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THE PROJECT
POSITIVE IMPACTS
METHODOLOGY

Majete Reserve

Community Development and Wildlife Conservation

Nourish and Enhance

Launched in 2011 under the umbrella of The Hunger Project, the Majete Reserve Project organizes local communities around the wildlife reserve to increase their food security, decrease poaching, increase health services, create eco-friendly economic activities, and enhance school attendance.

Contact:

Megan Nykyforchyn Clark,

Senior Director, New Business Development

megan.nykyforchyn-clark@thp.org

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Majete Reserve Project, Malawi, Community Members 2022 -Source - The Hunger Project, Pablo Sanchez
Majete Reserve Project, Malawi, Community Gathering - 2022 -Source - The Hunger Project, Pablo Sanchez
Majete Reserve Project, Malawi, Education and Technology, 2022 -Source - The Hunger Project, Pablo Sanchez
Majete Reserve Project, Malawi, 2022 -Source - The Hunger Project, Christin Tisitin
Ypbe and Elizabeth, Majete Reserve, Malawi - Source - The Hunger Project

Ecological Benefits Targets

The Majete Reserve Project works with The Hunger Project using an area-based strategy that focuses on uplifting village meetings that inspire people to envision a shared goal for their community. The community lays out the actions they will take to achieve their goals. Local volunteers are recruited and trained in nine thematic areas that align with government interventions and the Sustainable Development Goals. Volunteers become local experts on a specific theme and pass on their knowledge during home-visits, village gatherings and by being a role model.

Air

Communities were burning charcoal and cutting down trees in the game reserve prior to intervention. The project has dramatically improved air quality by moving wood production outside of the reserve.

Water

The project works with communities to drill bore holes for well water, to develop better hygienic practices, to build latrines, to dig rubbish pits, and to incorporate better food safety practices.

Soil

The project encourages communities to select ecologically-appropriate and nutritious plant species, to recycle agriculture waste as soil cover, and to apply organic compost and manure from livestock.

Biodiversity

The introduction of beekeeping practices and drastic reduction (nearly elimination) of poaching activity in the area has allowed the ecosystem rebalance as plant and animal populations recover.

Equity

The project creates equitable access to electricity, internet access, water, sexual reproductive services, and more. It also promotes women’s empowerment and the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Carbon

The introduction of solar power has decreased emissions from Malawi’s national grid. Where the park’s ecosystems have been restored and rebalanced, carbon has resumed natural cycling processes.

Community

Operation Location: Malawi
Traditional Name of Location: Majete
Area of Operation (hectares): 70000
Coordinates: Ea 85’V nam CUm 80’P
Communities: Chibwalizo Community
Land Tenure: The land of the reserve is owned by the government which delegates authority to the “Ministry of Lands” that then delegates rights to traditional leaders living on customary land. Traditional leaders have the power to oversee management and delegate authority to individual households who may lease the land and acquire a certificate to title the land. The land surrounding Majete is largely customary, belonging to the people, traditional leaders and heads of households for cultivating and living.

Project Development

Project Developer: The Hunger Project

The Epicenter Strategy of The Hunger Project has three essential foundational pillars:

1. Empowering women as key agents of change
2. Mobilizing entire communities into self-reliance
3. Fostering effective partnerships that engage local governments

As a symbol of their self-reliance, the community builds a physical infrastructure that hosts a clinic, food bank, library/computer room, meeting hall, microfinance office, skills center, and demonstration garden. The primary resources for the epicenter strategy come from the people themselves and by making local government resources more effective. When the epicenter has achieved self-reliance, it no longer needs support from The Hunger Project. The community is ready to run itself.

Stakeholders & Beneficiaries

Communities established in and around the reserve benefit from the project’s positive impacts, including: surrounding communities, women (who are a priority demographic), people with disabilities, park management, local Government, traditional authorities, local NGOs, flora and fauna. Neighboring communities and local governments have learned from the project’s community-led approach, and it hopes this knowledge will be applied elsewhere.

State of Development

Fully Operational

Project Launch

20110101

EBF Sector

Human

Project Type

Nourish and Enhance

Credit Type

Certificates

N/A

Data PrivaCy

Yes

# of annual credits produced

https://www.carbonicons.org/fingerprints/majete-reserve-project?background-hidden&overlay-hidden&no-blur

Air.

Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

The Majete Reserve Project actively works to mitigate charcoal production and burning for cooking purposes, which reduces major air pollutants and curtails associated greenhouse gas emissions. The project also reduces air pollution by encouraging locals to raise goats instead of hunting, which reduces the use of brushfires for hunting purposes. These actions result in cleaner, healthier air for both local communities and wildlife within the Reserve.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Agroforestry

Agroforestry

Practice

Land management practice that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs into farming systems to derive environmental and economic benefits (greater crop yield, increased biodiversity, etc.); can include hedgerows, windbreaks, and silvopasture.

