Regenerative Organic Certification, Rodale promotes practices that enhance soil vitality, animal welfare, and worker wellbeing.

87. Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), India

RySS, established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, works to promote natural farming and empower farmers across the state. Through its Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming program, RySS supports climate-resilient, chemical-free agriculture and provides smallholder farmers with sustainable livelihoods. The organization’s efforts aim to improve agricultural practices, conserve the environment, and address the challenges posed by climate change.

88. Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, International

The SUN Movement, launched in 2010, brings together 65 countries and stakeholders including governments, businesses, and UN agencies, to combat malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. By fostering multi-sectoral collaboration and promoting evidence-based interventions, they support national nutrition plans that focus on improving food systems, health, and livelihoods. SUN Coordinator Afshan Khan is the Co-chair of the International Advisory Group for the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit.

89. SDG2 Advocacy Hub, International

The SDG2 Advocacy Hub coordinates global efforts to achieve SDG 2, aiming to end hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. It brings together NGOs, civil society, U.N. agencies, and the private sector to collaborate on advocacy campaigns and share expertise. The Hub also provides strategic guidance and resources to support both global and grassroots initiatives focused on SDG2 priorities. Their project, Beans is How, is a campaign that highlights beans as a valuable crop in the global effort to achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals, and aims to double their global consumption by 2028.

90. SEKEM, Egypt

Founded in 1977, SEKEM is a pioneering initiative in Egypt focused on sustainable development. Through biodynamic agriculture, it transformed desert land into a thriving community that includes businesses, educational institutions, and a medical center. SEKEM promotes ethical business, human dignity, gender equality, and environmental stewardship, aiming to create a holistic and peaceful society.

91. Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India

SEWA is a trade union that unites over 2.9 million self-employed women workers from India’s informal economy. The organization advocates for full employment, economic security, and social protection for its members, while promoting self-reliance through cooperatives and collective action. SEWA empowers women across various trades to improve their livelihoods and decision-making capabilities.

92. Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Development at the Base (Asprodeb), Africa

Asprodeb, established in 1995, is a Senegalese association that supports rural families and farmers through technical, organizational, and financial assistance. It strengthens farmer organizations and connects them with agricultural innovations to promote sustainable development in West and Central Africa. The organization fosters partnerships across value chains to enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of smallholder farmers.

93. Sicangu Food Sovereignty Initiative (SFSI), United States

SFSI is a community-driven effort to restore and indigenize the food system of the Sicangu people. Through projects such as a community garden, farmers market, local food subscription program, and youth internships, SFSI supports food security and the preservation of traditional Lakota food practices. The organization emphasizes regenerative agriculture, community health, and the revitalization of Lakota foodways to promote self-sufficiency and well-being for current and future generations.

94. Slow Food International, International and Slow Food USA, United States

Slow Food International is a global movement advocating for access to good, clean, and fair food for everyone. They promote the preservation of biological and cultural diversity, educate and inspire communities, and influence policies to support sustainable food systems. Slow Food USA, the U.S. branch, works to dismantle oppressive food systems, supporting local food initiatives, advancing food justice, and fostering solidarity to ensure a just and sustainable food future. “This work of building up a more robust and locally focused food system doesn’t have to be so grim,” Bilal Sarwari, interim Executive Director of Slow Food USA, tells Food Tank. “We can be really excited to join around food.”

95. Soul Fire Farm, United States

Soul Fire Farm is an Afro-Indigenous-centered community farm focused on dismantling racism and promoting food sovereignty. Through regenerative agriculture and educational programs, the farm cultivates leadership among BIPOC farmers, distributes fresh produce to combat food apartheid, and advocates for land and food justice. With a commitment to restoring ancestral knowledge, Soul Fire Farm fosters healing, community empowerment, and ecological sustainability.

96. Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, United States

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation focuses on supporting nutrition education, access to healthy foods, and wellness programs. Through partnerships with over 100 nonprofits, the Foundation promotes hands-on gardening and nutrition lessons, especially in schools, to teach children the importance of healthy eating. Their initiatives aim to empower children with the tools to develop lasting healthy habits while also fostering social, emotional, and physical well-being.

97. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, United States

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is dedicated to fostering an ecological food culture through sustainable farming and education. Located in the Hudson Valley, it serves as a hub for innovative agricultural practices that promote human health, community resilience, and environmental sustainability. The Center’s programs bring together farmers, chefs, and educators to explore the intersection of food, farming, and ecology, while engaging in hands-on research and education to inspire a more sustainable food system.

98. SUGi Project, Brazil

SUGi Project focuses on creating biodiverse, climate-resilient urban environments through the planting of ultra-dense forests using the Miyawaki Method. The organization has established over 200 Pocket Forests across 53 cities, engaging communities and youth in ecosystem restoration while improving urban wellbeing. SUGi’s work addresses challenges such as heatwaves, flooding, and pollution, fostering connections between people and nature in urban spaces.

99. Sustainable Food Trust, United Kingdom

Sustainable Food Trust works to accelerate the transition to sustainable food and farming systems that benefit climate, nature, and human health. “We have to make it super easy and transparent” for consumers to make informed, holistic decisions, says Adele Jones, Executive Director of the Sustainable Food Trust. By promoting regenerative practices, developing frameworks for measuring sustainability, and fostering informed public engagement, the organization addresses key challenges in food production and consumption.

100. Sustainable Harvest International, Central America

Sustainable Harvest International partners with rural farmers in Central America to promote regenerative farming practices that protect tropical forests, restore ecosystems, and improve livelihoods. Through long-term, hands-on training, the organization helps farming families adopt sustainable methods to enhance food security, establish agribusinesses, and preserve biodiversity. Their approach has supported over 3,000 families and planted millions of trees, fostering a balance between environmental health and community well-being.

101. Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, United States

The Swette Center works to transform food systems by promoting social progress, economic productivity, and ecosystem resilience. The Center addresses critical challenges, including sustainable agriculture, water use, and farmer livelihoods, while fostering innovation and educating future food systems leaders. Their holistic approach emphasizes collaboration and sustainability to create equitable and thriving communities.

102. Sylvia Center, United States

The Sylvia Center, based in New York, empowers young people and families to improve their health through hands-on culinary education. By partnering with schools and community organizations, the Center offers nutrition-focused programs that teach cooking skills, food safety, and the importance of healthy eating. Through these programs, participants learn to prepare nutritious meals and gain life skills such as teamwork and public speaking.

103. The Farmlink Project, United States

The Farmlink Project is a college and university student-led nonprofit that connects surplus produce from farms to food banks, helping reduce food waste and alleviate hunger across the U.S. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has delivered millions of pounds of fresh food while working to create a more sustainable food system. The organization aims to address systemic food supply chain issues and ultimately eliminate the need for their work.

104. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), International

TNC is a global nonprofit dedicated to conserving lands and waters for the benefit of nature and people. Operating in 81 countries, TNC works on solutions to environmental challenges, including promoting regenerative food systems that enhance soil health, support sustainable aquaculture, and protect water resources, while addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

105. The Rockefeller Foundation, United States

The Rockefeller Foundation works to support the well-being of humanity by addressing pressing global challenges through innovative and data-driven solutions. Their initiatives include fostering equitable and regenerative food systems, advancing health and economic resilience, and combating climate change. They also launched the Periodic Table of Food Initiative to better understand the molecular makeup of food to improve human health, restore biodiversity, and support the development of climate resilient communities. “Making innovation, science, and progress available to everybody can change the face of humanity and bend the curve towards justice, towards equity, towards opportunity for all,” says Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation.

106. The World Food Policy Center at Duke University, United States

The World Food Policy Center, based at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, is dedicated to researching and shaping policies that ensure all people have access to nutritious and affordable food. The Center strives to bridge gaps in food-related policy by addressing food security, inequality, and resilience in the food system, while promoting sustainable strategies to combat food waste and climate change.

107. The World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), International

WorldVeg is an international research and development institute dedicated to improving global nutrition and livelihoods through vegetable production and consumption. They work to advance vegetable diversity, breeding, and sustainable agricultural practices while managing the world’s largest public collection of vegetable germplasm. Through their new African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan, they aim to bring more resources and attention to native crops in Africa and revitalize agrobiodiversity.

108. Turning Tables, United States

Turning Tables is a New Orleans-based initiative addressing racial inequities in the hospitality industry by creating pathways for Black and Brown professionals. The program combines culturally responsive training, mentorship, and externships in top establishments to foster leadership and career growth. With a focus on inclusivity and equity, Turning Tables empowers participants to advance within and beyond bartending.

109. UJAMAA Cooperative Farming Alliance (UCFA), United States

UCFA is a collective of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) growers committed to preserving and cultivating heirloom seeds and culturally significant crops. By fostering connections between growers and the seed industry, UCFA works to address disparities in agriculture and create opportunities for historically marginalized communities. The alliance also promotes environmental sustainability and cultural heritage through education and community-based agricultural practices.

110. Union of Concerned Scientists, United States

Bringing together 250 scientists, analysts, policy experts, organizers, and communicators, the Union of Concerned Scientists is working toward a healthy, safe, and just future. Their team researches the world’s most pressing issues; fights misinformation; communicates with the media, the public, and decisionmakers; and mobilizes their supporters to advocate for change. The organization’s food and farms work seeks to build an equitable system that produces nutritious, sustainably grown food for all.

111. United Farm Workers (UFW), United States

The UFW fights for safer and fairer working conditions for farm workers. UFW contract agreements protect thousands of vegetable, berry, winery, tomato, and dairy workers in California, Oregon, and Washington along with more than 75 percent of workers in California’s fresh mushroom industry. Through some of their key campaigns they have advocated for better heat regulations, overtime pay, protection from pesticides, and immigration rights.

112. United Nations Foundation, International

The U.N. Foundation is an independent organization established to collaborate with the United Nations, address global challenges, and advance sustainable development. They foster partnerships, mobilize resources, and support initiatives aligned with the UN’s goals, focusing on issues such as climate change, health, gender equality, and peacebuilding. Within the agrifood space, the Foundation works to promote sustainable solutions that protect the planet and enhance food security as part of their broader commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

113. United Nations System, International

The U.N. System is made up of the U.N.’s six principal bodies as well as specialized agencies, funds and programs, as well as other bodies and entities. Many of these agencies, funds, and bodies work to support more resilient and regenerative regional food systems with communities that are free of food and nutrition insecurity and poverty. Among these institutions are the U.N. Development Programme, U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP),the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and FAO North America, U.N. Global Compact, UN Women, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) and World Food Program USA (WFP USA), and the World Health Organization.

114. U.S. Hunger, United States

U.S. Hunger works to tackle food insecurity through programs including Full Cart, a virtual food bank delivering meals directly to those in need, and Hunger Projects, which mobilize volunteers to package meals. Beyond providing meals, the organization focuses on addressing the social determinants of health driving hunger, such as economic instability and healthcare access. U.S. Hunger has distributed millions of meals across the country and internationally.

115. Ustawi, Kenya

Ustawi Afrika works to empower rural communities in semi-arid regions of Eastern Africa by promoting sustainable agriculture, mindset transformation, and women’s empowerment. The organization trains women in regenerative farming techniques, rainwater harvesting, and agribusiness while leveraging technology to optimize crop yields and conserve resources. By addressing root causes of hunger and poverty, Ustawi Afrika fosters resilience and long-term self-sufficiency in marginalized communities.

116. Vision for Climate Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), Africa

VACS is a collaborative initiative launched by the U.S. Office of Global Food Security, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and the African Union. By fostering innovation and strengthening value chains, VACS aims to build resilient food systems through diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops—called “opportunity crops” by Cary Fowler, Special Envoy for Global Food Security—grown in healthy soils. “We’ve got to get the fundamentals right,” Fowler tells Food Tank. “And the fundamentals are always going to be soils and crops.”

117. Wellness in the Schools (WITS), United States

WITS works to instill healthy habits in public school students by improving access to nutritious meals, promoting physical activity, and teaching environmental sustainability. Programs like Cook for Kids focus on transforming cafeteria offerings with scratch-cooked meals, while Coach for Kids encourages movement and fitness. WITS also integrates gardening and sustainability lessons to help students build connections between their food, health, and the environment.

118. Centre d’Etude Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse (CERAAS), Senegal

CERAAS focuses on improving agricultural resilience to drought across West and Central Africa. It develops technologies and innovations tailored to arid and semi-arid regions, promoting sustainable farming practices and enhancing crop productivity. CERAAS also prioritizes empowering women researchers and farmers, fostering inclusive and sustainable solutions to regional food security challenges.

119. Wholesome Wave, United States

Wholesome Wave works to address food and nutrition insecurity by making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable. Through initiatives like doubling SNAP benefits and produce prescription programs, the organization empowers individuals to improve diet-related health outcomes while supporting local farmers. Wholesome Wave’s efforts bridge healthcare, policy, and community partnerships to create sustainable solutions for healthier food systems.

120. Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA), United States

WANDA empowers Black women and girls to lead transformative changes in food, agriculture, and nutrition systems. Through education, advocacy, and initiatives like the Black Food Census and WANDA Academy, the organization uplifts ancestral foodways and addresses systemic inequities in access to healthy food. By supporting the development of and uplifting “food sheroes,” WANDA works to create equitable and culturally relevant solutions for nutrition equity and community well-being.

121. World Central Kitchen (WCK), International

World Central Kitchen, founded by chef and advocate Jose Andres, provides fresh meals to communities impacted by humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Guided by values of empathy and adaptability, they work alongside local partners to deliver nourishing food with dignity and urgency. From supporting hurricane survivors to aiding refugees in conflict zones, the organization’s mission is rooted in the belief that food is a universal human right.

122. World Resources Institute (WRI), International

WRI aims to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality through research and strategic partnerships. Their agrifood initiatives seek to tackle critical issues like food loss, waste reduction, and climate-friendly diets, advancing resilience and sustainability worldwide. They also serve as the secretariat and core partner of the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) a global network of over 60 organizations promoting evidence-based solutions and empowering diverse stakeholders to drive sustainable, equitable food systems and land use practices.

123. World Rural Forum (WRF), International

WRF is a global network dedicated to advancing family farming and sustainable rural development. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and collaboration with organizations across five continents, WRF aims to empower farmers, promote gender equity, and support youth leadership in agriculture. The organization also plays a key role in global initiatives, such as the U.N. Decade of Family Farming, fostering policies and actions to enhance rural livelihoods and protect biodiversity.

124. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International

WWF is dedicated to conserving biodiversity, addressing climate change, and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. Active in nearly 100 countries, WWF collaborates with communities, governments, and organizations to develop science-based solutions to environmental challenges. Its food systems initiatives aim to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture while ensuring equitable access to nutritious food.

125. Zero Foodprint, United States

Zero Foodprint seeks to combat climate change by transforming food systems through regenerative agriculture. The organization connects the food and beverage industry with efforts to fund farm projects that restore soil health and sequester carbon. By promoting practices like composting, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, Zero Foodprint works toward better food, thriving farms, and a restored climate.

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With support from the European Union (EU), AlgaeProBANOS is working to bring algae, ecology, and business experts together through the coordination of the SUBMARINER Network. The project is exploring the creation and marketing of various products made from algae. Based in Germany, The Network researches and implements solutions to mitigate climate change’s effects on oceans, supporting the EU’s mission to restore oceans and marine ecosystems.

AlgaeProBANOS wants to help businesses sustainably harvest algae, market it, and sell it to populations. To prioritize circular economies, carbon neutrality, and zero waste, the SUBMARINER Network strives to involve European consumers in the development of new algae-based products.

A study from the Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre suggests that algae is an excellent source of protein and vitamins, including antioxidants, omega-3, and vitamin B, and can be incorporated into and enhance plant-based diets. Algae’s high protein content contributes to its medicinal value. Research from the University of Connecticut reveals that blue-green algae can help treat cardiovascular and fatty liver diseases.

Algae also offer environmental benefits: The organisms can capture carbon dioxide from the environment, acting as a carbon sink, according to the Carbon Capture Science & Technology journal. They also don’t require arable land or freshwater; they grow in abundance on land and by sea.

But a study published by European researchers in the journal Foods, suggests that consumers may need to be exposed to algae-based foods to embrace them fully. It finds that Europeans have a general disinterest and unfamiliarity with algae as food.

AlgaeProBANOS hopes to change this by working with six companies and eight pilot products, including two food products to market algae to the public with a consumer-centric approach. Involving eaters in product development leads to “a better chance of success in the marketplace,” Efthalia Arvaniti, Programme Manager at SUBMARINER Network, tells Food Tank.

One company, Sjy, hopes to sell kelp chips to the public. They are planning to sustainably harvest seaweed from the coast of Kvarøy, a Norwegian island to produce a plant-based seafood alternative to other snack foods.

And OceanBasis considers themselves sea “treasure collectors.” They are growing algae in controlled environments and packaging various seaweeds as food, including seaweed salad, sea spaghetti, and algae flakes. OceanBasis wants to see consumers eat their products as snacks or add them to dishes to enhance the flavor.

These businesses, along with the four other AlgaeProBANOS partners, connect with consumers directly through AlgaeProBANOS’ marketing initiatives. The Feel the Sea Labs and Interactive Algae Journeys are physical and digital platforms, respectively, for consumers to learn more about algae and its benefits.

But before companies can sell their products, farmers must grow and harvest it sustainably, to ensure the longevity of the resource. Arvaniti tells Food Tank that AlgaeProBANOS and the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Technology are studying the amount of wild algae that growers can sustainably harvest.

Algae are currently growing rapidly along the coastlines of the Baltic Region. According to the Stockholm International Water Institute, the Baltic Sea is the most polluted in the world. Filled with nutrient runoff from fertilizers, the waters create the perfect environment for algal blooms. But these blooms consume so much oxygen from the water that marine life struggles to survive, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

That’s why algae innovators, like the Finnish company Origin by Ocean, are working with AlgaeProBANOS to harvest algae from blooms. The algae is then incorporated into consumer products including snack foods, animal feed, and cosmetics.

AlgaeProBANOS is also supporting companies that use reactors to farm algae on land and at sea. A study in Green Chemical Engineering shows that Photo bioreactors can use energy from light to combine carbon dioxide with wastewater. The process recycles resources from the environment and creates microalgae for a variety of products, like food, cosmetics, and fuel. The reactors, Arvaniti says, offer a “continuous and stable supply of algae.”

Although the Alliance is starting with just a handful of companies, they also strive to spread best practices to other algae producers. The Algae Accelerator and the Algae Business Club aims to support algae companies by offering mentorship and networking opportunities, furthering opportunities for sustainable and responsible algae production and consumption.

Algae, one of the fastest-growing crops in the world, offers a “compelling solution,” for feeding the world on a plant-based diet, Arvaniti tells Food Tank. “The incorporation of algae into the food industry is set to offer both economically viable and high-value solutions, addressing the evolving demands of consumers and fostering sustainable practices.”

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It is easy to forget how much we depend on the world’s oceans.

All together, the world’s oceans cover nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and plunge to an average depth of more than two miles. But even though oceans contain 97 percent of all the water on the planet, it can be surprisingly easy to forget about what we can’t see.

“So much of what happens, happens underneath the water,” Mark Zimring, Director of Large Scale Fisheries at The Nature Conservancy, tells Food Tank.

But, as he and other advocates point out so powerfully, we cannot ignore what happens in the ocean! The health of our oceans is directly tied to nourished communities, strong local food systems, and long-term climate stability.

