Bruce Friedrich

I hope that this super important piece by Kenny Torrella at Vox will lead to some reflection among the big Green Groups like WWF, The Nature Conservancy, and EDF about their deeply misguided industry partnerships that give cover to the highly destructive meat and dairy industry in exchange for millions of dollars in donations. In the words of an EDF staffer: “Instead of calling them out for causing harm, EDF lets them pollute and praises them for what little they do in hopes we’ll eventually convince them to change. So EDF provides cover for businesses by letting them set their own ambition.” I am one of the greens mentioned in this article who have "expressed deep frustration over their fellow environmentalists’ indifference to the meat industry’s environmental destruction, or worse, some organization’s willingness to partner with companies on greenwashing projects." Whether it is the Global Roundtable on "Sustainable" Beef or Tyson's "climate-friendly beef," or other industry alliances, the Big Green groups' endorsement and promotion of these bullshit industry PR tactics gives license to the industry to expand their destructive practices. Worse, it undermines other groups' efforts to slash meat and dairy subsidies and push for meaningful regulations that will hold these polluting corporations' accountable for the deep harm they are causing to the planet and local communities.

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I don't want to sound like Eeyore, but I wish more (powerful) people saw the value and potential that grassroots initiatives have on advancing food + climate issues. While institutional change is (obv!) necessary to drive emissions reductions at scale, it’s equally important to expand access to climate-friendly food in “third spaces”—the restaurants, cafes, and community hubs where people naturally gather. These places are fertile ground for lasting cultural shifts because they are where people come to connect, celebrate, and build community. Good associations are key to changing people's perspectives on... everything, but especially food. For our final initiative of 2024, we're partnering with the City of San Antonio, TX for the second year in a row. Last year, their Office of Sustainability team committed to 5 pro-planet plant-based climate actions, and this year, we’re going even further by adding the collaboration of ¡Por Vida!, an innovative program from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. ¡Por Vida! recognizes local restaurants that create healthy, sustainable environments through good nutrition and community engagement. In my opinion, they’re setting a gold standard that every city would be lucky to have. As Planted Society moves into our annual season of reflection, I’m thinking about how we can better support these grassroots initiatives—especially those that make climate-friendly food accessible in the spaces where community really happens.

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According to a new study from the University of Georgia, while women on farms are proud of their work, many feel lonely and stretched thin, as they often lack the necessary support and resources. Not only are there financial challenges facing the agriculture field as a whole, but many female producers struggle with a healthy work-life balance, as those lines can be blurred when your home is also your place of work. There is also a lack of support resources tailored to the specific needs of farmers and farm workers, making it hard to reach out for help. More needs to be done to support the agriculture professionals and their varied needs. #Agriculture #MentalHealth

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Exciting news! Better Together's advocacy partner WhyHunger has submitted two panels for SXSW 2025, and we need your votes to bring these vital discussions to the stage. Here's a glance at the panels: 1. 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 - Explore the future of agriculture as WhyHunger's Executive Director Jenique Jones, moderates a dialogue with global experts. 2. 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 & 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 - Dive into how Indigenous knowledge and sustainable farming can address climate challenges. 📅 Voting is open until August 18. Your support can elevate these crucial topics at SXSW! 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 "𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗽" 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! #SXSW2025 #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSecurity #WhyHunger #BetterTogether

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Today's #ReimagineRural episode features stories of rural innovation (yeah, it's not just a Silicon Valley thing). Usually I focus on the stories of rural PLACES, but I came across so many examples of entrepreneurial people creating ventures that serve rural interests that we decided they needed their own episode. And there are so many we had to break it into two parts, so look for a second episode tomorrow! It just proves that ingenuity is part of rural America's DNA. Part of making rural policy more effective is to more effectively surface and support these types of innovators! Today's episode features Chris Carnell & Codefi, and the digital economy they're helping create in Cape Girardeau MO; Charlie Chupp & Fading West, and the efficiency and disruption they're bringing to building urgently needed rural affordable housing; and Thania Hernandez, who created Mis Primeros Pasos, a bilingual child care facility in Ellsworth ME, with the help of Cynthia Murphy & the Child Care Business Lab of CEI (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.). And more is on the way tomorrow...! #RuralMatters #RuralInnovation #RuralResilience https://lnkd.in/eTTshiHq

