RURAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Global food and agricultural systems are under extreme pressure. Demand for food is higher than it's ever been before, due to rising global populations and incomes, while at the same time, farmers and food producers are facing greater challenges from extreme weather, limited natural resources, and global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rural economic development is critical to make sure our food systems work at every step along the value chain – supporting strong livelihoods for farmers, affordable food supplies for consumers, and long-term agricultural productivity. Farm Journal Foundation works with numerous groups of stakeholders to support rural development both in the U.S. and around the world.
Our Work on Rural Economic Development
Farm Journal Foundation works to support global nutrition through a range of thought leadership, education, and advocacy efforts. Some examples of this work include:
VETERINARY WORKFORCE PROGRAM
Rural areas across the U.S. are facing an alarming shortage of food animal veterinarians, threatening food safety, public health, and rural economic growth. Through our new Veterinary Workforce Program, we commission academic research to surface solutions to this challenge, bring together coalitions of industry leaders and agricultural leaders, and meet with national-level policymakers to discuss the need for long-term change.
RESEARCH AND EVENTS
We partner with leading academic and nonprofit institutions to produce in-depth research on how to improve farming livelihoods and rural supply chains. We also make recommendations on how the U.S. government can improve policies to make global agricultural development investments more effective. In addition, we hold in-person and virtual events with leading experts to discuss rural development issues.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH FARMERS
We are working to improve access to grazing resources for Native American farmers and ranchers, through a partnership with the Intertribal Agriculture Council, Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, and the Yield Lab Institute. This work provides technical assistance, education, and direct payments to farmers to increase the adoption of conservation practices like rotational grazing and planting of native grasses.