Core Area of Philanthropy
Agriculture AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Agriculture and food systems are substantial contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, environmental issues imperil agriculture and the ability to feed the world's population. All over the world, innovations in sustainable agriculture, including forest conservation, can help to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, agriculture must adapt to inevitable environmental challenges. The Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation is pleased to support a variety of projects that offer promise in this vital area as well as related social challenges.
The grants awarded by the Foundation in the areas of sustainable agriculture, food systems, and related environmental challenges support a diverse array of projects and programs, including:
A five-year research project to study no-till/low-till organic farming in organic specialty crops (University of California at Santa Cruz).
A study of the impact of farming on non-point source water quality (Sand County Foundation)
A multi-year project to develop methods of MIR spectroscopy to measure soil health (Woods Hole Research Center).
A web-based interactive simulation tool to explore the impact on climate from different agricultural practices (Climate Interactive).
Programs to support healthy soil initiatives in New York State and to encourage landowners to forego clearcutting of forest lands in exchange for tax incentives (Earthjustice).
Support to the U.S. Climate Alliance in developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sequestering carbon on agricultural land (American Farmland Trust).
A two-year study in dry-farming applications to help develop climate-resistant seed varieties (Organic Seed Alliance).
The creation and dissemination of a digital advocacy toolkit to support organic farming techniques and promote carbon sequestration (Organic Farmers Research Foundation).
Support for an organization that facilitates agriculture/conservation easements in a rural county (Columbia Land Conservancy).
Support for the New England and New York annual Leopold Conservation Awards (Sand County Foundation).
Support for organizations that work with disadvantaged youth (Food What?! and City Growers) and communities (Soul Fire Farm) to promote healthy food systems and community empowerment, and to combat injustice in the food system.
Support for a policy initiative to promote carbon markets and soil carbon sequestration (Ecosystem Services Market Consortium).
Support for journalism focused on the food industry and, specifically, the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on food systems and restaurants (The Counter).
Creation of a Sustainable Consumption and Production Index to analyze the collateral environmental impacts of the consumption of goods internationally (Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy).
Project to evaluate pesticide use by country as a component of Yale’s international Environmental Performance Index (Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy).
Development of a soil carbon measurement tool and protocols; support opportunities for students at HBCUs and Native-American organizations to pursue careers in soil health and regenerative agriculture (Soil Health Institute).
Creation of a Soil Fertility and Food Waste Management program (Sylvester Manor Educational Farm).
A Climate Equity Initiative connecting climate, health, soil health, and equity at a digital news site focused on the American food system (Civil Eats).
A program to accelerate the adoption of food waste solutions by embedding criteria for food waste reduction into existing initiatives of other organizations (ReFED).
A study to analyze the impact of prenatal herbicide exposures on women’s health, pregnancy outcomes, and newborn health and development (Heartland Health Research Alliance).
A pilot public education program to help inform people on the labor issues involved in the food they eat and purchase, including the impact of climate and unsustainable agriculture on farmworker women’s safety and health (Worker Justice Center of New York).
Support for “Elevating Healthy-Soil Practices as a Critical Climate Solution” (Union of Concerned Scientists).
Support for “Promoting Green Infrastructure in New York City” (Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy & Land Use Law at NYU School of Law).
Support for "Improving the Food Security, Incomes and Nutrition of Women-Led Families of Central Nepal" (Groundswell International).
Support to help enable a consortium of organizations to file a USDA grant application for funds to assist historically disadvantaged small farmers (Marbleseed).
Support for the purchase of specialized equipment to measure and analyze methane and ammonia gas emissions on NYS dairy farms (Cornell Atkinson).
Support for a rapid response campaign to promote the freedom to invest (Ceres).
Support for a Food/Climate Fellowship consisting of a Senior and Junior Fellow (The Safina Center).
Support for The Great Collision Storytelling Book Project, which explore how to nourish the planet while protecting the planet from the consequences of agricultural activities (The Chicago Council on Global Affairs).
Support for a project to protect the watershed areas in the Finger Lakes region of New York (The Nature Conservancy).
Support for organizing young farmers in New York (National Young Farmers Coalition).
Support research at the intersection of climate and agroecology by disadvantaged students (University of California at Santa Cruz).
Support for a Report on the Western Megadrought (Union of Concerned Scientists).
Support for program to study and promote high carbon soil amendments on California Central Coast farms (Sustainable Conservation).
Support for “Stressed Out Soils” project to examine how soil responds to multiple global changes (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Systems).
Support for Rangeland Carbon Management Project, which is focused on bolstering the scientific foundation to build a more regenerative food system (Point Blue Conservation Science).
Support for virtual briefing to state legislators on ways to support young and disadvantaged farmers through state policy (National Caucus of Environmental Legislators).
Support to expand food recovery programs from four-year college campuses to community college campuses (Food Recovery Network).
Provided catalytic support for a new initiative called Nature Action 100 to provide guidance and support for investor engagements on nature risk (Ceres).
Support for 2024 Training for state legislators on the harms of industrial aquaculture & finfish farms (State Innovation Exchange).
Seed funding for campaign to expose and stop deforestation caused by the use of wood pellets for biomass energy production (Green America).
Support for litigation addressing increased factory farm gas production (FarmSTAND).
Support for innovative project to cultivate taro (as a model for other tropical crops) in the western North Carolina region to provide diversity and climate resilience (The Utopian Seed Project).
To further support and effectuate its mission, the Gordon Family Foundation is a member of Environmental Grantmakers Association, Funders For Regenerative Agriculture, Mission Investors Exchange, New York City Climate Action Alliance, and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders.