Food The processing, transportation and packaging of food has a pervasive effect on the environment, both in terms of the resources it consumes and the wastes it creates. If all the world's people nourished themselves with the typical American diet of meat, heavily processed and packaged foods, and foods transported great distances, we would use more energy for food and drink than we currently do for all purposes. In addition, agricultural yields have begun to decline in the past few years in relation to population growth, the first sign that our food surpluses may be coming to an end. Last year, 27 countries were identified as having low or critical food security and the number is projected to double by 2010. International Asia/South Pacific Latin America/Caribbean Europe North America International   Food & Agriculture Organization www.fao.org The Food and Agriculture Organization was founded in October 1945 with a mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations. Today, FAO is the largest autonomous agency within the United Nations system with 175 Member Nations plus the EC (Member Organization) and more than 1 500 professional staff. The Organization's 1998-1999 biennial budget is set at $650 million and FAO-assisted projects attract more than $3000 million per year from donor agencies and governments for investment in agricultural and rural development projects. Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security - the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life. The Organization offers direct development assistance, collects, analyses and disseminates information, provides policy and planning advice to governments and acts as an international forum for debate on food and agriculture issues. FAO is active in land and water development, plant and animal production, forestry, fisheries, economic and social policy, investment, nutrition, food standards and commodities and trade. It also plays a major role in dealing with food and agricultural emergencies. A specific priority of the Organization is encouraging sustainable agriculture and rural development, a long-term strategy for the conservation and management of natural resources. It aims to meet the needs of both present and future generations through programmes that do not degrade the environment and are technically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable. Earth Save www.earthsave.org EarthSave educates, inspires and empowers people to shift toward a diet centered on fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes -- food choices that are healthy for people and for the planet. EarthSave is leading a global movement of people from all walks of life taking concrete steps every day to promote healthy and life-sustaining food choices. EarthSave supplies information, support and practical programs to the growing cross-section of our society that is discovering the power of food choices to promote environmental well-being and human health. We support individuals in making food choices that promote health, reduce health care costs and provide greater independence from the medical system. We raise awareness of the vast ecological destruction resulting from the unsustainable production of animal foods promoting instead a delicious planet-friendly diet. Asia/South Pacific   Canberra Organic Growers Society www.pcug.org.au/~jallen/cogs.htm This site has information on organic farming and the dangers of pesticides as well as information on the Society itself and its members. Latin America/Caribbean   The Golondrinas Foundation www.ecuadorexplorer.com/golondrinas/index.htm The Ecuadorian/Belgian-run Golondrinas Foundation is located in Ecuador. The foundation's goal is to conserve a unique forest ecosystem while improving the standard of living for the people who reside in the region, through the introduction of sustainable agriculture techniques. Europe   Organic Farming in Europe www.aber.ac.uk/~wirwww/organic/europe This site provides graphs detailing the growth of the organic sector in Europe since 1985 with respect to number of farms, land area and proportion of the agricultural sector in different countries. North America   American Farmland Trust www.farmland.org American Farmland Trust works to stop the loss of productive farmland and to promote farming practices that lead to a healthy environment. Certified Organic Food www.gks.com This site contains links to those organic farms which have websites as well as information on organics and links to non-profits working in this area. Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture www.kerrcenter.com The Kerr Center is a Foundation working on searching for farming practices and marketing structures that will improve the quality of our natural resources, our natural environment, and the lives of farmers and ranchers and the communities to which they belong. Specialists educated in the agricultural sciences, the law, and communication are on staff helping farmers and ranchers meet the challenges of 21st century agriculture. Midwest Organic Alliance www.organic.org The mission of the Organic Alliance is to encourage an ecologically and socially responsible agriculture which reflects humankind's obligation to protect the health of the planet for future generations. The Alliance promotes the environmental and economic benefits of certified organic food production to farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Mothers & Others www.mothers.org Mothers & Others,a national nonprofit education organization, works to promote consumer choices which are safe and ecologically sustainable for this generation and the next. By providing strategies that can reduce individual and community consumption of natural resources, and by mobilizing consumers to seek sustainable choices, we aim to effect lasting protection of public health and the environment. Organic Farming Research Foundation www.ofrf.org To sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues. Pesticide Action Network www.panna.org/panna Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) has campaigned to replace pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives since 1982. PANNA is one of five Pesticide Action Network Regional Centers worldwide. There are PAN Regional Centers in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Europe and North America.