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"How can Black and Indigenous communities recover lost and stolen land? One important strategy involves creating dedicated BIPOC-led funds that support land recovery and food stewardship. What does BIPOC-led finance for land recovery look like? The funds that we are involved in—the Black Farmer Fund (BFF) and the Moonsoon Fund, which is still in formation but builds off of a track record of lending in Indigenous communities—offer two examples." https://buff.ly/3Xz9BBP #landback #communityownership #decommodification

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How will the Budget 💷 help or hinder the transition to fairer, healthier, more resilient food systems? 👩‍🌾 A critical part of that is the size of the agriculture budget. We need a greater investment in supporting the transition to nature-friendly farming. 👨🏾‍⚕️ BUT it's much more than that. What about the National Living Wage - including for those in hospitality and manufacturing? What will be done to ensure there is a properly functioning social security system, that doesn't leave anyone behind? What investment will there be in preventing diet-related ill health? What support for mental health, including farmers, farm workers and others working in the food system? How seriously does the government take the climate and biodiversity crises? How will it encourage community food resilience, from the bottom up? And...... and...... lots more besides 🧭 The investments and support are important, but it's not just about the money. What will the Budget signal about the intent, ambition and underlying values of the UK government? Does it recognise the power of investing in good food to unlock transformational social and environmental change? We'll soon find out... Illustration by Ali Spaul

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Wise advice for nonprofits

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In October of the past year, my dear friend and Food Solutions New England colleague Karen Spiller offered important testimony to the Human Rights Committee reviewing the U.S. on compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). I applaud her courage and compassion, always. "In her statement, Karen urged the Committee to recommend to the United States that it: 🦋 Strengthen local and #regionalfoodsystems as a pathway to restore food autonomy to communities, and to reduce the environmental harms caused by large-scale farming. 🦋 Hold large-scale agricultural companies and extractive industries liable for their impacts on #life-sustaining resources such as clean water and food. 🦋 Examine current lending practices to integrate #sustainability and racial #equity considerations for small food producers. 🦋 Raise the federal minimum wage to a true #livingwage, recognizing that poverty is the root cause of hunger. 🦋 Make #reparations to communities whose labor has been systematically exploited and have been dispossessed of their land since the founding of the United States." Read more about Karen's testimony here - https://lnkd.in/epTccBri And consider signing the FSNE Pledge that aligns with Karen's statement. More here - https://lnkd.in/eduG5ic

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Food can be a climate solution! I'm excited to share Friends of the Earth U.S. new report showing how healthy, climate-friendly, plant-based school lunches have increased 60% in California over the past 5 years. Half of California's largest school districts are reducing their climate footprint by serving plant-based options every day at lunch. California is once again leading the way with scalable climate change solutions that also deliver benefits for health, given that most kids get only 2% of the fiber and less than 10% of the amount of plant-based foods recommended for a healthy diet. What kind of plant-based options are California schools serving? Last year, CA's 25 largest school districts featured over 100 plant-based items in one month, adding more than 40 new delicious, culturally diverse, and plant-based options to their menus (many whole-plant based). Beyond plant-based, Friends of the Earth also links school districts with producers of local, #organic and regeneratively grown animal products and we are seeing a growing demand for these as well! Why are plant-based school meals growing? It's a combination of state policy, growing student demand, support from school food nutrition directors and technical assistance from many wonderful organizations: Friends of the Earth U.S., Chef Ann Foundation, Eat Real Certified, LunchAssist, Center for Ecoliteracy, Center for Good Food Purchasing, The Humane Society of the United States and many others. Increased student demand for plant-based food is also helping to drive more #plantbased school food. Students know what they eat has a huge impact on the climate. Many of them are also unable to process lactose & they deserve food and beverages that are healthy for them to consume. Our report also found that in one year from 2022-2023, California schools reduced processed meat lunch options by 25% and GHG intensive dairy options by a whopping 54%. Please spread the word and read our report here: https://lnkd.in/gbDRFYWp #ClimateFriendlySchoolFood #dietshift #ClimateSolutions #ClimateWeekNYC

