Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture provides social and economic benefits to the entire community while increasing the quality and nutrient density of available foods. Sustainable agriculture comes in many forms, from sustainably managed large farms to small urban farms helping improve food security and providing better access to healthy food within communities. Ridge to Reefs works to support sustainable agriculture across the continuum of farms. Work to support and build resilient farms in the communities in which we work and live.

Food security is of particular concern on islands, where typically over 85% of the food is imported. Importation on this scale is reliant on and contributes to fossil fuel use, and contributes to insecurity of food availability. This results in financial resources leaving the islands, making their economies vulnerable and resource limited.

Our goal is to help support greater levels of food security and increased resilience by assisting in the implementation of sustainable farming practices, including the use of locally-made, renewable fertilizers and bio-pesticides; the incorporation of agro-forestry and permaculture to enhance ecosystem services, productivity, and soil health; and the use of appropriate farming technologies to enhance production capacity on small farms.