X

Farmer-to-farmer training emphasize agroforestry techniques such as the management of woodlots, forests, and gardens that promote tree crops for food, fiber, forage, shade, and wildlife habitat.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Air Quality (improved)

Air Quality (improved)

Practice

Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.

X

The project has worked to mitigate the effects of charcoal burned for cooking to improve indoor and outdoor air quality by reducing particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions.

Trust

Self-Reported

Conservation

Conservation

Practice

The protection and preservation of natural environments from damage or destruction to safeguard biodiversity and ecological resilience.

X

The project provides communities with educational materials and programs that emphasize natural resource conservation within the reserve and in the managed landscapes that surround it.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Cover Cropping

Cover Cropping

Practice

Regenerative agricultural practice where specific crops are planted to improve soil health, fertility, and overall ecosystem resilience; typically grown between main crop seasons or in fallow periods to cover and protect the soil from erosion, nutrient loss, and weed growth.

X

The project facilitates farmer-to-farmer training and features improved farming techniques such as cover crops that increase soil health, reduce weeds, and minimize runoff.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Forest Management (improved)

Forest Management (improved)

Practice

Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.

X

The project educates and empowers local communities to support forest conservation through a variety of training programs (e.g., agroforestry methods, woodlot planting) and educational activities.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Mulching

Mulching

Practice

Adding a protective layer of material on top of the soil (e.g., wood chips, compost, leaf litter, crop residues, etc.).

X

Farmer-to-farmer trainings promote improved farming techniques such as mulching that minimize weeds, maximize water retention, enhance soil fertility, and retain nutrients.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Natural Fertilizer (improved)

Natural Fertilizer (improved)

Practice

The development and use of organic or eco-friendly fertilizers that provide essential nutrients to plants while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

X

The project uses regenerative agriculture practices that maximize natural sources of fertility (e.g., animal manure, green manures) and utilize organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Reforestation

Reforestation

Practice

The practice of planting an area with trees to contribute to ecological restoration efforts in former forest ecosystems.

X

The project plants trees in and around communities, including perennial tree crops that provide nutrient-rich foods, supporting community self-sufficiency and reduces pressure on wildlife reserves.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

The Majete Reserve Project ensures access to clean and reliable water as a fundamental concern, particularly in areas with low water supply systems. The project has learned that boreholes are a highly effective solution to this problem. Boreholes are strategically placed to ensure that communities have access to sufficient water throughout the year. Even when streams and shallow wells dry up,there is a steady supply of water, benefiting both humans and local ecosystems. This approach enhances water quality, availability, and sustainability.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Agroforestry

Agroforestry

Practice

Land management practice that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs into farming systems to derive environmental and economic benefits (greater crop yield, increased biodiversity, etc.); can include hedgerows, windbreaks, and silvopasture.

X

Farmer-to-farmer training emphasize agroforestry techniques such as the management of woodlots, forests, and gardens that promote tree crops for food, fiber, forage, shade, and wildlife habitat.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Boreholes and Water Wells

Boreholes and Water Wells

Practice

Cylindrical holes drilled into the ground by a machine (boreholes) or by hand (water wells) to access and extract water from underground aquifers; used to access water supply for domestic, agricultural, or industrial uses, among other uses.

X

The Project has learned that boreholes work well where water supply is low. The boreholes maintain sufficient water for communities throughout the year, even when streams and shallow wells dry up.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Hybridized (Outcomes- & Practices-based)

Hybridized (Outcomes- & Practices-based)

Practice

Projects or initiatives that combine both practices- and outcomes-based analyses to maximize the advantages of both approaches; practices-based methods tend to be highly efficient and cost-effective, while outcomes-based methods may provide more precise data on actual results.

X

While the impacts of some initiatives are readily measured and monitored, some practices with predictable incomes are assessed on the basis of fulfillment rather than on a complete set of data.

Trust

Self-Reported

Intercropping

Intercropping

Practice

Planting more than one type of crop in the same space; uses water, nutrient, and light resources more efficiently on-farm.

X

The project provides and emphasizes trainings in crop cultivation that may help farmers diversify their crops, harvest times, and incomes, and may also increase biodiversity and minimize pests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Natural Fertilizer (improved)

Natural Fertilizer (improved)

Practice

The development and use of organic or eco-friendly fertilizers that provide essential nutrients to plants while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

X

The project uses regenerative agriculture practices that maximize natural sources of fertility (e.g., animal manure, green manures) and utilize organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Sanitation and Hygiene

Sanitation and Hygiene

Practice

The practices, facilities, and conditions that promote safe management of human waste, maintenance of cleanliness, and prevention of diseases in individuals and communities; encompasses various aspects related to the proper disposal of waste, access to clean water, and personal hygiene practices.

