Agriculture-based social innovations are increasingly important as the world is becoming increasingly urbanized. As humans, we are becoming alienated (and of course, alienating ourselves) from the material environment -- let alone mentioning farm life.
This isn't simply about a nostalgic longing for going "back to the earth;" this essentially comes down to survival and the ability for communities around the world to support themselves not only when it comes to food but also economic development and health.
Some of these agriculture-based social innovations work toward creating cotton products or coffee beans, but others are more grassroots in their connection the farm. For example, Corbin Hill Road farm is part of a few other examples of social enterprises that aim to offer accessible and healthy produce to those who are left out of mainstream food networks due to either price or location or both.
56 Agriculture-Supporting Social Innovations
56
Online Ethical Retailers
SERRV Alleviates Poverty by Supporting Artisans from Around the World
55
Utopic Eco Villages
Costa Rica's Kopali Communities Adheres to the Triple Bottom Line
54
Alternative Food Networks
The People's Supermarket Focuses on Community Development
53
Microloan-Giving Tees
The Naked Hippie Invests in Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in the Majority World
52
Community-Empowering Food Systems
DC Central Kitchen is a Social Enterprise with a Long-Term Focus
51
Coffee Ground Mushrooms
'Back to the Roots' Turns Waste into Gourmet Ingredients
50
Socially Conscious Packaging
Level Ground Trading Re-Sealable Bags Take You Back to the Fields
49
Beads to Fight Poverty
BeadForLife Sells Fair Trade Jewelry and Shea Butter Made in Uganda
48
Culture-Sustaining Hammocks
Yellow Leaf Provides Alternatives to Child Labor and Toxic Farming
47
Education-Funding Agriculture
Planting Promise is a Business-Oriented Charity in Sierra Leone
46
Labor-Oriented Cacoa Production
The Dandelion Chocolate Bars Team Focuses on Employment Standards
45
Fair Trade Underwear
Pants to Poverty is a Hip Social Enterprise That Raises “Underwearness"
44
Honest Chocolate
Alter Eco Americas Sells Fair Trade Products, Connects Customers and Farmers
43
Community Produce Narratives
Food Connect Brisbane Invites You to Know More About Your Meal
42
Wasted Apple Beverages
Batlow Premium Cider Stems from the Australian Co-Operative
41
Youthful Entrepreneur Projects
'Social Enterprise Africa' Trains Ethical Changemakers
40
Food Desert Distributors
The Corbin Hill Road Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Those in Need
39
Fair Trade Bouquets
One World Flowers Imports from Ecuador and Delivers to Your Door
38
Sustainable Sanitation Systems
'San+Co.' is a Social Enterprise Tackling Waste and Electricity
37
Co-Op Cacoa
Kallari Chocolate Bars Support 850 Families and the Rainforest
36
Ethical Cocoa Gadget Helpers
The Divine Chocolate App Shares the Story of the Farmer-Owned Company
35
Social Sri Lankan Seasonings
The Spicy Gourmet Supports Small Farmers Through Fair Trade
34
Peace Perfumes
The Vetiver of Haiti Fragrance by The 7 Virtues Helps Rebuild Communities
33
Local Food Movements
SPUD.ca and SPUD.com Stock Your Fridge with Organic Groceries
32
Fairtrade Chic Drinks
Lemonaid Beverages and ChariTea Look Cool, Pay Farmers Fairly
31
Social Enterprise Beer
SABMiller Commits to 'Farming Better Futures' with Impala Lager in Africa
30
Social Nutrient Packs
'Valid Nutrition' Pastes are Made Locally Where They Are Needed
29
BioTrade Butterfly Businesses
'Alas de Colombia' Generates Income Through Sustainable Farming
28
Connection-Building Beans
DOMA Coffee Roasters Create Relationships That Last
27
Farmer-Empowered Beekeeping
