CASE STUDIES

Case 6: Domestic Agricultural Development and Fundraising

Problem: With the planet running out of arable land, and population growing, how do we develop new farmers and create responsible food systems that provide safe, quality, low-cost food? How do we create a business environment that supports hired labor, provides supply chain and training to help the farmer succeed? How do we attract new entrepreneurs to organic, sustainable farming or to processing and adding value to farm products?

Working across agricultural industries from farm owners, labor groups, NGOs and produce sellers, Sustainable Innovations focuses on GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) to increase productivity and quality, driving social and environmental improvements in the agricultural sector.

Background: Family farms are declining across America due to industry concentration specialization, increased capital intensity and a farm bill that subsidizes growers of corn, rice, soybean removing support, training, R&D from specialty perishable coops like apples, carrots, broccoli etc, which are more nutritious. Add natural disasters, depressed economic regions, knowledge barriers for new farm workers and the result is a challenging situation for the mainstream agricultural community. All this is changing. Consumers want more information and education about where their food comes from and how it is grown. Building a marketing farm plan for a farm requires partnering with State and Private Agricultural Colleges to assess the growing and raising capabilities of surrounding land resources, as well as developing the right crops for the existing soil and pest conditions and transitioning to organic farm processes and training programs.

Graham helped us identify local fresh, and own brand product suppliers for our local farmers market"

Director/Buyer for Local Farmers Market

Results:

• There is more interest in domestic, ethically sourced product that provides a living wage to farm workers, provides good housing, clean water, schools and medical care, ensuring workers are empowered through training, productivity incentives, to advance their communities and work in accordance with national and state labor codes.
• Ensuring that workers understand:
  • How to use agricultural chemicals in a safe and responsible way;
  • Use harvest procedures that maximize value;
  • Manage soil, water and other natural assets of the farm (preserve nature and biodiversity).
• These new standards need to be supported with an audit process that ensures labor and environmental standards, corrective intervention and independent (ISO65) auditing that supports the needs of the supply chain partners.
• Developed a multi-stakeholder initiative with partners including a natural retailer, a local agricultural college, organic produce and livestock suppliers and an organic fertilizer company.

Sustainable Innovations™ developed a plan to demonstrate to the agricultural community that Organic and Sustainable methods could generate economic value for all participants. This plan included the shared services, processing assets and partnerships to secure success. Sustainable Innovations™ - Partnerships for a better tomorrow.

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