NDI teamed up with Edacious, a company that provides food testing and analysis, to launch the Regen Nutrition Project in 2024. The project invites NDI’s 50-plus members—including food companies and farmers committed to producing regeneratively—to test samples of their products at Edacious’ food lab.

Edacious’ food analysis technology compares the nutrient content of regeneratively-produced foods with conventional crops to help companies demonstrate the benefits of regenerative practices.

The data “will be critical for demonstrating that eco-friendly practices that build healthy soil and work in synergy with natural systems ultimately produce foods with higher nutrient density,” Mary Purdy, Managing Director of NDI tells Food Tank.

This is particularly important at a time when producers are facing skepticism that labels reflect real differences, Eric Smith, Founder and CEO of Edacious, says. “For producers, nutrition data is becoming a way to validate practices they already believe in—and to communicate that value credibly in the marketplace,” he tells Food Tank.

Edacious and the NDI also developed a Nutrient Density Data Explorer to visualize the nutrient data collected. It breaks down the nutrient content of the samples sent in by NDI members and compares them alongside conventional retail samples.

“We want it to be useful to farmers, researchers, brands, and policymakers alike: a tool that highlights how much variability actually exists in foods, where regenerative systems may be showing early signals of improved nutrient density, and where more research is needed,” Smith says.

Results from the Data Explorer show that regeneratively-produced samples have lower fat content, a better balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3, more protein, and no heavy metals, compared to conventional samples. The project has collected data on proteins in their pilot, and they are looking forward to expanding to grains and produce next.

According to a study in the journal Foods, commercial produce such as apples, oranges, tomatoes, and potatoes have lost up to 25 to 50 percent of their nutrient density in the last 50 to 70 years. And research from the Institute of Environmental Sciences reveals that the climate crisis further threatens nutritional quality.

“As concern about health continues to rise, this evidence becomes a powerful lever for changing purchasing decisions, not only at the consumer level, but also among those with significant purchasing power, including institutions, food service and food is medicine, providers, and retailers,” Purdy tells Food Tank.

Smith makes clear that the goal of the project isn’t to create “perfect foods.” It’s “to shift the conversation toward transparency, context, and continuous improvement, so that nutrition becomes a measurable, valued outcome of how we grow and produce food.”

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Created in collaboration with the national agriculture research systems (NARS) in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, the Atlas provides insights on climate risks and vulnerability for agriculture in these countries and identifies suitable adaptation measures.

“Engagement with NARS across has been central to generating and validating data on climate risks and adaptation options, ensuring that the Atlas is scientifically robust, locally relevant, and firmly grounded in regional expertise,” Pramod Aggarwal, the Principal Investigator behind ACASA and Regional Program Leader for South Asia at BISA, tells Food Tank.

ACASA’s detailed maps show village-level climate risk data for 15 crops and six livestock species. Climate risks include heat and cold stress, untimely rainfall, water deficit, and high temperatures, among others.

The goal is to support policymakers, researchers, insurers, private sector leaders, and development actors “by enabling high-resolution visualization of climate risks and adaptation options down to the sub-district level,” Aggarwal explains.

“With Sri Lanka’s journey towards climate-smart agriculture, recent evidence highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of location-specific climate actions to bridge knowledge gaps within the country,” says Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi, Director General of Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture.

According to Aggarwal, the applications are abundant. Governments can use the data to determine where investment is needed to mitigate risk. Donors can identify high-impact locations and inform funding for climate smart agriculture. And banks can design women-focused credit solutions.

In the past two decades, more than half of all South Asians were affected by a climate-related disaster, according to the World Bank Group.

Aggarwal explains that increasing rainfall variability leads to short-duration floods, which damage crops, and longer dry spells that harm soils. Heat stress affects yields of staple crops including rice and wheat, while cyclones and storm surges are threatening coastal farming systems through crop loss and soil salinization.

“These climate events are especially challenging for smallholders, who have limited access to irrigation, insurance, and timely climate information, making their livelihoods highly vulnerable to climate shocks,” Aggarwal tells Food Tank.

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Often referred to as forever chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial and consumer products. They break down very slowly, and research in the Journal of Environmental Research has shown that they can accumulate in water, air, soil, and plants.

On farms, PFAS contamination can be a result of the spreading of wastewater sludge, or biosolids, by farmers unaware that their fertilizer is contaminated. They can also infiltrate soil and water through runoff from manufacturing plants, landfills, and military facilities.