'Under The Mango Tree' Services Both Ends of the Honey Market
26
Tourist-Attracting Sustainable Infrastructure
Corn Cow Inc. Improves New York's Rural Subsistence
25
Global Farmers' Markets
Liga Masiva Lets You Buy Coffee Straight from the Source
24
Indian Water-Saving Technology
GEWP Allows Farmers to Yield More Crops and Create More Jobs
23
Fertile Fundraising Fashion
The Tohoku Cotton Project Will Revive Japan's Ravaged Prefecture
22
Fair Trade Cocoa
Divine Chocolate is a Social Business Partly Owned by Its Farmers
21
Fair Trade Dried Goods
Tropical Wholefoods Works with Farmers from All Over the World
20
Ugandan-Made Ethical Tees
'Forgotten Shirts' Supplies Style, Meaningful Work and a Chance to Live
19
Smallholder Business Partners
Safi Coffee Goes Beyond Fair Trade for the Good of Kenyan Farmers
18
Cause-Driven Coffee
Pura Vida Empowers the Poor Through Create Good Foundation
17
Neighborhood Energy Farms
Community Solar Gardens are Sprouting Up Everywhere
16
Economically Viable Vehicles
The Project Rwanda 'Coffee-Bike' Offers Farmers Affordable Transports
15
Ethical Gastropubs
The Duke of Cambridge Serves Organic and Local Foods
14
Fair Trade Wine Pouches
'Palesa' Symbolizes Strength, Motherhood and Consciousness
13
Sustainable Amazonian Drinks
Runa Supports Indigenous Farmers Through Guayusa Tea
12
Job-Creating Recycling Programs
Bangladesh's 'Waste Concern' is an Eco Social Business with Bite
11
Organic Food Giveaways
The NYFoods Egg Change Project Fosters the One-for-One Model
10
Fair Trade Vino
Fairhills Wines is an Empowerment Project Started in South Africa
9
Fair Trade African Soda
Ubuntu Cola is a First for the United Kingdom
8
Fair Trade Bulk Apparel
Epona Clothing Supplies Ethical Tees for Charities, Schools & Businesses
7
Coffee Connection Sites
Coffee CSA Lets You Connect with and Buy from Java Farmers Worldwide
6
Crowdsourced Ranches
The MyFarm Project is a Real-Life Farmville
5
Smallholder Coffee Farmers
Cafedirect Builds Communities Through Social Business
4
Community-Focused Palestinian Produce
Zaytoun Imports Organic and Fair Trade Products
3
Commodity-Chain-Linking Java
Bourbon Coffee Focuses on Economic Development in Rwanda
2
Fair Trade Shea Butter
Delapointe's Products are Made by Women in Burkina Faso
1
High End Fair Trade Quality Chocolate
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'Shop With Meaning' Sells Socially-Responsible Items with a Story
Zulugrass Jewelry
The Leakey Collection Employs Women in the The Rift Valley, Kenya
Eco-Conscious Alternatives
'Fashioning Change' Supports Ethical Substitutes to Popular Name Brands
12 Ethical Coffee Brands
Social Businesses Using Beverage and Bean Sales to Give Back
Eclectic Ethical Fashion
Upcycled 'Adamah Stein' Designs by Artisans in Senegal and Paris
Traveling Fashion Boutiques
The StyleLiner is a Pop-Up Shop on Wheels
Recycling Garbage
Mike Biddle Reveals a New Use for the World's Waste in 'We Can Recycle Plastic'
Socially Conscious Cotton Clothing
Buyfriend's 100% Organic Tees Promote Ethical Fashion
50 Fair Trade Fashion Features
From Nature-Loving Knickers to Socially Conscious Scarves
100 Fair Trade Innovations
From Zulugrass Jewelry to Ethical Quinoa Vodka
Online Ethical Retailers
SERRV Alleviates Poverty by Supporting Artisans from Around the World
19 Food-Focused Social Enterprises
From Well-Wasted Cuisine to Ethical Gastropubs
Fair Trade Peruvian Handcrafts
Sanyork Promotes Artisans in a Poor Community of Lima
Socially Responsible Bangles
Alkemie Jewelry is Made from 100% Reclaimed Materials
Chris Baker, Founder of OneSeed Expeditions (INTERVIEW)
Socially Responsible Travel
Apparel Against Slavery
'Stop Traffick Fashion' Supports Artisans Through Income and Resources
