Modern agriculture prioritizes mass production over all else. Too often quality, sustainability, and human connection to the land are lost in our current industrialized food system. In the Hudson Valley of New York, chef-in-residence Johnny Ortiz and Preservation Labs Director Cortney Burns reimagine modern agriculture through traditional farming techniques and a renewed relationship to the land’s regional cuisine. Be a Food System Changemaker. Learn about the work of farmers in your region; shop from regional producers; plant a seed, an idea, or a new connection. See how we’re catalyzing an ecological food culture at stonebarnscenter.org

After the mass slaughter of the buffalo and the forced relocation of the Sicangu Lakota people onto reservations, their once abundant land has become a food desert. Traditionally a hunter-gatherer tribe, the Sicangu Lakota tribe is starting a new tradition by restoring their food system through the Food Sovereignty Initiative. The Initiative empowers regional food entrepreneurs to learn sustainable practices such as seed breeding, regenerative farming, indigenous recipes, and sustainable buffalo harvesting.

In China, increased consumption of meat and processed food has led to a significant decline in public health. At Mama’s Kitchen in Dali, China, the modern diet is being reimagined to a vision for a plant-forward future. Focusing less on meat/animal products and providing a path toward a diet of sustainably grown crops is only the beginning.

In Lima, Peru, two million people lack access to clean drinking water and fresh produce. Wealth inequality magnifies the effects of an already struggling food system. By building fog catchers, rooftop gardens, and reimagining public spaces, people can be empowered to build a better food future. A vision for a brighter future starts with addressing problems of necessity.

Modern-day consumers have become disconnected from how their food is made. In The Netherlands, consumers are reconnecting to the agricultural process by visiting farms, growing their own food, and purchasing from sustainable sources. A vision for a more ethical and environmentally conscious food system requires a transparent connection to food itself.

Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. Such rapid growth has led to an agricultural system unable to keep up, leading to simultaneous issues of malnutrition and food waste. Visionaries in Lagos are using solar panels to power urban farming and have created an online produce exchange platform to guide their city, and their country, to a more sustainably nourished future.

In Nairobi, Kenya, almost half of impoverished children are malnourished; their parents unable to afford produce from the markets. By expanding urban farming through education, and increased access to seeds and high-quality soil, fresh produce will become accessible to everyone in Nairobi.

In Canada’s Treaty Four Territory, indigenous peoples’ systems of agriculture were destroyed by colonization. Now, indigenous people and settlers work together to decolonize the food system and work towards indigenous food sovereignty through regenerative, organic methods of farming and youth education.

In the Araku Valley of India, farming became an unsustainable and unprofitable way of life. A new system of agricultural economics, “Arakunomics,” promotes regenerative farming practices and pays farmers upfront for their crops, ensuring a sustainable and profitable future for all.

With over four million food businesses registered in India, it is almost impossible to regulate food health and safety. The initiative ‘Eat Right India’ offers a bold take on this seemingly impossible challenge: drive India toward a nourishing and sustainable food future. This is accomplished by increasing access to food safety education and clearly labeling healthy food options, empowering India’s 1.4 billion consumers to choose a better future.