That central truth is at the heart of World Ocean Day, which takes place this Saturday, June 8. It’s a relatively new observance in the grand scheme of things—it became an annual United Nations observance in 2008 and the first U.N. Ocean Conference took place in 2017—which only serves to highlight the urgency of focusing on oceans at this moment in time.

Like many other complex ecosystems on the planet, the oceans face plenty of challenges. Primary threats, per United Nations data, include litter and pollution that harms marine life, water acidification that degrades ecosystems, rising temperatures and sea levels, and overfishing.

“We have got to invest in managing these systems for resilience because they are critical, ultimately, to our wellbeing and the global biodiversity,” Zimring said on the Food Talk podcast.

He’s right. The livelihoods of more than 800 million people depend on blue food systems, or ones that rely on aquaculture to feed communities—and more than 90 percent of blue food production faces substantial risks from climate change and environmental degradation. And fish, which are rich in micronutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, and selenium, are an important component of nourishing a growing global population.

So let’s talk about some action steps we can take in our own lives, as eaters and food system advocates, to stand up for the health of the oceans:

Buy from sustainable small-scale fishers. When we have a choice about what seafood we eat, let’s use our dollars to prioritize small-scale fisheries. About 90 percent of folks employed in fisheries around the world are working in small-scale operations, but these account for only about 40 percent of the global catch—which means, when we buy small, we’re able to support the people whose livelihoods are dedicated to blue foods.

Demand transparency. About 75 percent of industrial fishing vessels around the world are going untracked, according to a major new study. By going “dark,” especially in waters around Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa, it’s much harder to monitor these vessels for potential illegal activity.

Companies and food producers—of all sizes!—need to be held accountable to the public, since we all depend on oceans. It’s cool to see how companies like Envisible are using emerging technologies to bring transparency to seafood supply chains.

Be a citizen eater. Because so much of the oceans lie outside the legal jurisdiction of any particular country, ocean health often relies on international treaties. Believe it or not, our national elected officials really do listen to us when we reach out to them, so let’s make our voices heard so ocean health can stay a priority at the federal level.

Link arms with other advocates. Plenty of organizations worldwide are dedicating resources and elevating voices of fishers and advocates. The Global Seafood Alliance provides education, advocacy, and certifications for seafood to advance responsible practices. And WorldFish, a nonprofit working to reduce hunger across Africa, Asia and the Pacific via sustainable aquaculture, has created an innovative program called the Asia-Africa Bluetech Superhighway to secure a future for aquatic food systems that’s led by sustainable small-scale fishers.

A few years ago, we compiled a list of 24 amazing organizations around the globe supporting sustainable fishing, traditional aquaculture systems, and good stewardship of oceans. Check out the list HERE to find out what’s happening in your area.

Hear more stories of success. Our friends at WWF are doing great work to highlight and protect oceans. Their new Oceans Futures Platform can help predict and prevent potential fisheries conflicts that might result from a changing climate. And a six-episode podcast series called “Breaking Waves” shines a spotlight on ways top visionaries are bringing topics like geopolitics, artificial intelligence technology, and more into the future of ocean conservation.

And I hope you’ll tune in this month to “Hope in the Water,” an incredible docuseries premiering on PBS on June 19. It was produced by the chef and advocate Andrew Zimmern and television producer David E. Kelley alongside Fed By Blue, and it features folks like Martha Stewart, José Andrés, Shailene Woodley, Baratunde Thurston, and more. Before the official premiere, you can check out previews here.

And as Jen Bushman of Fed By Blue told us at an event last year, “We can’t create the solutions around blue foods if we forget they exist.”

What are you going to do on World Ocean Day this weekend to recognize and prioritize sustainable waters and blue food systems? Let’s expand this list of ways to make sure we’re not ignoring our oceans! Email me your ideas at danielle@foodtank.com so we can keep the conversation flowing. See what I did there?

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The post Thriving Oceans Create Nourished Communities and Resilient Food Systems appeared first on Food Tank.

Catches in the Antarctic region are almost entirely driven by krill, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report. The report reveals that 455,000 tonnes of Antarctic krill were captured in 2020, a sharp increase from the less than 100,000 tonnes captured in the late 1990s.

Aquafeed has used krill meal to accelerate fish growth and improve the color and taste of shrimp tails for decades. Carrying key nutrients and essential fatty acids, krill can augment fishmeal and other expensive ingredients in aquaculture feed without the burden of poor feed performance, according to the Global Seafood Alliance. Despite krill’s remote concentration in the Southern Ocean, the commercial desirability for harvesting krill is high.

The global aquaculture industry has grown rapidly in recent decades. According to the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture report, the industry grew from supplying a mere four percent of fish 70 years ago to accounting for over half of the fish eaten in 2018. The global growth of fish farming has driven the demand for Antarctic krill as an alternative to wild fish in fish feeds, according to a report from the Changing Markets Foundation.

While growth in the aquaculture industry has expanded demand for krill, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) believes the more recent discovery of krill’s nutritional benefits has also contributed to the increased krill fishing demand in the pharmaceutical sector.

“The dietary supplement part of krill fishing has changed the nature of the fishery to show a way to make more valuable products from krill than people realized was possible,” Dr. George Watters, Director of the Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division at NOAA, tells Food Tank.

Because of growing demand, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has regulated the total krill catch within a 620,000 tonne ‘trigger’ level distributed across four regions in the southwest Atlantic. Although CCAMLR set an overall catch limit of 5.62 million metric tons a year, the trigger level was set to prevent the krill fleet from concentrating its fishing in small areas. If the specified catch limit for a subarea is reached, the fishery will close to avoid potential impacts to the local ecosystem.

Watters, the U.S. Representative to the Scientific Committee for CCAMLR, says that quotas are just one of the management problems they are facing in creating a more adaptable system. He says that developing protective zones in the Antarctic could also help regulate fishing to ensure krill’s natural predators have access to food.

Yet a study from CCAMLR finds that even with precautionary quota systems and protective zones, harvesting Antarctic krill has an outsized impact on predators further up the food chain. Krill feed on phytoplankton, acquiring energy to make them a vital food resource for a number of predator species whales, seals, fish, penguins, and a range of seabirds.

Watters explains including how this challenge is exacerbated by the uneven and ever-changing distribution of krill across the ocean.

“You have all of this krill passing by, but sometimes natural variation can cause periods of low performance for predators,” Watters tells Food Tank. “This causes you to think about how it’s not just the total amount of krill that’s important, it’s the nature of the krill swarms.”

Krill are also essential climate crisis mediators, making the Southern Ocean one of the largest carbon sinks in the world. According to Big Blue Ocean Cleanup, krill consume phytoplankton that store carbon and release oxygen, and then excrete this carbon in tiny pellets that sink to the ocean floor.