Several studies have linked PFAS exposure with negative health outcomes, including liver, kidney, and immune diseases, according to a study in the Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. PFAS exposure has also been associated with certain forms of cancer.

Amid growing concern about the threat PFAS contamination poses to farmers, farm businesses, and food safety nationwide, AFT launched a multi-stakeholder effort in 2024 to create a set of policy recommendations. Representing commodity, farmer, conservation, health, and research groups, as well as state departments of agriculture, the Workgroup calls for a coordinated federal response.

“This is not just another set of recommendations on PFAS. This is the first and only set of comprehensive federal policy recommendations on PFAS and agriculture,” Emily Liss, Farm Viability Policy Manager at AFT, tells Food Tank. She describes them as first steps, designed to be pragmatic and bipartisan.

The Workgroup advocates for Congress to create a dedicated agricultural PFAS relief and support program. Contamination can be devastating for farmers and ranchers, who may be forced to stop or change their production, in addition to grappling with potential health implications. This program would support farmers’ physical and mental health, assist them in replacing lost income, and help farmers invest in operational changes to stay safely in production, among other supports.

“This is about people. This is about families and human health first and foremost,” Liss tells Food Tank.

This approach draws from Maine’s experience, where PFAS was first detected on a dairy farm in 2016. The state established a comprehensive safety net to support PFAS-impacted farmers’ health, businesses, and land. “In Maine we have found that, with adequate support, many farms impacted by PFAS contamination are able to stay in operation,” Shelley Megquier, Policy and Research Director at Maine Farmland Trust, tells Food Tank.

The Workgroup also recommends measures to reduce additional PFAS contamination—an approach they call “turning off the tap.” As there is currently no known, scalable way to remove PFAS from soil, the Workgroup says this is critical. “The only way that we’re ever going to get ahead of the PFAS issue is if we stop putting it on farmland,” says Liss.

To achieve this, the Workgroup calls for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider setting a threshold for PFAS in biosolids used in agriculture and to identify existing programs to help farmers transition away from their use. But Liss says this is a challenging issue, as many farmers have long relied on biosolids as a low-cost fertilizer. She emphasizes that the EPA should conduct research to set a threshold that is protective of human health. “Farmers just want to know what they’re putting on their land. They want to make sure that they’re putting safe things on their land,” she says.

Research on PFAS is another priority area of the recommendations. The Workgroup urges the federal government to establish PFAS as a research priority and to coordinate research across federal agencies. “PFAS is still an emerging issue, there is established research that can inform a policy response but there also continues to be a lot to learn,” Megquire tells Food Tank. “We know that the most severe levels of PFAS contamination are highly localized – better understanding where those ‘hotspots’ are around the country is important so that impacted farmers can get support.”

The recommendations also propose measures to protect farmers from legal liability for having contaminated land, strengthen collaboration across federal programs and agencies, and improve communication to farmers and the general public.

The recently reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act addresses critical needs outlined in these recommendations and was strongly endorsed by AFT.

“PFAS contamination is a threat to American agriculture—but with the right policies, we can protect the health of farmers and farm families, keep farms in business, maintain a safe food supply, and protect our farmland,” Megquire tells Food Tank. “Lucky for all of us, this is a nonpartisan issue with commonsense solutions.”

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The program provides free Instacart+ memberships and monthly stipends to help cover grocery delivery and service fees to up to 1,000 D.C. residents eligible for SNAP. Participants can shop from any store available on the Instacart platform, which includes over 80 retailers in the city, reaching 100 percent of SNAP households, DC Health tells Food Tank.

“Access to healthy food is critical to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and improve health outcomes across the life span,” DC Health tells Food Tank. In 2023, nearly 9 percent of households in D.C. struggled to afford enough food, according to D.C. Hunger Solutions. The organization’s Grocery Store Report states that a severe lack of full-service grocery stores is one of the contributing factors for food insecurity in Wards 7 and 8, two of the city’s low-income areas. These Wards contain only seven of the city’s 80 full-service grocery stores, according to a 2025 report from D.C. Hunger Solutions.

In addition to improving food access, the program promotes healthy dietary behaviors by embedding health and wellness education into its eligibility criteria. To participate in the GAP program, residents must enroll in a health education class through Martha’s Table or another DC Health partner, which help build social support networks, teach parenting skills, and promote wellness practices for participants.

At these classes, educators offer an overview of the GAP program and identify those interested in participating. Residents then receive Instacart codes, which they can begin using right away.