Traceable Empowerment Fashion
The IOU Project Employs Artisans in India and Shares their Stories
Sustainable Change Beads
The Vibrant Andean Collection Supports Artisans in Ecuador
Empowerment Jewelry
SWAK X Educates and Employs Young Adults with HIV/AIDS
Greening Consultants
'Synergy Enterprises' Helps Businesses Reach Triple Bottom Line Goals
Beyond Monetary Fulfillment
Craig Kielburger Discusses the Influence of Investing in Children
Fashion-Savvy Sustainable Sandals
GreenSoul Shoes Works to Support Ethical Business Practices
Life-Changing Macbook Cases
Della LA Creates Unique Accessories That Employ Women in Ghana
Majority World Tech Incubators
D-Rev Designs Solution-Driven Products for Low-Income Customers
Edgy Fashion Co-Ops
Fair Trade 'Of Rags' Combines NYC Style with Ghanaian Fashion
Drought-Fighting Devices
Airdrop Irrigation Concept Alleviates Challenging Agricultural Conditions
Slum Empowerment Fashion
Bachhara Makes Fair Trade, Ethical Silk Apparel in Bangladesh
Community-Empowering Food Systems
DC Central Kitchen is a Social Enterprise with a Long-Term Focus
Coffee Ground Mushrooms
'Back to the Roots' Turns Waste into Gourmet Ingredients
Like-for-Like Businesses
'One' Products Fund Similar Items in the Developing World
Carbon-Negative Stoves
Inyenyeri Uses Crowdsourced Biofuel to Transform Energy Systems in Rwanda
Beads to Fight Poverty
BeadForLife Sells Fair Trade Jewelry and Shea Butter Made in Uganda
Profit-Sharing Cafes
Kinfolk is an Australian Social Business with Four Development Projects
Fair Trade Weaving
WomenCraft Offers Ethical Employment in East Africa's Mafiga Matatu Area
Fair Trade Monsters
Cambodia Knits Employs Marginalized People in Phnom Penh
30 Artisan-Supporting Businesses
From Kenyan Art Clinics to Opportunity-Generating Accessories
Corporate Gifting for Good
Handcrafted Gifts from Zoe Alliance Offer Ethical Employment
Waste-Powered Gardening
EcoScraps Turns Old Food into High Quality Soil Conditioner
Fair Trade Artwork
Ethical Art Supports Maasai Children in Need Through Education
Socially Driven Streetwear
DopeHut was One of the First B Corporations in California
Empowering Organic T-Shirts
Light of Mine Tees Works to Promotes Sustainable Development
Empowering Crochet
Fair Trade 'Pebble' Baby Line Employs Women in Bangladesh
Diwali-Celebrating Fashion
The Louis Vuitton Sari Dress Collection Modernizes South Asian Attire
Ethical Quinoa Vodka
FAIR. is the World's First Fair Trade Certified Spirits Brand
Community Produce Narratives
Food Connect Brisbane Invites You to Know More About Your Meal
Energy Poverty Entrepreneurs
Solar Sister Targets Women to Sell Lamps and Improve Livelihoods
Stacy McCoy, Co-Founder of Give to Get Jobs
Social Enterprise and Nonprofit Job Board
Youthful Entrepreneur Projects
'Social Enterprise Africa' Trains Ethical Changemakers
Curated Ethical Boxes
Monthly Blissmoboxes are Packed With Social Goodness
Fresh Vegan Food Trucks
Cinnamon Snail Offers New Yorkers Tasty Organic Fare
Charitable Animal Sculptures
The Bundu Designs Rhinos are Made from Wire
Fair Trade Record Labels
Kanaga System Krush Promotes Traditional West African Music
Food Desert Distributors
The Corbin Hill Road Farm Supplies Fresh Produce to Those in Need
Upcycling to Fight Poverty
The 'Recycle Not a Waste Initiative' Empowers Ghanian Street Youth
Fair Trade Bouquets
One World Flowers Imports from Ecuador and Delivers to Your Door
Energy-Efficient Community Contractors
Solar Works Strives for Business & Homeowner Self-Reliance
Social Good Certifications
B Corporations Use Business to Solve Social and Eco Problems
Rachel Cope, Co-Founder of Lazy Angel (INTERVIEW)
Browser Ad-On that Fights Malnutrition
Social Entrepreneurship Filmmakers
