The Puerto Rico Science, Research & Technology Trust invests, facilitates and builds capacity to continually advance Puerto Rico’s economy and its citizens’ well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science and technology, and its industrial base. One of the ways that the Trust does this is through Recuperación Agricola, a collaborative effort with the American Red Cross that provides recovery assistance, resources, and materials to farmers affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, with the aim of reestablishing local agricultural production and building a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in Puerto Rico.

The GNH Centre Bhutan (GNHCB) is a non-profit civil society organization under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck. The GNHCB was established to carry forward the vision and philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) as introduced by His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in the early 1970s. GNH draws inspiration from a “middle path” of sustaining a balanced development that recognizes both the tangible and intangible aspects of wellbeing. GNH is not opposed to material and economic progress; rather, it rejects the notion of pursuing economic growth as the only end-goal. What it proposes instead is a holistic, equitable and sustainable approach to development, centered around measuring and balancing nine domains of progress, which include living standards, education, health, environment, community, vitality, time-use, psychological well-being, good governance, cultural resilience and promotion.

FrontLine Farming is a BIPOC & Womxn-led farmer and food justice advocacy organization that operates as a multi-plot farm committed to providing food to people of all income levels by sustainably growing affordable local food in the Denver Metro Area. FrontLine engages its communities by educating youth and neighbors on growing food and promoting healthy, active lifestyles, beautifying neighborhoods with edible landscapes, reducing the distance from farm to plate, and supporting fair wages and working conditions for all who do the work of farming. FrontLine Farming operates its farms for blended purposes of education, production, and community vitality. As educators, FrontLine engages a range of individuals from elders to toddlers in ethical and sustainable growing practices that enhance land and community connections and that produce high-quality, organic food. FrontLine does all of this while helping to build and expand a network of farms and farmers who mutually support one another’s work and vision of agriculture in Colorado’s Front Range. FrontLine Farming is also a convener of the Black and Brown Growers Collective and an active participant in Project Protect Food Systems Workers.

Gopikabai Sitaram Gawande Mahavidyalaya (GSG) is an oasis of opportunity for learners in one of the most underdeveloped regions of India, the Yavatmal District. As a nationally accredited college, GSG provides high quality undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education to the local, largely agrarian population as a way to help address the region’s high levels of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and morbidity. GSG emphasizes vocational and technical education and is oriented as a lifelong learning center for its enrolled students and members of the surrounding community. It is aided in this work by the Student Education and Support Association (SESA) which supports access to education as a way to combat rural poverty. SESA has undertaken the formation of the Maati-Paani-Asha Center in Umarkhed, India (“MPA Center”), which will operate alongside GSG College. The MPA Center aims to address the challenges in and around Umarkhed by modeling and supporting a transition to agroecological farming practices that regenerate soil, water and hope, increase food access and provisioning, improve food marketing practices, coordinate community infrastructure improvements, disseminate novel psychosocial supports, and host a multi-stakeholder advisory board. The MPA Center will elevate indigenous knowledge, help farmers adopt diversified, agro-ecological farming methods that favor traditional seeds and on-farm inputs and connect them with buyers seeking sustainably sourced ingredients.

Plenitud Puerto Rico (PR) is a non-profit educational farm and community dedicated to service and sustainability. Plenitud PR provides people with sustainability skills and knowledge needed to encourage inner growth and to live in harmony with themselves, each other, and the natural world. The heart of their service is experiential learning in sustainability and the arts that engages people in community service, fosters relationships, and creates connections.

Plenitud PR represents a unique model in a rural setting (west-central region of Puerto Rico), facing social and economic disadvantages. Their services facilitate social and economic well-being by addressing 3 main issues: food security and nutrition, water security, and sustainable housing.