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You know when you're deep in something it can be hard to see not only the trees but the whole forest too? 🌲 Writing this piece, with my NCP co-lead Brendan Lehan, helped shine the light on this “experiment in flocking” 🕊 we’ve been up to in NCP land. (I know, I'm mixing metaphors) NCP is an experiment in how to bring together a growing set of diverse leaders, who share a bold vision for a transformed economic system, and provide them the supports to develop interwoven interventions towards that future. Sounds easy. It ain’t. Our newest Lab Note outlines what the NCP community has built to date - the critical pieces of “infrastructure” - to work in way more coherent and connected ways in tackling a wicked problem like the broken economic system we’re saddled with. Whether we flock like birds. Cluster like trees. Grow like coral reefs. Spread like fungi….whatever metaphor we use, we really hope we can level up in how to work in way more collective and connected ways when working in tough systems. This is a snapshot of how we’re trying to do that within the distributed community that is NCP. And we’d love to learn what’s working from the flocks you’re flying with. https://lnkd.in/eBNxCjbB

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At the Democratic National Convention this week in Chicago, Global Strategy Group (GSG) and a coalition of leading environmental organizations – NRDC Action Fund, Climate Power, EDF Action, and LCV – presented polling that simulated a debate between Democrats and Republicans on climate and clean energy issues and showed Democrats are positioned to win on these issues at the ballot box. For us at NRDC Action Fund and NRDC Action Votes, this research validates a strategy that helped Democrats in tough races win on environmental issues in 2020 and 2022. Climate denialism will cost Republicans votes because it is seen as a significant character flaw, not just a policy difference. Voters simply do not trust candidates who deny the reality already hitting their pocketbooks with soaring insurance premiums and other fallout from unprecedented severe weather events.  NRDC Action Votes ads have highlighted the weirdness of climate denial, helping defeat candidates who side with Big Oil over science, health, and common sense. So many thanks to Melissa Bell, PhD at Global Strategy Group for her and her team's amazing work on this project. https://lnkd.in/e6DaXmNR

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Food sovereignty is more than just having access to food: 🌱 It’s about empowering our community to cultivate and sustain our own food sources. The need to reduce reliance on external food sources became even more clear during the COVID pandemic when they were even less predictable. In response, the Native American Advancement Foundation acted swiftly to ensure our community had reliable access to nutritious food. Growing our own traditional food benefits the community by: → Ensuring our community has access to fresh, healthy produce. → Reconnecting with our heritage and passing on cultural practices. → Creating spaces where the community can come together, learn, and support each other. NAAF’s food sovereignty model provides food and fosters a sense of community. They also serve as educational platforms where children and adults can learn about sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and the importance of traditional foods in a healthy lifestyle. - - #nativeamericanadvancement #naaf #foodsovereignty 🌽 Join us in supporting food sovereignty. Your donations help us expand these vital programs, ensuring that our community remains strong and self-sufficient. To learn more and share a donation, click here: https://lnkd.in/guXPA937

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📈 Addressing High Food Prices and Price Gouging: Can Lawmakers Make a Difference? The recent Civil Eats article dives into the many factors driving high food prices, from supply chain disruptions to inflation. Price gouging by food suppliers has also become a major concern, with some companies allegedly inflating prices beyond normal rates to boost profits. Lawmakers are now pushing for federal regulations to address this, which could curb excessive markups during crises. At Gotham Food Pantry, we see how these issues impact our communities daily. Sustainable policy solutions, including anti-gouging measures, could be vital in making food more accessible and affordable. Read more on Civil Eats about this important issue. #FoodJustice #PriceGouging #FoodInsecurity #PolicyChange