Actuality Media Create Philanthropic Videos About Changemakers
Co-Op Cacoa
Kallari Chocolate Bars Support 850 Families and the Rainforest
1 for 1 Snacks
Each KUTOA Health Bar Also Buys a Nutrient Pack for a Child in Need
Custom Cereal Orders
'Cerealize' Lets You Choose What Goes Into Your Milk
Sarah Gross, Founder of Rescue Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
100% of Profits go to Animal Shelters
Ethical Cocoa Gadget Helpers
The Divine Chocolate App Shares the Story of the Farmer-Owned Company
Information Poverty
Osama Manzar Discusses the Power of Opportunity in Technology
Vibrant Fair Trade Products
Global Mamas Helps Ghana-Based Artisan Reach New Markets
Fairtrade Chic Drinks
Lemonaid Beverages and ChariTea Look Cool, Pay Farmers Fairly
Social Enterprise Beer
SABMiller Commits to 'Farming Better Futures' with Impala Lager in Africa
Connection-Building Beans
DOMA Coffee Roasters Create Relationships That Last
Ethnic Exchange Cuisine
Culture Kitchen Employs Immigrants to Teach Cooking Classes
Majority World Software
Dimagi Uses Open Source Technology to Solve Global Problems
Global Farmers' Markets
Liga Masiva Lets You Buy Coffee Straight from the Source
Sustainable, Empowering Rugs
'Arzu Studio Hope' Offers Employment to Women in Afghanistan
Mathieu Senard and Edouard Rollet, Founders of Alter Eco (INTERVIEW)
Fair Trade Food Importers
Fair Trade Sports Gear
Handmade DOSTI Soccer Balls Employ Afghan Women
Work-Based Catering Academies
Create Foundation Works with Marginalized Communities
Good Cause Candy
Chocolate Angell Bars are Organic and Fair Trade Certified
Safe Trash Enterprises
Waste Ventures Incubates and Empowers Garbage Collectors
Godwin Yidana and Gayle Pescud, Co-Founders of G-Lish (INTERVIEW)
Greener Charcoal
Bamboo Lota is a Sustainable Company Fighting Deforestation in Malawi
Judy Logback, Founder of Kallari Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
Sweets that Support People and Planet
Social Enterprise Clinics
Penda Health Offers Specialized Medical Care to Women in Kenya
Ads That Nourish Kids
Lazy Angel Browser Add-On Easily Fights Malnutrition in Children
Socially Responsible Textiles
Proud Mary Provides Artisan Materials in Developing Nations
Majority World Cold Storage
Promethean Power Systems is a Social Business Providing Refrigeration
Local Food Biz Connectors
Sustaination Makes It Easy and Efficient to Get Healthy Food
Microloans for Homelessness?
Beyond the Cardboard Shares Stories, Interviews and Resources
Daniel Blake, Co-Founder and CEO of EcoScraps (INTERVIEW)
Turning Old Food into Organic Fertilizer
Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor UK (INTERVIEW)
Leslie Beasley, Co-Founder/Managing Director of The Open Arms Shop (INTERVIEW)
Sustainable Storytelling Businesses
Thinkshift Communications is a B Corporation Promoting Good
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Ethical Vegan Shoes
Cussing Sanitation Promos
Matt Damon Tells You to 'Talk Sh*t' for World Toilet Day
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Empowering Women Through Employment
Waste-Reverting Social Enterprises
Wombling CIC Recycles Goods Headed for the Landfill
Ethically Responsible Celeb Brews
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Creates Sustainable 'Lyon' Coffee
Global Environment Standardization
Scientific Certification Systems is a Californian B Corporation
Multivitamins for Purpose
A Bottle of Vitamma Gives 2 Years of Nutrition to 3 Kids
A Poor Human's Innovation
Vijay Govindarajan Discusses Equalizing the Economic Playing Field
Sanitation Training Courses
Unilever & World Toilet Organization Launch Domestos Toilet Academies
Misshapen Produce Meals
The Feeding the 5,000 Initiative Sheds Light on Wasted Food