Initiatives

The objective for SFC is to create a collaborative network of inspiring communities (people, places, groups, institutions) where research, policy, advocacy, technology and innovation are collectively working to drive the transition to a healthy, equitable, resilient and sustainable food system. Transforming our broken food systems requires a systems approach, and so we want to learn from the practices, projects, actions and stories that disrupt the current unsustainable and unhealthy food production, consumption, distribution, processing, packaging and waste disposal patterns which damage the planet, deprive small-holder farmers and increase inequality and poverty. 

In February 2025, we are collaborating on a sustainable agriculture project involving University College London (UCL) and the University of Ghana, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The project is building a diverse network across Ghana, UK, Brazil and Nigeria to scope out the potential challenges and opportunities for using and adapting innovations and approaches used in Brazil and UK agriculture, to enable subsistence farmers in Ghana and Nigeria to better harness the pest-control power of their native natural enemies. Some of the innovations might include augmenting natural enemy populations by constructing semi-natural nesting habitats and substrates; relocating native species from regions of abundance; ecologically-appropriate planting; establishing small-scale husbandry rearing of natural enemies within farming communities.

AFI is our farming and land management initiative which supports farmers in low-income farming communities to achieve food sovereignty and environmental objectives. The initiative provides training, incentives and advice to small-holder farmers for adopting agroforestry systems to diversify food crops, improve self-sufficiency and food security, while increasing biodiversity and building resilience to climate change. We encourage farmers to cultivate native or indigenous Ghanaian vegetables as part of the agroforestry system. Some of these vegetables such as okra, garden eggs, cocoyam leaves and turkey berry are climate resilient, nutrient dense, require less resources to grow, and well suited to the local climate and conditions.

WildRain has partnered with Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) to design an agroforestry model farm to demonstrate agroforestry techniques and practices to farmers involved in this initiative. The demonstration farm is found in Akwamu-Kwanyarko village in Asuogyaman District, Eastern Region. The site which was previously a degraded land has been transformed to an agri-silviculture system that grows native trees, fruits and vegetables. We intend to expand the farm to serve as an agroforestry training, co-design and adoption centre for knowledge exchange, farmer-to-farmer education and mentoring, connecting and serving over 300 farmers in more than 10 communities in the Asuogyaman district.

Mushroom for Women was designed to address the increased demand for unpaid care work performed by women because of climate change impacts. Currently implemented in Kwanyarko village, the project is integrating care and equity objectives into sustainable food production which mitigates carbon emissions and reduces climate vulnerability among women involved in subsistence farming. 

Kwanyarko is a low-income farming village of over 500 population including several single mothers. Community members face high unemployment and food insecurity. Unemployed women spend most of their time doing labour intensive work such as stone quarrying and construction jobs to provide income to care for households.  They also simultaneously undertake subsistence farming, in the face of climate impacts, to provide food for dependents and sell surplus to residents. However, their contribution to community food security is entirely overlooked. 

The initiative provides permanent and seasonal employment in our mushroom farm to 20+ single mothers and women in the village. This reduces the burden of looking for physically demanding jobs to provide care for dependents. 

Mushroom cultivation reduces vulnerability to climate change because they are not rain-fed and can be grown all year round with less land and labour. In the medium term, using skills and experience gained from mushroom cultivation, supported with seed capital and small loans from community-organised women’s savings groups, the women can grow and sell their own mushrooms to an available market already established by WildRain. Providing women with opportunities for self-employment and financial inclusion empowers them socially and economically. It improves their confidence and self-worth, encourages them to engage actively in their communities, and helps to reduce poverty in their households.