This pilot builds upon the success of a similar program Instacart launched in 2023 in partnership with the City of Columbia, South Carolina, and its Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. The program provided Instacart+ memberships and monthly Instacart Health Fresh Funds stipends to residents living in Columbia’s food deserts. Results from the first year found that an overwhelming majority of participants were very satisfied with Instacart and were very likely to continue participating in the program, according to Instacart. Following this positive feedback, the city of Columbia announced a one-year extension of the pilot program.

“That pilot showed us what’s possible when you combine thoughtful public policy with technology that can meet people where they are,” Casey Aden-Wansbury, Instacart’s Vice President, Head of Global Public Policy, tells Food Tank.

She explains that after hearing about the success of the program in Columbia, DC Councilmember Christina Henderson introduced legislation to bring the GAP model to Washington, D.C. “Her leadership on this critical issue was instrumental in making this partnership with DC Health possible,” Aden-Wansbury says.

“Public–private partnerships have a powerful role to play in expanding food access because they bring together the strengths of each sector in a way that no one organization can achieve alone,” Aden-Wansbury tells Food Tank.

Governments understand the needs of their communities and policy levers available, while community organizations bring trusted relationships and on-the-ground insight, Aden-Wansbury says. Companies like Instacart can then provide the technology and infrastructure needed to implement programs at scale. “Collaborations like these allow us to move faster, tailor support to local needs, and ultimately help more people access the nutritious foods that help them thrive.”

DC Health is now leading an evaluation of the pilot to inform its longer-term strategies. “We know that bringing a full-service grocery store to a neighborhood requires long-term planning across agencies,” the agency says.

Looking ahead, Instacart plans to scale similar programs in other communities. Aden-Wansbury explains that the company is working with the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger to offer the Grocery Access Template Program, an opportunity for smaller cities and towns to partner with Instacart and offer access to online grocery and delivery for residents in underserved areas. “The success of our existing programs gives us a clear path to scale this work, and we’re excited to keep partnering with communities that are looking to expand food access,” she tells Food Tank

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“Protecting and improving the health of our soil is critical not only for the future viability of farmland, but to the future success of American farmers,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rollins framed the project as a part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.

The pilot is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It will fund two existing conservation programs that pay farmers to implement conservation practices, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. USDA is aiming to streamline the application process, enabling farmers to bundle multiple practices into a single application, reducing barriers to entry for both beginning and advanced producers.

The program also emphasizes whole-farm planning to address soil, water, and natural vitality concerns as part of a holistic management approach. And it will leverage private investment through public-private partnerships, which the USDA says will stretch taxpayer dollars further and bring new capacity to producers interested in adopting regenerative practices.

NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt is currently assembling a Regenerative Agriculture Advisory Council which brings together producers, consumer advocates, and supply-chain and corporate partners. “By including voices from across the food system, the council helps ensure the Regenerative Pilot Program is aligned with real market needs and buyer expectations, strengthening connections between farmers and the markets seeking regeneratively grown products,” USDA tells Food Tank.

The program’s focus on soil health is a welcome investment among groups that have long been advocating for regenerative agriculture on American farms. “This moment reflects a growing federal recognition that healthy soil is foundational to a secure food system, climate resilience, and human health,” says Jeff Tkach, CEO of the Rodale Institute.

But significant staffing cuts at the NRCS raise concerns about the agency’s ability to implement the program. The NRCS has lost nearly one in four of its staff in 2025, according to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Sarah Starman, Senior Food & Agriculture Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, calls the pilot project “a step in the right direction.” But she says the program “will only be effective if USDA reverses the past year of massive cuts to on-the-ground conservation staff.”

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In 2011, the country established universal free, eco-friendly school meals at the national level. The win came after decades of grassroots efforts pushing to expand sustainably sourced, healthy meals for students. As of 2024, more than 5 million students in almost 12,000 schools across the country receive daily nutritious school meals, according to the School Meals Coalition.

“School meals reach every student, every day, creating one of the largest institutional procurement systems in the country,” Dr. Seulgi Son, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Yonsei University, who has researched South Korea’s public procurement, tells Food Tank. “Because school meals are universal and publicly funded, they embody social equity, while simultaneously shaping demand for eco-friendly and local agricultural products.”

Seoul has become a leader among several municipalities providing universal, free, and eco-friendly school lunches, serving more than 1 million students daily. Now, the Climate-Friendly Meal Service is going a step further to align local procurement with global sustainability goals while educating students about climate change, Son tells Food Tank.

