Small-scale family farmers often face challenges such as limited access to capital, labor, or land, yet they can still build thriving businesses. These farmers don’t need to compete directly with larger businesses to succeed when they can make an income by selling to their local communities. Family farmers can develop flourishing businesses while supporting local food systems, food sovereignty, and sustainability. At Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), we train farmers in the skills they need to build sustainable livelihoods. Farmers see their harvests as a source of nourishment for their ..read more

Chocolate cake is delicious, and so is vanilla cake, but what’s even better? Both! Isabella Chan, a family farmer in the SHI-Belize program, has generously shared her recipe for chocolate marble cake—a perfect treat for your next gathering. Using organic ingredients from her farm, Isabella satisfies both chocolate and vanilla cravings while showing the sweet possibilities of sustainable farming. Isabella’s story is just as sweet as her cake. She uses the sustainable techniques she learned through SHI to grow food that feeds her family. What they can’t eat, she sells to earn a modest income, wh ..read more

New York, United States - Small-scale farmers in the global south hold the key to over 50% of the United Nations’ goal for net greenhouse gas reductions. That was the message from Florence Reed of Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting in late September. During the event, Reed presented progress on their newly launched Honduras TREE program, a CGI 2023 Commitment to Action for Climate Resilience, which aims to empower 1,250 small-scale farmers to regenerate over 12,800 acres of degraded land. During the spotlight, an exclusive, never-befor ..read more

Before defining regenerative agriculture, it’s important to note what it isn’t. Recognizing the harmful practices that have led to the urgent need for regenerative methods provides crucial context. Regenerative agriculture offers a powerful solution to today’s interconnected crises, including the climate crisis, poverty, declining food security, and biodiversity loss. SHI’s regenerative practices create ripple effects that benefit the environment, wildlife, human health, and the climate. While beneficial farming practices should be the norm, the unfortunate reality is that many individuals and ..read more

In February 2024, Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) Board of Directors and staff members gathered in the north of Belize to witness partner farmers in action. We invited three board members to share their experience of how SHI’s sustainable farming practices transform the lives of farming families. The success of these Belize farmers and of hundreds of other SHI families is the foundation of SHI’s ambitious vision to transform 1 million farms in Central America. Edith, Katherine, and Judith come from different backgrounds and interests. Through their work on the SHI Development Committee ..read more

This post was originally published in Wikifarmer. Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Sustainable Solutions for Climate-Resilient Food Systems Demand for local sustainable and productive food systems is rising while witnessing that the global systems relying on intensive, extractive practices fail to feed the world. Frequent product shortages and increasing food insecurity highlight the need for place-based solutions. In the transition to local food systems, smallholder farmers play a crucial role in feeding communities while protecting natural resources. Small-scale farmers feed their families an ..read more

This post was originally published in Wikifarmer. Starting and running a farm can feel daunting, especially for rural women who lack support and resources. The uncertainty of success and the lack of education and financing prevent many rural women from starting their own farms. It’s difficult for women to change these circumstances when they lack decision-making and political power. As climate change escalates, their need for autonomy and food security becomes increasingly pressing. Rosa Argueta, SHI-Honduras partner farmer, shows the products she makes out of achiote in front of her achiote ..read more

This blog post is Part 2 to our popular post published in 2022. Each year, Earth Day reminds us of the beauty and importance of our one and only home. This reminder reignites our commitment to safeguarding Earth and the many species that rely on natural resources, including ourselves.  This Earth Day, Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) has curated a second compilation of thirteen impactful practices and daily routines that, when adopted, nurture our planet and preserve it for future generations. We hope this series inspires you to be an active steward of our planet and deeply appreci ..read more

This blog post was originally published by Initiative 20x20. SHI-Honduras partner farmer Consuelo Galeas plants coffee, plantain, and citrus fruits in her agroforestry parcel. Agroforestry and agroecology are practices central to the regenerative agriculture efforts of Initiative 20x20 partner Sustainable Harvest International (SHI). By combining organic farming practices with forest preservation and restoration, SHI partnering farmers no longer rely on conventional agriculture practices like slash-and-burn in an effort to survive. In agroforestry, trees are a crucial part of the farming syst ..read more

(Traducción en Español abajo) Sustainable Harvest International welcomes its new Executive Director, Janeen Simon! Janeen is enthusiastic about SHI’s goal to transform one million farms by 2030 and eager to lead us forward as we plant one billion trees and partner with thousands of family farmers. ““We are thrilled to have Janeen as our new Executive Director; she brings critical nonprofit leadership experience, much of which was gained working in Latin America, as well as a passion for our work. This was evident in our recent board trip to Belize, where we got to see her engaging with our fie ..read more