food for life
the problem
the problem
People living in poverty face the real fear of not having anything to eat on a daily basis, and when they do eat often the food lacks nutrition essential for good health and development. Lack of food security leaves communities wide open to the risk of malnutrition, disease, starvation and death.
what are we doing?
Food for Life trains and equips communities to grow their own food in simple and sustainable ways. This increases access to a constant supply of nutritious food, particularly important for vulnerable groups in the community including pregnant women and children.
Additionally, we train communities in crop diversification to make sure they are getting sufficient nutrients for better health and to protect them against crop failure as a result of adverse weather events and pest/disease outbreaks. Through these agricultural practices, we show communities how they can use multipurpose crops that provide food for humans, fodder for animals, fuel for cooking and timber for buildings to benefit their lives in many ways.
how we do it?
nutritionally rich food
Most people living in poverty are nutrient-deficient due to a lack of food and also their reliance on a carbohydrate-heavy diet. Lack of nutrients leads to health issues and increased chances of disease. By growing nutritious food, we can help improve health and quality of life.
constant food source
Enabling communities to grow their own food increases food security and gives them the dignity of providing for themselves and their family. It also provides them with the opportunity to sell crops and increase their income to build a better future.
simple & innovative farming
Space and resources can often be limited, which is where our innovative solutions come in. We tailor solutions for individual communities to ensure they are simple to adopt right away and able to be maintained well into the future.
agroforestry
By incorporating agroforestry, we plant multipurpose trees that can access water and nutrients stored deep in the soil, reducing the risk of crop failure and increasing the nutritive / economic value of the harvest. In addition to food, trees can also provide fodder for animals, fuel for cooking and timber for buildings.
climate resilient crops
We've developed innovative, climate-resilient food production systems that protect the community from a range of weather conditions. We achieve this by diversifying crops and planting species that use water more efficiently.
For instance; rice production is used in many developing nations, however, it is very susceptible to droughts. Our 'raised beds' solution allows farmers to plant a variety of other crops alongside their rice based on predicted rainfall.
agri-cycling
Agri-cycling is a process of turning 'waste' into a valuable resource which can both protect crops from climate conditions and inject more nutrients into the soil for improved crops.
For instance; food scraps and crop residue (e.g. stalks, leaves, seed pods, etc) can be used as mulch which is important to reduce water loss from evaporation (particularly in hot climates), shade out weeds and provide important nutrients for the next crop. These are long-term solutions for communities.
