Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a time to honor and celebrate the sovereignty, leadership, and resilience of Tribal Nations. Their knowledge, practices, and traditions have shaped and sustained diverse cultures over generations and continue to offer valuable guidance for how we care for the land, grow food, and build community today. Native leaders are at the forefront of these efforts to build resilient food systems and economies, and we are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment to stewarding this sacred Earth. We express gratitude to the Tribal Nations, Native-led Organizations, and Native leaders who have shared their wisdom and leadership with the SAFSF community in spaces like the? Indigenous Food Systems Community of Practice and other recent SAFSF gatherings, including First Nations Development Institute, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi , Makoce Agriculture Development,? Native Farm Bill Coalition, and Osage Nation. These Native leaders, along with many others, are doing critical work to nourish Native communities, by advancing food sovereignty and addressing the impacts of climate change. It is a privilege to learn from and stand in solidarity with Native Americans. On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we encourage everyone to take concrete steps in supporting reparative justice and repairing relationships with Native American communities. A key part of this is returning resources and supporting Indigenous-led efforts. SAFSF contributes a portion of our event revenues to local Tribal Nations and/or Native-led organizations. We invite you to contribute to the organizations linked above or other Native-led organizations in your community as a vital way to engage in reparative justice and stand in solidarity with Native communities.? Let this be a reminder that the journey toward justice requires ongoing, meaningful actions to restore what has been taken and uplift Indigenous leadership.

Are you a funder in food and agriculture? SAFSF is accepting applications for a membership by Tomorrow, October 15 and we would love for you to become a part of our community. For over 20 years, SAFSF has been the leading national network for philanthropy and impact investors committed to creating an equitable and sustainable food and agriculture. Our community of 100+ member organizations includes foundations, impact investors, community development finance institutions (CDFIs), funding collaboratives, and re-granting organizations representing every geography and issue area. SAFSF membership offers networking, professional development, and strategic collaboration opportunities. Increase your impact and expand your network by joining SAFSF today.?? To learn more, please visit the page below or connect directly with our Senior Membership Associate, Holly Enowski by email: [email protected]. https://lnkd.in/gux4Y3eR

Join Supply Change Capital next Thursday, October 17 for a presentation of their research on the evolution of the food and ag tech ecosystem in Los Angeles since 2010. Expect to learn innovation trends, diversity stats, who the investor players are, and where there are opportunities for increased investment. In addition to the research presentation, an incredible panel will share their experiences and insights from the field. Panelists include: Noramay Cadena, Supply Change Capital Camilla Marcus, west~bourne Adam Tarshis, Mozza Foods Neal Okarter, BASF Clare Fox, SAFSF https://lu.ma/ty7pdnus

?? UPCOMING WEBINAR: What Happens Next: How Election 2024 Could Impact Climate, Health, and Environmental Justice Wondering what is at stake in this election cycle, and what impacts various election outcomes will have on health, environment, and climate? Join HEFN Monday, October 7 at 9:30 AM PT for an interactive workshop that will engage attendees in discussion, reflection, and ideation about the 2024 election cycle and, importantly, what happens post-election. During this 90-minute workshop, we’ll frame what’s at stake in November and the ways in which funders could engage in transition and beyond, and hear from a couple of funders about how they’re engaging in policy and advocacy work. During the discussion, we will explore how funders can seize key opportunities in this moment to amplify their values and priorities to leverage more support for just outcomes in health, environment, climate, and community. Speakers: Alesandra Nájera, Water Foundation Lynn Ross, Spirit for Change Consulting, LLC John Mitterholzer, The George Gund Foundation This workshop is?open to funders only, but you do not need to belong to HEFN or one of these funder networks to participate.?Registration is for ‘live’ participation only, as a recording will not be shared post-workshop. This event is hosted by Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) and co-sponsored by Neighborhood Funders Group (NFG), The Funders Network (TFN), and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF). REGISTER ?? https://lnkd.in/e_KnnQYZ

?? Join SAFSF Executive Director Clare Fox at #LATechWeek! She will be on a panel hosted by Supply Change Capital that focuses on the food and ag tech ecosystem in Los Angeles, California. In addition to the panel, Supply Change Capital will share research on how this ecosystem has evolved since 2010, including innovation highlights, diversity stats, who the investor players are, and where there are opportunities for increased investment. This event is on Thursday, October 17 from 9:00-10:30 AM PT, location provided at registration. RSVP below ?? https://lu.ma/ty7pdnus Sending gratitude to All Places, Citizens, and PledgeLA for sponsoring this event.

Join us tomorrow from 11:00-11:45 AM PT for "Digging Deeper,"?a lunchtime condensed documentary screening and chat, focused?on?#climatechange. We will dive deeper into the role #philanthropy can play in combating climate change. Our guest speaker?Kellee Matsushita-Tseng,?Land Stewardship Manager at?FoodWhat?!?will be joining us to share their perspective and expertise. This 45-minute session is designed for you to enjoy on or off-screen and learn from field leaders. Recordings of the Digging Deeper series will be used in a multi-media discussion guide, which will be published in early 2025. This event is open to everyone, please register below. https://lnkd.in/e33m87Qs

