Food & Forests is a social impact business founded by Julian & Ed Pycraft in 2018. Its aim is to mitigate the growing risks of climate change and food insecurity in Africa. Food & Forests builds climate resilience and mitigation for African farming communities. It helps smallholder farmers adopt agroforestry and agroecology models, which turn farms into biological and climate-positive assets. This adventure begins in London where curiosity for African culture has turned into fascination.
“Coming from a temperate climate, largely immune to the impacts of climate change, our thirst for knowledge and understanding has taken us to some of the most beautiful, but most challenging, environments on the planet. » Say the founders.
Today in their 4th year of existence, Food & Forest is an agritech initiative offering solutions inspired by nature. It was born out of Keystone Legacy, their first business to make an impact. Drawing influence from around the world, they provide smallholder farmers with the tools to turn their farms into carbon-positive assets.
And it all starts with a food forest. Their 2-acre demonstration food forest in Kilifi, Kenya, puts African smallholder farmers at the center of the design. The microfinance path that follows is the most holistic and sustainable path to market for smallholder farmers, encompassing water management systems, security fencing, organic farming inputs and assurance. It doesn't stop there. The proprietary platform, registered by Plan Vivo, then connects smallholder farmers to accredited carbon and organic markets, with blockchain technology ensuring transparency and traceability throughout the value chain.
This turnkey solution provides the financial independence that every farmer aspires to, while improving local biodiversity, community livelihoods and the global effort to reverse climate change.
Climate change has a disproportionate impact on the world. Developing countries, largely dependent on subsistence agriculture, pay the heaviest price with the fewest resources. The Green Revolution concept of high input monocultures has exacerbated the hardships of millions of smallholder farmers living on the edge of a cash economy that depends on these technical inputs.
No continent will be hit as hard as Africa. Extreme environments today lead to failing food systems, an increase in communicable diseases and the destruction of biodiversity. The current, prohibitive, individualistic and fragmented approach to climate action hinders the chances of survival of our civilizations. The question we face today is how to raise awareness, change mindsets and galvanize each generation to save us from the impending environmental catastrophe. Our response is that we need a system change in agriculture that is in harmony with the planet.
As the world is in a race for net zero carbon emissions, our food systems which account for up to 37% of greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 30-40% by 2050, without intervention, as the world population will reach 10 billion inhabitants. By harnessing the power of the world's 500 million smallholder farmers, we can meet this increased demand in a sustainable way, healing soils and reversing climate change. With zero-emission energy companies, we can now realistically meet our science goals with high impact carbon credits.
We are a passionate team dedicated to tackling climate change and improving the livelihoods of rural communities in Africa. Based in London and Nairobi, the wealth of experience we bring to our initiative spans agriculture, communications, law, politics and technology. We believe that through diversity, we will provide smallholder farmers with the most sustainable way to produce food in a healthier, richer world.
Food & Forests builds climate resilience and mitigation for African farming communities. We help smallholder farmers adopt agroforestry and agroecology models, which turn farms into biological and climate-positive assets. To make this solution a global impact, we harness the power of modern technology. Our proprietary agritech platform empowers farmers in Africa, localizing food production, ensuring healthy food and nutrition, and dramatically reducing emissions and waste. We want to empower millions of farmers and be the global solution that connects climate-vulnerable communities to accredited markets.
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Posted on 2021-07-31 16:16
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