The complex nature of krill as both a keystone species in the Southern Ocean and a commercially desired resource has contributed to variability regarding the future of krill fishing. Simon Seward, EVP of Human Health & Nutrition for Aker BioMarine says many data gaps still exist, especially as climate crisis impacts in the region accelerate. Aker BioMarine is a biotech innovator and Antarctic krill-harvesting company creating products for human nutrition, pet food, and aquaculture.

“It is clear that we need to harvest more from the ocean, but we need to do so in more innovative and sustainable ways, and in a manner that protects ocean health and marine biodiversity globally,” Seward tells Food Tank.

With the heightened pressure on land-based resources, Seward says the krill fishery, as one of the most underutilized and sustainable fisheries in the world, might actually be a solution for future food systems.

“It is clear that we need to harvest more from the ocean, but we need to do so in more innovative and sustainable ways, and in a manner that protects ocean health and marine biodiversity globally,” Seward tells Food Tank.

In 2015, Aker BioMarine partnered with the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition and WWF-Norway to establish the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR). The fund, which has successfully raised more than US$1.4 million since its inception, aims to support Antarctic research projects on krill and the ecosystem.

“The objective of AWR is to help close these gaps [in data] by providing additional funding to help various experts complete or expand their work,” says Seward. “Many projects have already been supported with additional grants and initiatives underway that will help protect the long-term health of the ecosystem in the Southern Ocean.”

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Photo courtesy of Shannon Lyday/NOAA Animal textures

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“Through Hope in the Water we are on a mission to reimagine a planet where both ecological balance and food abundance are possible. Our series is a fresh take on how we can rewrite menus worldwide that will create a meaningful and lasting impact for generations to come,” David E. Kelley, the producer of the series, says in the press release.

Kelley, a storytelling visionary and 13-time Emmy Award-winning producer, produced the series in collaboration with four-time James Beard Award and Emmy Award winner Chef Andrew Zimmern and his production company Intuitive Content. The series is directed by award-winning filmmaker Brian Peter Falk.

Hope in the Water embarks on a global journey, uncovering creative solutions and breakthrough blue food technologies that can save the threatened seas and fresh waterways while feeding future generations. Celebrated environmental activists, Shailene Woodley, Martha Stewart, José Andrés, and Baratunde Thurston reveal the hidden costs of the climate crisis, irresponsible fishing, and habitat destruction. The docuseries shines a light on the stories of innovators, aquafarmers, and fishers who are leading initiatives to build a sustainable future for the planet.

Hope in the Water is part of a larger multi-year impact campaign led by Fed by Blue. The nonprofit aims to provide and inspire visionaries, thought leaders, ocean enthusiasts, activists, and consumers with the knowledge and resources to help protect and participate in a responsible blue food system.

“We’re honored to be a part of the journey in bringing this important food system to bear in what are some of the most engaging conversations with thought leaders and experts,” Jennifer Bushman, co-founder of Fed by Blue, tells Food Tank. “We aim to always see how we can include our blue food system and align where we can have both water protection and water production in service to the future of food.”

Hope in the Water is part of a multi-year, multi-platform initiative from PBS exploring how every aspect of the climate crisis impacts communities, countries, and the entire planet. PBS’ Climate, Nature, & Our Planet initiative aims to provide a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding the climate crisis and explore its intersections with conservation, biodiversity, and the ecosystem.

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“One third of the global population faces water stress,” says Tom Pesek, Senior Liaison Officer at the FAO. The FAO also reports that access to freshwater resources per person has declined by 20 percent in the last decade.

“If we don’t change our current practices,” Pesek continues, “those figures are going to increase exponentially.” The speakers say that this has concerning implications for human health and food security.

Agriculture, which relies on freshwater, is responsible for more than 70 percent of global withdrawals. 

And Dana James, a Postdoctoral Fellow at UBC notes that “without clean drinking water, it’s pretty impossible to be food secure.” In British Columbia alone, she says, there are around 30 boil-water advisories, or no-drinking orders, for rural and remote communities.

Fortunately, the speakers say, there are many community leaders who are already pushing for better food and water systems, but they need support. 

“Something I see time and time again is the lack of representation in leadership and the lack of funding to support the infrastructure and projects community members are leading to increase food security,” says Lizeth Ardila Ramírez, a Master’s student in the Faculty Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems at UBC. 

The speakers argue that these groups, who know their communities so intimately, need support and investment so that they can carry out their work effectively.

Collaboration is also critical, says Tiare Boyes, a commercial fish harvester. “It’s really important that we reach out across sectors and that we work together because the problems that we’re facing right now are not simple and the solutions are not simple,” she states. 

And if these pathways allow for the creation of more sustainable food and agriculture systems, a brighter future is possible. “To have sustainable food and sustainable water means having a sustainable world for all of us to coexist with each other,” says Lisa Kenoras, Communications Coordinator for the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty.

Listen to two conversations from the World Food Day Summit—a fireside chat with Tom Pesek and a panel of youth leaders—on “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” to hear more about the solutions our food system hold to the climate crisis, the inseparable link between food and water security, and the steps the next generation of leaders are taking to center the voices of communities. And watch the replay of the full event by clicking HERE.

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The post Water is Life. Water is Food. Leave No One Behind. appeared first on Food Tank.

Do you know about blue foods?

Blue foods—including fish, seafood, ocean plants, and more—are vital to the global economy, and they’re quite healthy for us, too. The livelihoods of more than 800 million people around the world depend on producing these foods, which are rich in micronutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, and selenium.

As part of their diets, 3 billion people worldwide rely on blue foods for protein and vital nutrients, per the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization—yet 90 percent of production faces significant threats from the climate crisis. And it’s a sector of the food system we don’t talk about nearly enough.

I’ll admit it: Many of us in the food movement have not done a good enough job highlighting blue foods. I’ve been guilty of this, too. But blue foods absolutely need to be part of our conversations around transforming global food systems.

As chef and advocate Andrew Zimmern tells Food Tank, “We have to include our blue spaces everywhere that we’re talking about our green spaces.”

Why? Simply put, blue foods are the future.

Blue food systems hold massive potential for feeding a growing world population—and boosting economic opportunity and gender equity at the same time.

“Sea has everything to do with food justice and food access and our ability to have an equitable food system,” says Niaz Dorry, Coordinating Director at Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and Executive Director at National Family Farm Coalition.

Let’s crunch some numbers. Last year, global fisheries produced 178 million tonnes of aquatic animals and 36 million tonnes of algae. That’s already an all-time record, and the FAO projects that, by 2030, those numbers could grow by 15 percent. That represents a massive potential for growth in the food supply.