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Echoing Green announces the launch of the Signal Fund, a financial tool that provides capital to social innovators at critical growth stages. Signal launches with $15.6 million raised and prioritizes founders with overlooked potential for scalable social impact. Signal Fund aims to test a new set of financial mechanisms and model more broadly accessible investment vehicles that can help fuel transformational social change and innovation globally. It will disrupt the current funding landscape that is misaligned with the needs of social innovators. “In the current economic climate, fundraising for entrepreneurs has become increasingly difficult,” said Echoing Green President, Cheryl L. Dorsey. “Through Signal Fund, we are strengthening and de-risking a new pipeline of social innovators — ones that we believe will expand the set of leaders who are too often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy and financial institutions. This fund can help proven social innovators move past the proverbial valley of death that so many start-ups face, achieving organizational milestones recognizable to traditional investors without compromising impact.” #YesWeInnovate https://lnkd.in/dgfjDqAd

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In a New York Times essay titled “Sorry, but this is the future of food”, Michael Grunwald argues that due to their high yields, factory farms are essential for producing the food we need without destroying natural habitats or exacerbating climate change. To minimize land use, he advocates intensifying production further, particularly in industrial animal farming, which occupies three-fourths of agricultural land. This reflects the “land sparing” strategy, focusing on efficient land use, as opposed to the “land sharing” strategy, which integrates farming and conservation through practices like agroforestry and organic agriculture. Grunwald acknowledges we’d need less land if people ate less meat but sees no sign of this happening. As a result, he suggests doubling down on animal production. Grunwald’s essay sparked a lot criticism, but rather than badmouthing, I’d like to highlight some points that deserve more attention: - It’s premature to claim the world isn’t reducing meat consumption. While change is slow, progress exists. For instance, U.S. beef consumption has dropped 37% since its 1977 peak, and meat consumption has significantly declined in countries like Denmark and Germany. - Grunwald mentions Denmark’s carbon tax on agricultural emissions to improve efficiency but omits its Plant-Based Action Plan aimed at transitioning to a less animal-dependent food system. - He doesn't mention food waste, a clear way to reduce resource use. - Promising technologies like cultivated meat, precision fermentation, and advancements in plant-based alternatives go unmentioned. - Most concerning is Grunwald’s apparent willingness to sacrifice animal welfare for environmental goals. Humans caused today’s environmental crises, and it’s unfair to make animals bear the cost. At a Colorado feedlot, Grunwald is told the eternal industry adage that animal welfare and productivity align, which is a fantasy. Moreover, serious welfare discussions should focus on chickens and fish, whose numbers vastly outstrip larger animals and whose welfare is harder to ensure. Hopefully Grunwald's book is more nuanced and explores some of these perspectives in greater depth.

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One question we often ask in the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) Leadership Series is, "Where do you see the #CleanCooking sector in the next 5-10 years?" I really liked this positive prediction from Gordon Bennett of ICE: "Carbon credits from clean cooking will be a barometer of whether society “voluntarily” values #carbon savings... I am optimistic that, in the next 5-10 years, #CarbonFinance for clean cooking will grow significantly, delivering those 1 billion (metric) tons of emission reductions per annum whilst reducing #energy poverty, improving #health, and #empowering women and girls." Check out the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/d3XZK7gv

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#Philanthropy in #Defense of #Science (1); the #Value of #Local Giving (2); #Nonprofit #Startups (3) + #ArtificialIntelligence (4-5): #fundraising https://ow.ly/wEli50Ts1bn https://ow.ly/4jga50Ts1bp https://ow.ly/mV6r50Ts1bo https://ow.ly/QpSs50Ts1bm https://ow.ly/BNx850Ts1bi

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