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Every year, Food Tank highlights organizations that contribute to creating a more sustainable global food system by protecting biodiversity, producing valuable agricultural research, fighting hunger, and much more. This year, Food Tank is featuring 116 organizations you may not have heard about, but should look out for over the new year. These organizations may not be well-known, but are deserving of the spotlight because of their vital contributions to creating a better food system. Food Tank is proud to bring attention to organizations dedicated to alleviating childhood poverty, empowering women to become financially independent through food and farming, preventing postharvest losses and food waste, cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders, implementing true cost accounting in the food system, putting farmers’ in the driver’s seat of research and development, and innovating the way food is grown in cities. To learn about additional groups making a difference, check out Food Tank’s partner organizations. 4-H—4-H is a youth development program of the Cooperative Extension System of land-grant universities in the United States. Based in Chevy Chase, MD, 4-H encourages youth to pursue their own projects, with help from volunteers and mentors. The organization also provides programs in several categories: science programs which encourage youth to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); healthy living programs; and programs that encourage young people to be well-informed and engaged citizens of their communities. African Biodiversity Network (ABN)—ABN was founded in 1996 in Kenya as a regional network of individuals and organizations in 12 African countries: Benin, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. ABN focuses on indigenous knowledge, protecting biodiversity, and improving agricultural policies and legislation. African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)—AWARD works to strengthen the research and leadership skills of African women working in agricultural research and development. Launched in 2008, AWARD helps promising women contribute more effectively to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. A Growing Culture—A Growing Culture uses information exchange, outreach, and advocacy to connect farmers around the world to the tools they need for ecologically friendly practices. The organization offers an online platform for knowledge sharing, while promoting site-specific and collaborative development; farmer-led documentation; and farmer-led innovation on the ground. Agenda Gotsch—Swiss farmer and researcher, Ernst Götsch, migrated to Brazil in the early 80's and has settled on a farm in the cocoa zone of southern Bahia. Götsch developed a set of principles and techniques that enable integrating food producing dynamics with natural regeneration of forests called Sintropic Agriculture. Agenda Gotsch produces films, text, and courses on Sintropic Agriculture. Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO)—AERO is a Montana-based grassroots, nonprofit organization promoting resource conservation and local economic vitality. AERO nurtures individual and community self-reliance through programs that support sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and environmental quality. Asian Farmers Association For Sustainable Rural Development (AFA)—AFA aims to be an influential voice of small-scale farmers in Asia. The organization lobbies governments in Asia and works as an advocacy group for farmers’ rights and development, agrarian reform, and mainstreaming sustainable agriculture in regional and national policies and programs. Association of Rural Workers (ATC)—ATC is the lead La Via Campesina member organization in Nicaragua. The ATC represents the interests of more than 50,000 campesino and landless rural workers families, organized in cooperatives, small landholding associations, and unions. The ATC operates a Central American Training Center in Nicaragua and trains community leaders from across Central America. Australian International Food Security Centre (AIFSC)—AIFSC is a nonprofit organization that works to promote agricultural innovation and attract investment to agricultural development projects. Aiming to build capacity for farming initiatives worldwide, AIFSC focuses on achieving specific goals like improving nutrition, connecting researchers with industry, and enhancing supply chain systems to allow farmers to bring their products to market. Backyard Growers—Backyard Growers is a grassroots organization in Gloucester, MA which is working to reshape the relationship of communities with their food. They provide resources and support to establish vegetable gardens at homes, housing communities, organizations, and schools. Barn2Door—Barn2Door is an online marketplace for foods grown sustainably by farmers around the United States. Barn2Door connects producers with consumers by providing an online storefront for marketing, selling, and buying local, sustainable and specialty foods. Brooklyn Food Coalition (BFC)—BFC is a grassroots organization, which unites and increases the capacity of organizations and community-based groups in Brooklyn who are committed to ending inequity and racism in the food system. California Food and Justice Coalition (CFJC)—CFJC promotes the basic human right to healthy food while advancing economic, social, agricultural, and environmental justice priorities. CFJC collaborates with community-based efforts to create a sustainable food supply for Californians through advocacy, organizing, and education. The Coalition focuses on increasing access to land and resources for rebuilding local food systems. California Institute for Rural Studies—California Institute for Rural Studies wants to increase social justice in rural California for all residents by building sustainable communities based on a healthy agriculture primarily for marginalized populations. The organization engages in scientific research in topics such as food systems, rural health, and farm labor, with the intention of mobilizing policy change. CIRS aims to turn this research into action in order to strengthen social justice and increase the sustainability of California's rural communities. Camino Verde—Camino Verde is a U.S.-based nonprofit with locations in Concord, MA and Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Camino Verde’s mission is to plant trees and encourage future planting through educational programs and public awareness. The initiative’s Living Seed Bank acts as a botanical garden with over 250 tree species, protects endangered varieties, and provides an arena for further research into multi-species agroforestry systems. The Carrot Project—The Carrot Project gives access to financing and support for small farms and food businesses while helping to create a sustainable food economy. Based in Massachusetts, they work with local family farms that take part in sustainable growing methods, as well as retailers that sell locally grown products. They work with approximately 70 farms and businesses every year in the Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and the Greater Berkshires areas. Center for a Livable Future (CLF) is a research center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health dedicated to improving human health and ensuring food, water, and shelter for all. The program conducts regional food systems research, examines antibiotic use in animal agriculture, explores the contributions of agriculture to climate change, and offers community food programming in Baltimore, Maryland. Through a systems focus on diet, food production, and human health, CLF works to investigate and promote policies that will protect both human health and the global environment.