The initiative incorporates Climate-Friendly Meal Days twice per month that combine plant-forward meals with nutritional planning, education, and menu diversification, Son tells Food Tank. She says they are designed to be more holistic than earlier no-meat campaigns, which focus mainly on removing meat from menus.

On Climate-Friendly Meal Days, schools experiment with a variety of low-carbon ingredients, including seasonal vegetables, legumes, tofu, mushrooms, and locally produced grains, Son says. “The key difference is that they are framed not as dietary restrictions but as a positive ‘climate-conscious’ choice, tied to broader sustainability goals.”

According to Son, nutrition teachers have long provided expertise in schools to ensure meals are nutritionally balanced and aligned with health education. They also serve as a bridge between policy goals and implementation in schools. “In the Climate-Friendly Meal Service, they will be critical in translating abstract climate goals into concrete menus and educational modules.”

“When students plant, harvest, and cook with local vegetables, they can directly see the relationship between food, climate, and community,” Son tells Food Tank. She says these experiential activities reinforce environmental education and food literacy and help embed climate awareness into students’ everyday behavior.

Son shares that she was personally reminded of this when her five-year-old recently announced, “We should eat local food.”

“At first, I assumed he had overheard one of my Zoom meetings, but I later learned he had picked up the idea through gardening at his kindergarten, where children grow vegetables and see them prepared into meals.” For Son, the realization emphasized the importance of these hands-on experiences.

Son’s research shows that South Korea’s success in adopting universal eco-friendly school meals has relied on both top-down policy and strong grass-roots mobilization combined with cross-sector governance. Professional expertise embedded in schools is also key. She explains that civic organizations and activists have played a critical role in achieving the adoption of universal eco-friendly school meals and, in some cases, even manage or co-manage public meal service support centers created by municipalities.

In her current research, Son is exploring how Climate-Friendly Meal Days are being implemented across schools, how nutrition teachers manage daily constraints as they work to meet policy goals, and how students internalize the program’s educational messages. She will also examine how this new framework impacts procurement opportunities for local farmers.

“For the food system, the goal is to demonstrate that public procurement can simultaneously advance equity, sustainability, and resilience.”

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1. A Magician’s Flower by Marika Maijala

Two friends, Willow and Aspen, find an unknown seedling in their greenhouse and embark on a quest to help it grow. With the seedling securely fixed in their bicycle basket, they head for the seashore in hopes that it will thrive in the salt air. Through this adventurous tale, young readers see the joy of exploration and embracing nature.

2. A Plate of Hope: the Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel, illustrated by Paola Escobar

A Plate of Hope tells the story of how world-renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés turned a love of food and cooking into a mission to help feed the world. Driven by the belief that no one should ever go hungry, José Andrés founded World Central Kitchen, which provides critical meals in crises around the world. This moving story helps readers connect with the food system while fostering an appreciation for the storytelling power of food.

3. Activity Book – Livestock and Climate Change by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization

The latest Activity Book from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization shows readers how animal farming works and the impact it can have on the planet. Free to download online, it explains how livestock can both contribute to and be affected by climate change, and outlines how readers can become agents for change.

4. A Spoonful of the Sea by Hyewon Yum

In this picture book, author Hyewon Yum shares a heartwarming story of a relationship between mother and daughter, as the young girl is served a bowl of miyeokguk (seaweed soup) on her birthday. Inspired by this Korean tradition that has spanned generations, A Spoonful of the Sea celebrates cultural heritage, motherhood, and the deep bond between women and nature.

5. Emeka, Eat Egusi! by Candice Iloh, illustrated by Bea Jackson

In Nigerian American author Candice Iloh’s debut picture book, readers meet Emeka, a young boy who loves jollof rice and doesn’t want to eat anything else. When his mom asks him to help her cook egusi, a popular Nigerian soup, he discovers the joy of trying new flavors. This heartwarming story both celebrates Nigerian cooking traditions and encourages readers to try new foods.

6. Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing: In and Around All Year Long by Diana Magnuson

Set on Michigan’s shores of Lake Superior, Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing tells the story of Aunt Noriko and her niece Dehlia as they tend to their garden throughout the year. Through colorful illustrations and engaging scientific facts, Diana Magnuson invites readers to appreciate the seasons and cycles of nature that keep gardens alive, while giving thanks for all that gardens provide us.

