"Creating a food system that can feed a growing population in the face of climate change—without replicating the harms of the industrial food system—is one of the great challenges of our time."

"Small farmers and food businesses across the United States are adopting a place- and equity-based approach to the problem. They’re working to strengthen regional food systems in a way that gives communities more say in the allocation of resources while creating quality jobs and stewarding the land."

"Financing these enterprises is essential to building a resilient food system. 'Small' doesn’t mean insignificant in this sector: Small farmers feed 70 percent of the world’s population and are responsible for 20 percent of agricultural sales in the United States. Yet lack of access to affordable farmland and capital is limiting the number of new farms and farmers—a troubling fact given the average age of the US farmer is 58."

"We need a new approach to food-system finance, one in which foundations—which have the kind of flexible, patient capital these enterprises need—go beyond grantmaking and start investing."

Article: Foundations Can Unlock a Food System to Feed the World