And when we look at who’s doing the farming, the story gets even more interesting.

1. Today, small-scale fisheries are vital to the blue food economy. Going forward, they’ll be even more important as the sector works to grow sustainably. About 90 percent of all people employed in fisheries around the world are employed by small-scale fisheries.

2. In blue foods, women are also central—and the sector must help uplift them and provide economic resources. Overall, nearly half the global blue food workforce is female. In small-scale fisheries in particular, that number is similar but slightly lower at about 4 out of every 10 people.

And a sustainable future for blue foods means we need to prioritize our water resources, too.

That means tackling the climate crisis. As I mentioned earlier, more than 90 percent of blue food production faces substantial risks from environmental change, according to a paper published this summer. Challenges include water quality, sea levels, ocean temperatures, pollution, habitat destruction, and more, and producers in Asia and the United States face the greatest threats.

This is unacceptable. Chief Caleen Sisk of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe put it really beautifully when she said: “This society, this modernization, has decided that it’s OK to dump everything and anything into waterways. Whereas the old way was that this water is precious, this water is life. You take care of this water. You don’t go throwing things in there. You pray to this water.”

The truth that Water is Life is at the heart of Food Tank’s Official World Food Day North America Celebration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other partners, which I hope you’ll join on Oct. 16. You can grab a free virtual ticket HERE or join in-person in Vancouver, Canada (use promotion code: FoodTankVIP to unlock hidden in-person tickets on the registration page HERE). And as a Food Tanker, I want to give you a sneak peek of our working agenda, which is HERE.

“We have to align water protection with water production,” says Jen Bushman, Co-Founder of the nonprofit Fed By Blue. “We can do that in order to return our waters—both fresh waters and marine-based—to abundance.”

Supporting blue food producers means supporting ambitious climate action, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. It also means ensuring blue foods are included in national and international discussions and securing financing for climate-smart initiatives, particularly regarding small-scale producers and vulnerable communities.

“What I would like to see most of all is for food policy makers and policy experts to not even think twice about including blue foods in their overall strategies for our food system,” says Roz Naylor, William Wrigley Professor in Earth System Science at Stanford University and co-Chair of the Blue Food Assessment.

I’m also optimistically watching the Responsible Seafood Summit from the Global Seafood Alliance, which is taking place right now in Canada. I’m sad to miss it, but I know important work is being done.

As for you and me and all of us Food Tankers, there’s another easy thing we can do: Make sure sustainable blue foods are represented in our diets.

As the subject line of this email says:

“We owe it to ourselves—to our society—to be eating more seafood,” chef and author Barton Seaver told me on the Food Talk podcast. “We need to begin to see the human future as blue.”

Reach out to me to share your ideas for incorporating more sustainable blue foods in your diet. Maybe you’ll plan to eat more fish, or experiment with vegetation like algae or seaweed, or simply pay closer attention to sustainability and traceability in seafood. Email me at danielle@foodtank.com, and let’s brainstorm!

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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These 23 books will encourage readers to explore new flavors, deepen community-based knowledge, and vitalize change within the food system. 

1. Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People by Erica Abrams Locklear

Appalachia on the Table unpacks the conception of Appalachia as a distinctly separate region from the rest of the South through the lens of food. After encountering the surprises within her grandmother’s cookbook, Erica Abrams Locklear sets out to understand where her own notions of Appalachian food traditions originated and why theories about the region’s lower culinary status have multiplied over time. 

2. The Ark of Taste: Delicious and Distinctive Foods That Define the United States by Giselle Kennedy Lord and David S. Shields

Created by Slow Food USA, The Ark of Taste serves as a catalog of the nation’s food heritage and a movement to preserve the culinary legacies handed down between generations. Readers can learn about the foods that distinguish the culinary landscape of the United States in this visual encyclopedia tailored for both consumers and food producers. 

3. At the Table by Katherine Miller

At the Table considers how chefs and other leaders in the restaurant industry can be some of the most powerful agents of advocacy and change in the food system. Katherine Miller recounts the techniques she developed for the James Beard Foundation’s Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change and shares the stories of chefs who used these skills to foster impact.

4. Beyond the Kitchen Table Edited by Priscilla McCutcheon, Latrica Best, and Theresa Ann Rajack-Talley 

Beyond the Kitchen Table is a deep analysis into Black women’s roles in food and agriculture systems in the Caribbean, Africa, and the United States. Through examining matrilineal food-based education and Black women’s social, cultural, and families’ networks, the authors address the ways in which Black women, both now and in the past, have used food to build community. 

5. The Core of an Onion: Peeling the Rarest Common Food by Mark Kurlansky (Forthcoming November 2023)

In The Core of an Onion, Mark Kurlansky dives into the science and history of the only sulfuric acid–spewing plant, exploring the onion’s twenty varieties and the cultures built around them. Including a recipe section featuring more than 100 dishes from around the world, Kurlansky celebrates the onion in all its forms, from a base for stews and sauces to metaphors and folklore. 

6. Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World by Steven Hawley

Steven Hawley examines the history of damming rivers to identify the short- and long-term impacts of leveraging the power of water for urban and agricultural growth. Cracked gives technical context of water scarcity in the American West, leaving readers with a sense of urgency to protect rivers, the biodiversity they sustain, and communities they feed. 

7. Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant a memoir by Curtis Chin 

In this memoir, Curtis Chin shares how he learned to embrace his gay, American-born Chinese identity in the safe haven of Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine. Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant highlights the challenges of life in Detroit in the 1980’s, and reveals how Chinese restaurants, both then and now, present an opportunity to engage in important conversations with people from different racial, socio-economic, and religious backgrounds. 

8. Endangered Eating: America’s Vanishing Foods by Sarah Lohman 

Sarah Lohman sheds light on the urgency of safeguarding Indigenous culinary customs through her tales of traversing America in search of endangered foods. In Endangered Eating she highlights the influence of colonization upon foodways, and also advocates for the localization of food systems and greater support for food producers and community organizations. 

9. Feeding Each Other: Shaping Change in Food Systems through Relationship by Nicole Civita and Michelle Auerbach

Feeding Each Other argues that current solutions to feed the world are only accelerating the collapse of environmental, economic, and social structures. Authors Nicole Civita and Michelle Auerbach use a blend of research, insights from diverse thinkers, and their own lived experiences to encourage us to focus on ‘feeding each other.’ 

10. Junk Food Politics: How Beverage and Fast Food Industries Are Reshaping Emerging Economies by Eduardo J. Gómez

Junk Food Politics reveals a two-way street where industry and political leaders work together to launch well-meaning social programs—but also work around regulations that might harm industry profits. According to Eduardo J. Gómez, this has led to a world in which beverage and fast-food industries thrive in low resource countries, causing long-term health problems for low income communities. 