7. Growing Green: A First Book of Gardening by Daniela Sosa

This gardening book offers 15 projects that young readers can implement at home to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It has ideas adapted to a variety of spaces, from windowsills to backyards, and activities using recycled and repurposed materials. With simple, step-by-step instructions and colorful illustrations, this book is a practical guide for young readers to cultivate a love for gardening.

8. I LOVE Blueberries by Shannon Anderson, art by Jaclyn Sinquett

I LOVE Blueberries tells the story of two friends, Jolie and Margot, as they work towards their goal of setting up a blueberry growing station in their classroom using hydroponics. By following the duo’s comical journal entries and colorful sketches, readers uncover lessons on growing blueberries and bringing community members together to support a classroom project.

9. Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese

Just in Case introduces young readers to the priceless treasures hidden in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Readers will learn about why the vault was built, how it protects the seeds inside, and why seed saving matters for eaters today and generations to come.

10. Lucas and Emily’s Food Bank Adventure by Dave Grunenwald, illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire

Lucas’ grandpa brings Lucas and his friends Emily and Jack to their local food bank, where they meet volunteers and help pack lunches for people experiencing homelessness. The story engages with important themes of food insecurity while centering around community and the value of volunteering. Readers will come away feeling inspired to make giving back to their community a family tradition.

11. Magic in a Drop of Water: How Ruth Patrick Taught the World about Water Pollution by Julie Winterbottom, illustrated by Susan Reagan

Ecologist Ruth Patrick was a champion of environmental protection and a leader in making the world aware of water pollution. Starting with her interest in science as a young child, this story chronicles the empowering tale of a female scientist who made an everlasting imprint on the world.

12. My Pollinator Garden: How I Plant for Bees, Butterflies, Beetles, and More by Jordan Zwetchkenbaum, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove

My Pollinator Garden explains the diverse plants and pollinating animals native to North America, and how they rely on each other to survive. Packed with examples and vivid illustrations, this book helps readers understand the relationship between pollinators and flowers. Its simple narrative invites young readers to help pollinators thrive by planting their own pollinator gardens.

13. Skippy Farm Dog of the Year by Laura Adams and Anna-Maria Crum, illustrated by Anna-Maria Crum

Inspired by the story of Skippy, a Georgia farm dog named the 2024 American Farm Bureau Dog of the Year, this narrative honors the role that dogs play on family farms. Told from the perspective of Skippy, who was trained to help farmers with disabilities, readers learn how she helps herd cattle and adjusts to life with her new farm family.

14. The Soil in Jackie’s Garden by Peggy Thomas, art by Neely Dagget

Jackie and her friends discover the joys of planting their own garden, while uncovering fascinating facts about soil and composting. In this engaging read, colorful illustrations complement information about pollinators, plants, and soil to inspire readers to get their hands dirty in their own gardens. The book can be paired with an educator’s guide from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, which includes six lessons on these topics for K through 2 learners.

15. Welcome to Our Table: A Celebration of What Children Eat Everywhere by Laura Mucha and Ed Smith, illustrated by Harriet Lynas

Authors Laura Mucha and Ed Smith take readers on a journey around the world to learn what children eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in different countries. This book combines vibrant imagery with stories and traditions behind certain dishes. The diverse foods highlighted in this book encourage young readers to explore cultures different from their own and to be curious about where their food comes from.

16. When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter by Aimée M. Bissonette, illustrated by Erin Hourigan

The latest in author Aimée M. Bissonette’s When Seasons Come series, this poetic book welcomes the arrival of fall. Readers follow the story of a family who hikes along a nature trail in autumn and watches the wildlife around them preparing for winter. Packed with imagery of animals busily readying for the change of seasons, this book helps readers connect to the natural world while uncovering parallels between humans and wildlife.

17. When Tree Became a Tree by Rob Hodgson

Tree, this story’s endearing protagonist, guides readers through her life as an apple tree. Through her witty narration, readers learn the stages and seasons of an apple tree’s life. Its simple storyline and colorful illustrations make it an entertaining read for young readers while teaching them about the life cycle of trees.

18. World Kitchen – Celebrations: Recipes from Around the World by Abigail Wheatley, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

This richly illustrated cookbook includes recipes for celebratory dishes from around the world. Each recipe offers a short story from a family that prepares the dish for their special occasion, followed by easy-to-follow instructions and ingredient lists. This book gives readers a fascinating look at food traditions in different countries, while encouraging them to try those recipes at home.

