Mission

The Institute for Food and Development Policy -- better known as Food First -- is a member-supported, nonprofit 'peoples' think tank and education-for-action center. Their work highlights root causes and value-based solutions to hunger and poverty around the world, with a commitment to establishing food as a fundamental human right. Food First provides leadership to the struggle for reforming the global food system from the bottom up, offering an antidote to the myths and obfuscations that make change seem difficult to achieve.

Issues

Food security, Biotechology in agriculture, Right to food, Agroecology, Alternative food systems, Land reform, Trade and Agriculture

Activities

Research, Analysis, Public education, Advocacy, Media

Programs/
Projects

As a progressive think tank, Food First produces books, reports, articles, films, electronic media, and curricula, plus interviews, lectures, workshops and academic courses for the public, policy makers, activists, the media, students, educators and researchers. They participate in activist coalitions and furnish clearly written and carefully researched analyses, arguments and action plans. Their work focuses on reshaping the global food system through various campaigns and programs. For example, through reports and policy advising they oppose trade and agricultural policies endangering small farmers and local food systems. The Alternative Food Systems Program works to build strategic linkages between movements that promote sustainable equitable food systems in many countries around the world. They also challenge the industrialization of agriculture by exposing myths and practices related to genetically engineered foods. Finally, they work to make the human right to food a reality for people everywhere.

Constitutency

Grassroots and activist organizations in the U.S. and abroad, the general public, the news media

Geographical Focus

National, International

Staff

11

Volunteers

10

Membership Base

About 10,000 members, mostly from the U.S., who pay dues on a sliding scale.

Publications

Online bookstore includes books, reports, videos and more; "Backgrounders" quarterly; "News & Views" quarterly; "Food Rights Watch" bi-monthly electronic bulletin; online resource library with extensive collection of links

Annuual Budget

$1,000,000 - $5,000,000

Year Founded

1975