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Over the past decade, many companies and organizations have sprung onto the food scene with different strategies for connecting consumers to sustainable food systems. An exciting development within the sustainable food movement in its own right, the proliferation of new kinds of solutions has also created new types of jobs.
Wherever you see an exciting project, product or service, there's a team of committed, creative people making it happen!
Community-based urban agriculture is flourishing at all levels, from small community gardens to large organizations such as Brooklyn Grange. Urban agriculture projects offer many avenues for community engagement and fresh food access, including CSAs, partnerships with local vendors and retailers and donations, as well as opportunities for volunteering and education. These dynamic organizations succeed through combined efforts of people who manage agricultural production, coordinate programs and execute a wide array of outreach initiatives.
Commercial-scale, indoor urban farms such as Aerofarms, Bright Farms, and Gotham Greens use cutting-edge greenhouse technology and soilless growing systems to maximize the production efficiency of sustainably-grown produce. Beyond growers trained to manage indoor plant production, the continued optimization of these companies' growing technologies also offers opportunities relating to data science, software, engineering and construction. Apart from the farms themselves, business teams are needed to manage the contracts that bring their produce to the grocery aisle.
With the advent of smart phones, people now have access to in-depth information on the go. This is especially true at grocery stores, where a casual trip down the aisles often turns into a circuitous journey through a maze of misleading labels. The development of apps that clarify product claims empowers shoppers to make better decisions without expending hours of their own research time. The Environmental Working Group's Food Scores App rates products according to concerns around nutrition, ingredients and processing. Good Guide's rating system similarly gives products a score based on their impacts on health, environment and society. Building reliable, data-driven, user friendly apps offers extensive opportunity for those with skills in research or software.
For many, regular trips to the grocery store or farmers' market are met by several challenges in terms of logistics and time. A number of fresh food delivery services are working to bridge the gap between quality ingredients and hungry consumers. The most sustainable companies in this space are those focusing on increasing accessibility to the offerings of local farmers and food makers, such as Farmigo and Spud. As Certified B Corporations, these companies maintain high standards for accountability, transparency, and impacts on environment and society. The execution of their missions relies on multiple teams working at every stage of the source-to-delivery process. Like the apps I mentioned above, the web-based nature of these businesses requires extensive efforts around research and software. Other key responsibilities include coordination with vendors, operations management around food transport, and customer relations.
Hands down, the most extensive resource for those who want to work in the sustainable food space is goodfoodjobs.com. Another great place to look is idealist.org, which curates opportunities from socially conscious organizations. Ponicjobs.com is also an excellent resource for those searching specifically for opportunities in hydroponics and aquaponics. Aside from job search engines, many companies stick to posting openings on their websites. When it comes to finding an opportunity that truly aligns with your goals, some good old fashioned research is well worth your time.
The dynamic nature of the businesses and organizations shifting the sustainable food landscape has important implications for job seekers. Whether a startup, full-fledged enterprise, or non-profit with any level of funding, all efforts tied to a social movement experience unique challenges and opportunities. Job descriptions aside, these kinds of businesses aim to build teams that foster mission alignment and nourish company culture. I recently spoke with Elias Kolsun, Advisor to Cultural Development for Grove Labs, the startup behind the indoor Grove Ecosystem. He explained that when it comes to building a successful team, "...at the end of the day, hustle and hard work win out." How does one prove their readiness to contribute? According to Kolsun, "If you're a designer, design something and send it in...if you're a content creator, write some articles." The best way to catch a company's attention is by showing the value you will add to their team.
While a background in the agriculture or food sectors can serve as a great foundation for a future in sustainable food, highly relevant skills and experiences can be transferred from other areas. Business, media, education, public policy, technology and science are all impacted by and have influence on our food system. This means that there are many different ways to build a career in sustainable food. For some inspiration on how people have applied different professions to food sustainability, check out our Heroes Series!