#ClimateWeek starts today! Each year, thousands convene across 600 events to highlight climate action. Demonstrating the urgent need for food and agriculture systems to be included in climate change efforts, we are highlighting just a few of the important conversations hosted by SAFSF members and partners:??? ?? Monday: Food Tank and The James Beard Foundation hosts several advocates, industry leaders and funders for day-long event on “Restaurants and Farms: A Key Solution to the Climate Crisis” including a fireside chat between Anna Lappé of Global Alliance for the Future of Food and Bill McKibben (Author, Educator, Activist, and Founder of Third Act). ?? Tuesday: ClimateWorks Foundation hosts an event “Big Meat and Dairy narratives to derail climate action: can you tell fake from fact?” ?? Wednesday: Food Tank and American Farmland Trust are co-convening? “Climate Resilience through Agriculture.” Followed by a FoodxClimate Networking Mixer hosted by Food System Innovations. ?? Thursday: Global Alliance for the Future of Food presents a Roundtable Hosted on Cultivating Farmer Ownership in Holistic Food Systems Transformation, and Food and Agriculture is a Key Solution to the Climate Crisis Summit, hosted by Food Tank and the United Nations World Food Programme will be live-streamed at FoodTank.com. Where will you be? What do you hope will come out of #ClimateWeek2024? We look forward to tracking developments and sharing resources. #ClimateWeekNYC #FoodSystems #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateAction #Sustainability Links to more resources in the comments ??

September 15th kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month, an opportunity for us to reflect on the significant contributions and leadership of the Latinx/Hispanic community in food and agriculture. We celebrate the culinary contributions of influential leaders such as Chef Jose Andrés of World Central Kitchen and Karla Tatiana Vasquez of SalviSoul, and the advocacy and movement-building efforts of activists such as Helga Garza (Agri-Cultural Network), Vanessa García Polanco, MS (National Young Farmers Coalition) and Jose Oliva (HEAL Food Alliance).? According to the USDA Ag Census, Hispanic farmers and producers, 112,000 nationwide, represent the largest group of minority farmers in our country. Additionally, 80% of farm laborers, 44% of meatpacking workers, and 25% of restaurant and food service employees are Latinx/Hispanic. Despite their essential contributions in agriculture and across the food supply chains, Latinx workers face some of the highest rates of food insecurity, unsafe working conditions, discrimination, and poverty wages.? Despite the historic hard work of activists like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, who pushed for the right for farm workers to organize around better pay and working conditions, the fight for respect, dignity and justice continues to this day led by organizations like FOOD CHAIN WORKERS ALLIANCE, La Via Campesina, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, Agriculture and Land Based Training Association(ALBA), and many others. Please join us in celebrating, supporting, and learning from these organizations and leaders. #HispanicHeritage #FoodJustice

SAFSF is excited to be co-sponsoring a funder learning tour on CAFOs the day before Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) Annual Meeting in Durham, North Carolina. ?? On Monday, October 28, attendees will explore the intersections of environmental justice and sustainable agriculture in an interactive in-person learning tour that will travel to Sampson County, North Carolina. During the tour, they will learn about hog and poultry Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) and their impact on communities, the environment, and sustainable food systems. Topics will include corporate consolidation, the issues with so-called renewable biogas, and the possibility of non-toxic and humane animal agriculture. Whether you come from an environmental health, environmental justice, or food systems perspective, we hope you’ll come away from this visit with a deeper understanding of this web of systems, and how communities are working together towards resilience. ? Space is limited –?register now?to secure your spot!??We also encourage you to join HEFN’s Annual Meeting to learn more about their work creating healthy and just environments for all. SAFSF is proud to partner with HEFN on this learning tour, and many other events throughout the year to unite environmental and food funders. LEARN MORE + REGISTER ? https://lnkd.in/eCBiergb

Registration has launched for our upcoming SAFSF On the Road event! Join us on Thursday, November 14 in Detroit, MI for Health and Wealth: Fostering Healthy Communities and Economic Self-Determination through Food Systems. Frontline communities of color have disproportionately suffered huge disparities in health and wealth due to multiple layers of systemic barriers. For every $100 in wealth white Americans hold, Black Americans only hold $15, and Black and Indigenous children are 2-3 times more likely to be food insecure than white families. Community-led solutions in food, health, environment, and climate offer significant potential for addressing these disparities. Over the past two decades, a number of food justice and food access initiatives have evolved from focusing primarily on access to healthy food to complex economic development and built environment projects developed by BIPOC-led organizations. These initiatives aim to improve food access and health outcomes through models of community self-determination, economic development, and wealth creation. This one-day event will explore the question:?How can funding for food access, nutrition, and health equity support community self-determination and ignite equitable food economies? We will explore the intersection of health equity, economic development, and food justice to close racial wealth gaps through community-led approaches. Specifically, we will explore and learn from models of healthy food projects, organizations, and networks that?focus on community ownership and asset-building led by and for people of color in and from frontline communities.?The event takes place at the?Detroit Food Commons (Detroit People's Food Co-op), a groundbreaking 30,000-square-foot multi-use facility with a?community-owned grocery store, which was conceived of and built by the?DETROIT BLACK COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY NETWORK INC?(DBCFSN). Attendees will learn about DBCFSN’s powerful community organizing that led to raising $21 million to build the Detroit Food Commons, and how similar models are emerging across the country. Funders focused on health, community development, and food systems are invited to join us in exploring how we can resource and support communities addressing food and nutrition security through more just and sovereign food economies. Space is limited—so secure your spot today! REGISTER: https://lnkd.in/evZDCuJ2