19. You Are a Honey Bee! by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Jay Fleck

The Meet Your World series invites children to learn about the animals in the world around them. In You Are a Honey Bee, a part of this collection, author Laurie Ann Thompson describes the activities that keep bees busy with interactive movements for readers to act out. By illustrating how bees take care of their hives and families, the book shows young readers that the habits of bees are not so different from our own.

20. Your Farm by Jon Klassen

In this bedtime story, author Jon Klassen offers a gentle illustration of farm objects, ending with bedtime as the sun sets. With a rhythmic tone and poetic prose, this story invites readers to use their imaginations to envision a peaceful farm as they prepare for sleep.

21. When the Rain Comes by Alma Fullerton, illustrated by Kim La Fave

Set in a Sri Lankan community during the rice planting season, When the Rain Comes tells the story of Malini, a young girl who is getting ready to help plant for the first time. When monsoon rains suddenly sweep into her community, Malini is determined to save the rice seedlings and the oxcart carrying them. Narrated in emotive free verse, this tale portrays the courage of a young girl while depicting the intensity of the monsoon season in Sri Lanka.

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Natural farming is a chemical-free farming approach that relies on locally available materials and natural processes, rather than synthetic inputs. The approach utilizes practices including cover-cropping, low-tillage, and the planting of diverse crops to protect soil health and biodiversity while reducing costs for farmers.

“It’s relying on some of the latest in modern science and agronomic research to develop a new and innovative method of agroecology that is responsive to so many of the challenges and conditions that farmers are facing globally,” Aya Okawa, the Creative Director and Managing Partner at NOW Partners Foundation, tells Food Tank.

The pilots in Zambia are modeled on the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) program. Launched by the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2016 and implemented by RySS, it helps farmers in the region transition from chemical to natural farming. In eight years, the program grew from 40,000 to over 1 million farmers, and has led to increased farmer incomes, improved climate resilience, and significant savings in water usage.

To bring the program to Zambia, NOW Partners and RySS are building new relationships between APCNF experts in India and farmers in Zambia. The organizations partnered with Salesian Sisters’ Valponasca Learning Farm and the Jesuit Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre, who both operate with networks of thousands of farmers.

Representatives from these networks, along with members of the Zambian government, visited APCNF’s experimental fields in Andhra Pradesh. There, they learned about natural farming methods before returning home to adapt these techniques to local Zambian conditions.

Central to the APCNF model is the concept of farmer-to-farmer coaching, Okawa explains. Champion Natural Farmers train and motivate other farmers in transitioning to natural farming, which APCNF says has enabled the model to scale quickly in Andhra Pradesh. NOW and APCNF want to see the same approach applied in Zambia.

“The idea is to build a farmer-to-farmer coaching network that will help to not only spread the knowledge to additional farmers, but to create support within the farmer communities,” Okawa tells Food Tank.

After their first natural farming growing season, farmers are noticing results. “We have seen Natural Farming crops survive storms when the chemical crops were destroyed. We have seen stronger plants, and paid less than for chemical inputs,” says Salesian Sister Chansa Modester of the Valponasca Learning Farm.

Okawa says the practices are also boosting resilience to extreme weather events. When heavy rainfall affected two maize fields, one a conventionally treated and other in the pilot project, the naturally farmed field fared better. “The chemical field saw a lot of the maize that was damaged and destroyed,” she explains. But the adjacent natural farming field “remained standing throughout those same conditions.”

Planting diverse crops also creates food sources and income for farmers throughout the year, Okawa says. Whereas chemically treated fields were planted with only maize, the naturally farmed plots had a variety of vegetables and leafy greens interplanted with the maize.

“Having this method of biodiversity crops and the multi-layered cropping contributes to improved food security so that farmers have sources of food on an ongoing basis that can be harvested,” Okawa explains. This added source of food and income has made farmers “excited to integrate the new ideas into their fields.”

Looking ahead, NOW and its partners are planning to scale up the pilots in Zambia, including expanding natural farming at Valponasca Learning Farm and the Jesuit Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre. Okawa also shares that Zambia’s agricultural colleges and extension systems—which train 5,000 emerging farmers and experts annually, according to NOW—are seeking to integrate APCNF into their curricula and develop new implementation pilots.

NOW and RySS are also leading collaborations in Sri Lanka and Brazil, and have identified additional countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America for future pilots.

“The promising results and enthusiasm of implementation partners in Zambia is invigorating NOW’s work to scope additional pilots globally,” Okawa tells Food Tank.

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