Transforming Food Systems From the Ground Up: Our Theory of Change
For over 13,000 years, farming has been about people constantly innovating and working with nature to create reliable ways to grow food and enhance well-being. But the past 200 years have seen a dramatic shift towards industrial agriculture. Heavy reliance on fossil fuels and mechanization became the norm, prioritizing quick growth over protecting natural resources. Today, a few large corporations dominate the supply of farming inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and patented seeds, shaping markets and policies to serve their interests. This shift has led to short …
Devastating Flood in Nepal Affects Dozens of Families in the Terai Region
On what seemed like an ordinary monsoon night, the residents of Ishworpur Municipality in Sarlahi were caught off guard by an unprecedented flood. This was no ordinary flood; it was a catastrophic event brought about by a combination of unplanned urbanization, haphazard construction, and extensive land coverage with concrete. The relentless rain, unable to find its natural course, wreaked havoc as it flowed uncontrollably through the Terai region. The Terai region of Nepal lies along the southern border, adjacent to India, forming a narrow belt that extends from the eastern to the wester …
Young Voices from Mali and Honduras Celebrate Nature and Soil Conservation with Art
“The tree told me to look up. The tree told me to root myself in the soil. The tree told me there are many paths. The tree told me to know how to wait. The tree told me that joy is shared.”
Agroecology in Senegal: Lessons from Mohammed’s Innovative Model Farm
Thiès is the third largest city in Senegal. It resembles a mini-Dakar: narrow streets of cement and unfinished buildings buzz with street vendors, unlicensed motorcycles, and corner cafés selling mostly Western food. While Dakar’s coastline enjoys a fresh sea breeze in April, Thiès is engulfed in crushing heat that tastes like sand and smells like gasoline. But weather aside, the city is a marketplace of innovation and ideas, and a testing ground for innovative and sustainable farming methods like agroecology, the region being one of the country’s top producers of groundnuts. So, the Groundswe …
Meet Galy, a Farmer Spreading Hope in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor
Galy lives in the arid mountain community of Suquinay, El Divisadero. For years, the region has been grappling with intense heat and prolonged dry spells, plunging millions into harsh life conditions. The situation has been worsening yearly, with Guatemala being among the top 10 countries most at risk from the effects of climate change. But there’s hope. Galy, a woman farmer collaborating with our local partner, Asociación de Agricultores las Ilusiones el Divisadero (AGRIDIVI), is teaching her community to safeguard water, regenerate the land, and produce nutritious food, helping improve the w …
Agroecology as a Path to Sustainable Growth in India and Nepal
Eastern Nepal and Bihar, India: two regions facing similar challenges Eastern Nepal and the state of Bihar, India face a fair share of challenges. Both countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and experience increasingly unpredictable weather. Irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts and floods disrupt planting and harvesting cycles, reducing crop yields and threatening food security. Intensive farming practices and over-reliance on chemical fertilizers have also degraded the soil, impacting agricultural productivity and making it harder for farmers to sustain the …