How cauliflower turned Dhankuta's Dandabazar into an agricultural success story

Over 3,000 tribal farmers in Odisha are using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)—an organic method that uses 92% less seed, no standing water, and traditional formulations—to double their rice yields, increase incomes, eliminate dependence on expensive chemicals and moneylenders, and revive 70+ indigenous rice varieties while improving soil health.

Tribal nations across the U.S., supported by the Intertribal Buffalo Council and adaptive federal grants, have rebuilt bison herds totaling roughly 25,000 animals on tribal lands—restoring a critical food source, with programs distributing tens of thousands of pounds of buffalo meat annually to tribal communities.

Skagway Brewing Company built an aeroponic farm inside their brewpub to grow fresh lettuce year-round, successfully meeting the restaurant's full weekly demand and capturing brewing CO2 to boost yields.

Soilless Farm Lab, a Nigerian agricultural technology hub, has trained over 10,000 youth in hydroponic farming since 2019, leading to employment opportunities and demonstrating a climate-resilient approach that uses 90% less water while producing food year-round in a country facing severe food insecurity and land degradation.

Desde Mi Huerto operates a seed bank that for 20 years has produced over 100 Caribbean-adapted varieties, allowing farmers and communities to access local seeds at affordable prices when other sources fail, thereby preserving agricultural diversity and strengthening food sovereignty.

Gatgyeda Haayk's community garden tackles food access challenges in Metlakatla by patiently building rich soil over many years, enabling diverse crops to flourish despite Alaska's difficult growing conditions. This effort not only provides fresh food but also revitalizes cultural heritage by cultivating traditional plants like "Indian potatoes" and fostering community sharing.

Between 2019 and 2020, Nature Kenya's EU-funded REBUILD project supplied certified, salinity-tolerant rice seeds to farmers in Ozi, Kenya, who leveraged natural tidal irrigation to nearly double farmer participation and increase processed rice production from 51,284 kg to 79,625 kg.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation donated two solar-powered freezers (and a private business investment in additional solar freezers) to the off-grid coastal community of Ayetoro. Now, affordable and sustainable alternatives to the (previously generator-powered) cold storage can meet the community's needs to preserve fish and reducing post-harvest losses.

Indigenous communities in Nepal use traditional earthen storage bins called dehari—made from locally available clay, husk, and dung—that naturally regulate temperature and moisture to protect grains and seeds from extreme heat, pests, and floods without electricity. The success of this food-preservation method has increased local food security and seed diversity across smallholder farming communities.

The Barkum Women Rice Processors Association in rural Kano, Nigeria, secured a collective ₦8.8 million loan through cooperative action and training, enabling 38 women to build profitable rice-processing businesses that have financed their children's education and generated monthly incomes for members.