11. Kings of Their Own Ocean: Tuna, Obsession, and the Future of Our Seas by Karen Pinchin

Kings of Their Own Ocean is an urgent investigation into how human obsession with bluefin tuna has transformed a cottage industry into a global dilemma. Karen Pinchin explores the story of one Atlantic bluefish tuna as a symbol for the ongoing fight between a booming tuna industry and desperate conservation efforts. 

12. Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

This dystopian novel by C Pam Zhang centers on a young chef who is trying to survive in the wake of an environmental catastrophe that devastated earth’s biodiversity. Imagining how fine dining might persist after food systems collapse, Land of Milk and Honey celebrates the joys of food while also addressing its inherent disparities and our complex relationship with nature. 

13. The Last Supper Club: A Waiter’s Requiem by Matthew Batt

This memoir shares the story of how Matthew Batt, a professor on sabbatical, found himself returning to a job waiting tables, and loving it. Detailing the challenges and satisfactions of meeting the demands of fine dining, The Last Supper Club is an ode to working in restaurants and the relationships you build along the way. 

14. The Lost Supper: Searching for the Future of Food in the Flavors of the Past by Taras Grescoe 

The Lost Supper introduces readers to the surprising and forgotten flavors whose revival is attracting food lovers across the globe. Taras Grescoe argues that the key to healthy and sustainable eating lies not in looking forward, but in looking back to the foods that have sustained the global population for millions of years. 

15. The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo García by Laura Tillman

The Migrant Chef encapsulates Mexico City-based journalist Laura Tillman’s five year immersion into Lalo Garcia’s story. As Tillman follows Lalo across the globe, she touches on themes including the history of Mexican food, farmworker conditions in the United States, Mexican politics and earthquakes, and the inequities and challenges of restaurant business. 

16. The New Fish: The Truth about Farmed Salmon and the Consequences We Can No Longer Ignore by Simen Sætre and Kjetil Østli

The New Fish delves into the origins of salmon farming, tracing its expansion from coastal Norway to the United States and the many countries in between. Following a prizewinning five-year investigation, journalists Simen Sætre and Kjetil Østli discuss the adverse effects of sea farming and the unintended consequences of attempts to address global food needs. 

17. No Meat Required: The Cultural History & Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating by Alicia Kennedy

No Meat Required is a culinary and cultural history of plant-based eating in the United States that digs into the subcultures and politics that define alternative foods among a new generation. From the early experiments in tempeh production in the 1970s to the vegan cafes of the 1990s, Alicia Kennedy brings depth and context to vegan and vegetarian cuisine. 

18. The Nourishing Asian Kitchen: Nutrient-Dense Recipes for Health and Healing by Sophia Nguyen Eng (Forthcoming November 2023)

The Nourishing Asian Kitchen is inspired by the nexus of nutritional research, regenerative farming practices, and cultural food tradition. Reflecting on the Asian recipes that have been passed down through her family for generations, Sophia Nguyen Eng recreates her favorite dishes with an emphasis on food quality, ingredient sourcing, and seasonality. 

19. Perfectly Good Food: A Totally Achievable Zero Waste Approach to Home Cooking by Margaret Li and Irene Li

Perfectly Good Food is a cookbook on a mission to eliminate food waste. With 80 recipes and150 ideas to transform fridge leftovers, chef-sisters Margaret and Irene Li celebrate the joys of saving food, reducing grocery expenses, and mastering the art of resourceful cooking. 

20. Resilient Kitchens: American Immigrant Cooking in a Time of Crisis Edited by Philip Gleissner and Harry Eli Kashdan

Resilient Kitchens is a collection of essays about the lives of immigrants in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, told through the lens of food. The book brings together stories and recipes from professional food writers, scholars, restaurateurs, and activists to discuss the hardship and resilience of racism in the American food system. 

21. The Salmon Sisters: Harvest & Heritage by Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton

The Salmon Sisters: Harvest & Heritage celebrates the seasons of Alaskan food and rituals through photography, illustrations, recipes, and traditions. Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton reflect on their values and visions inspired by their upbringing and summers spent fishing on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. 

22. Secret Harvests: A Hidden Story of Separation and the Resilience of a Family Farm by David Mas Masumoto

Secret Harvests tells the story of a Japanese American family’s reunion after 70 years of being separated by racism and the discrimination of people with developmental disabilities. As David Mas Masumoto accounts the discovery of his lost aunt, he uncovers themes of resilience, identity, and family among farmers who forge forward in a land that historically did not want them. 

23. White Burgers, Black Cash: Fast Food from Black Exclusion to Exploitation by Naa Oyo A. Kwate

White Burgers, Black Cash traces the evolution of fast food, uncovering its long history of racist exclusion to its current exploitation of urban Black communities. Naa Oyo A. Kwate contends that both sides of fast food’s racial spectrum—from exclusion to exploitation—underscore the deeply rooted presence of anti-Blackness within the industry.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

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In 2018 a group of seven shellfish farmers partnered with The Nature Conservancy to form the Coalition, spurred by concerns over the climate crisis. Today, the group represents more than 270 farmers, harvesters, hatchery operators, wholesalers, and restaurateurs. 

The Coalition pushes for change by sharing personal stories about the ways the changing climate has affected the lives and livelihoods of members. They also provide resources to help producers and other advocates call on lawmakers and demand sound climate policy. 

Urgent action is needed as extreme weather events, including hurricanes, increase in frequency and threaten to wreak havoc on shellfish farms. Even when a farm is spared from the worst of a storm, producers may still suffer, explains Sally McGee, Project Manager for the Shellfish Climate Coalition.

Typically, shellfish cages float on the water’s surface, but when a storm is predicted to move through the region, farmers face a difficult decision. “Either they cross their fingers and hope the storm will miss them, or they’ll have to take everything out of the water or sink their entire farm [to avoid damange],” McGee tells Food Tank. The process can result in “a long time when they’re not selling oysters.”

But farmers don’t have to wait for hurricane season to see the repercussions of the climate crisis. And while it affects producers differently depending on their region, the changing climate leaves nobody untouched. 

In the Gulf of Maine, for example, farmers are noticing that the increasingly acidic waters are making animals’ shells brittle. And in Mobile Bay, an estuary in Alabama, the salinity is so low that farmers are losing their entire crops. Producers are also experiencing changes to water and air temperatures along with an increasing frequency of harmful algal blooms that prevent them from harvesting.

“All these things are happening as a result of climate change,” McGee tells Food Tank “And the farmers see it every day.”

