Millions of small-scale farmers struggle to put food on their tables due to insufficient income from commodity crops like coffee. Nutritious food is scarce, and cheap, nutrient-deficient options dominate, leaving coffee-farming communities malnourished.
Founded in 2011, Food 4 Farmers is leading the fight against food insecurity in the coffeelands. Volatile market prices for coffee, the rising costs of farming sustainably, and the impacts of climate change have all made it extremely difficult for small-scale coffee farmers to support their families on income from coffee alone.
As a result, coffee-farming families face 5-8 months of hunger year after year, when their income from coffee runs out and food prices increase.
Who We Are
Food 4 Farmers is a nonprofit that was founded to combat the “thin months” of food insecurity in the coffeelands, with the belief that every farming family should have access to nutritious food everyday.
Our diverse team of experts in agroecology, international development, public health, community engagement, and coffee supply chains works hand in hand with coffee farmers to grow a healthier future for their families and communities.
What We Do
Food 4 Farmers partners with coffee farmers, their families, and coffee cooperatives to build thriving local food hubs, diversify family income, and promote sustainable farming practices that strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem resiliency throughout Latin America.
We help develop local community-led strategies that address the root causes of food insecurity for coffee-farming families, providing the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to ensure that coffee farmers can feed their families all year long.
Our work is centered around home food production, income diversification, and capacity building for coffee-farming families.
Our Community Partners
Food 4 Farmers partners with six coffee cooperatives across Latin America, supporting over 1,500 coffee-farming families. Each cooperative develops strategies tailored to their unique capacities, cultures, and challenges. We facilitate connections with local experts deeply rooted in the region, providing training for our program coordinators and promoters to build confidence and trust within the communities. These trained leaders then offer comprehensive training to farming families and co-op staff, while also overseeing program monitoring and improvement. Our highly participatory approach ensures that each community receives customized support, laying the groundwork for long-term development and food security.