Declining shellfish populations represents a blow to aquatic ecosystems. As filter feeders, oysters improve water quality. Oyster reefs also provide wildlife habitats and protect against erosion along waterfront areas. “That oyster reef is going to provide a buffer and reduce the wave energy that comes to shore, so they do a lot,” McGee says. Shellfish, and oysters in particular, are “total powerhouses.”

Listen to the full conversation with Sally McGee on “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” to hear more about the ecological importance of shellfish, why the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition uses storytelling to drive change, and how the Nature Conservancy’s Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR) Program is building resilience.

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WWF reports that just 1 percent of the high seas—which lie outside of national jurisdiction—is currently protected. But change may be underway. At the recent U.N. Global Biodiversity Conference (COP15), 196 countries agreed to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of the ocean and ensure 30 percent of degraded areas are under restoration by 2030. 

Pepe Clarke, Oceans Practice Leader at WWF International says that the Treaty is an “essential precondition” to achieve this goal. The Treaty, if adopted, will create a process to establish marine protected area (MPA) networks in areas that lie outside national jurisdiction. And it will establish a global minimum standard for environmental impact assessments. 

These changes serve to benefit blue food systems, says Andreas Hansen, Senior Policy Advisor for Ocean and Conservation Finance at TNC. He explains that regulations set by international bodies would ideally comply with standards for environmental impact assessments set by the Treaty. This encompasses fisheries and aquaculture, helping to ensure that they are managed more sustainably.

But reaching an agreement has proven challenging, Hansen says. The oceans “don’t belong to anyone, and they belong to everyone. So they’re a classic example of a global commons,” he tells Food Tank. 

Currently, a patchwork of governance bodies and organizations regulate parts of the ocean, “but you don’t have a governance mechanism that looks specifically at conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in the high seas,” Hansen tells Food Tank. The Treaty would serve as a “truly powerful new legal tool.”

U.N. member states have engaged in formal and informal talks around a High Seas Treaty over the last 15 years. And at the end of 2022, during the Fifth Intergovernmental Conference to negotiate a legally binding agreement, they failed to reach a consensus. 

At the start of the latest round of negotiations, Hansen expressed hope that the global biodiversity framework established during COP15 would serve as a necessary incentive. 

But Dr. Laura Meller, Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace Nordic has expressed concerns as discussions dragged on. “Negotiations have been going around in circles, progressing at a snail’s pace, and this is reflected in the new draft Treaty text,” she says. “It is far from where it should be as we enter the endgame of these negotiations.”

In a statement read during the Conference, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to come to an “robust and ambitious” agreement: “With flexibility and perseverance, you can secure an outcome to help ensure our ocean will be healthier, more resilient, and more productive, benefiting our planet and human kind.” 

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Silas Baisch, Unsplash

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I’ve been in Abu Dhabi as a judge for the Food Tech Challenge, which brought together food entrepreneurs and innovators from all over the world to submit ideas about changing food systems in the UAE. It’s been very exciting to be on the ground in the UAE, because food and agriculture advocates here are preparing for the next U.N. climate conference, COP28, which will be in Dubai in November.

So many organizations and activists are working to build up momentum, and I can’t wait to see what we can do over the next few months to continue highlighting the role of food in solving the climate crisis.

And this weekend, I’ll be in Utah moderating three days of sold-out talks, screenings, and tastings taking place during the Sundance Film Festival. More details HERE. And as I prepare for the trip, I’ve been reflecting on storytelling, and how the stories we tell can have real impact in the world.

Those in power have massive influence over what stories get told and funded, A-dae Romero Briones of the First Nations Development Institute said last year at the SXSW festival. We’ve become “disattached from our stories, just like we’ve become disattached from our foods,” she said. And, she adds, “You have to listen to their story. Society has to do the work.”

Storytelling has long been integral to the mission of Food Tank. During the early days of COVID-19, for example, we focused on under-covered stories of frontline workers and food producers. On this week’s episode of our podcast, Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, our executive producer Rob Pera made a great point: At the beginning of the pandemic, with how little we knew, it almost felt like we were doing a miniseries on a totally new topic—and then that became our world.

At our events during Sundance, Food Tank is focusing on blue food systems, which encompass aquaculture and aquatic plants, fisheries, ocean farming, and more. And we’re recognizing that maritime food production isn’t a miniseries or a side project but actually a central element of sustainable food systems.

More than 3 billion people around the world rely on blue foods for vital nutrients, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and nearly half the blue food workforce is female. And it could help address our global hunger issues, too: The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy predicts that more sustainable and responsible practices could help boost blue food production by six times. Many of us in the food movement—myself included, I’ll admit—have long focused primarily on terrestrial food systems, but we need to think holistically about how blue food systems fit into the stories we tell about regenerative transformation.

So in Utah, we’ll be helping share the story of blue food systems with a few films we’ve helped curate with Jen Bushman of Fed By Blue. We’ll see “SeaLegacy: A Sea of Hope,” a film by Emmy-nominated director and SeaLegacy founder Andy Mann that documents ocean life for the purpose of conservation. The film “Feeding Tomorrow,” by Oliver English and Simon English, explores the overwhelming choices we make every day about what we eat, and Matthieu Rytz’s “Deep Rising” follows the environmental consequences of deep-sea mining on all life on Earth.

And I want to shout out “Hope In The Water,” another film we’ll be showcasing. The docuseries is produced by award-winning producer and writer David E. Kelley and celebrity chef and advocate Andrew Zimmern, and it highlights the abundance of innovative opportunities to restore our world’s oceans while responsibly producing food. And we’ll also once again be able to share “Food 2050,” a film by The Rockefeller Foundation and Media RED that spotlights 10 global food visionaries.

These events are a really unique opportunity to share these stories with culturally influential folks who might not otherwise have these conversations about food system transformation, and I’m excited to be back. Here’s what I appreciate about these films, too: Seeing a documentary about food is a good first step, but actually doing something about it is entirely different—and these films help tell us the specific ways we can make an impact with the information we’re learning and the stories we’re hearing.

Tickets are sold out…but you’re a Food Tanker. So if you happen to be in Park City during Sundance, email our co-founder Bernie Pollack at bernard@foodtank.com, and we’d love for you to be our guests. I broke my foot recently—not a fun way to start the new year—but I hope to see you as I hobble around the festival!

As part of Food Tank’s strategic plans to meet the momentum of the food movement in 2023, we’ll continue using film and other cultural spaces to spark dialogue about the urgent changes we need to see in the food movement. What are some food-related films that inspire you—that call you to action? Share them with me at danielle@foodtank.com.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Tadeu Jnr, Unsplash

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