X

The project supports rural communities that lack basic necessities (clean water, health services, education, etc.) with infrastructure and knowledge to meet their own needs and close inequity gaps.

Trust

Self-Reported

Water Quality (improved)

Water Quality (improved)

Practice

Improvements to suitability of water for human uses; often through the reduction of pollutants or suspended sediments; frequently involves efforts to clean or restore groundwater resources.

X

The project trains local leaders in water management practices that preserve water quality by providing and protecting drinking water and by managing wastes materials from humans and livestock.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quality Monitoring

Water Quality Monitoring

Practice

Monitoring physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of a water source or environment; prevents transmission of harmful bacteria to humans, mortality events, and environmental degradation.

X

The project works with local committees to oversee that water is being managed well and that sanitary conditions are maintained to ensure safe water for drinking and hygiene purposes.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Water Quantity and Availability (increased)

Practice

Compiling and communicating measured data on water quantity and availability; helps stakeholders (e.g., government agencies, water utilities, researchers, the public) evaluate the current status of water resources to identify trends and make informed water management and conservation decisions.

X

The project trains local leaders in water management practices such as drilling bore holes, sanitary disposal of wastewater, and methods for reducing use of water in agriculture.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Soil.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

The Majete Reserve Project places a strong emphasis on educating and engaging communities in the conservation of natural resources. This commitment extends not only to the relatively pristine environment within the reserve but also to the managed landscapes that provide essential resources for daily life. By promoting responsible land management practices, the project contributes to the preservation of soil health and the reduction of soil erosion and runoff, which can have a significant impact on water quality and the stability of local ecosystems.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Agroforestry

Agroforestry

Practice

Land management practice that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs into farming systems to derive environmental and economic benefits (greater crop yield, increased biodiversity, etc.); can include hedgerows, windbreaks, and silvopasture.

X

Farmer-to-farmer training emphasize agroforestry techniques such as the management of woodlots, forests, and gardens that promote tree crops for food, fiber, forage, shade, and wildlife habitat.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Conservation

Conservation

Practice

The protection and preservation of natural environments from damage or destruction to safeguard biodiversity and ecological resilience.

X

The project provides communities with educational materials and programs that emphasize natural resource conservation within the reserve and in the managed landscapes that surround it.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Cover Cropping

Cover Cropping

Practice

Regenerative agricultural practice where specific crops are planted to improve soil health, fertility, and overall ecosystem resilience; typically grown between main crop seasons or in fallow periods to cover and protect the soil from erosion, nutrient loss, and weed growth.

X

The project facilitates farmer-to-farmer training and features improved farming techniques such as cover crops that increase soil health, reduce weeds, and minimize runoff.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Forest Management (improved)

Forest Management (improved)

Practice

Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.

X

The project educates and empowers local communities to support forest conservation through a variety of training programs (e.g., agroforestry methods, woodlot planting) and educational activities.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Intercropping

Intercropping

Practice

Planting more than one type of crop in the same space; uses water, nutrient, and light resources more efficiently on-farm.

X

The project provides and emphasizes trainings in crop cultivation that may help farmers diversify their crops, harvest times, and incomes, and may also increase biodiversity and minimize pests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Mulching

Mulching

Practice

Adding a protective layer of material on top of the soil (e.g., wood chips, compost, leaf litter, crop residues, etc.).

X

Farmer-to-farmer trainings promote improved farming techniques such as mulching that minimize weeds, maximize water retention, enhance soil fertility, and retain nutrients.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Natural Fertilizer (improved)

Natural Fertilizer (improved)

Practice

The development and use of organic or eco-friendly fertilizers that provide essential nutrients to plants while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

X

The project uses regenerative agriculture practices that maximize natural sources of fertility (e.g., animal manure, green manures) and utilize organic fertilizers instead of synthetic fertilizers.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Reforestation

Reforestation

Practice

The practice of planting an area with trees to contribute to ecological restoration efforts in former forest ecosystems.

X

The project plants trees in and around communities, including perennial tree crops that provide nutrient-rich foods, supporting community self-sufficiency and reduces pressure on wildlife reserves.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Soil Nutrient Analysis

Soil Nutrient Analysis

Practice

Measuring the nutrient levels in soil (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.) to assess availability and potential deficiencies.

X

Training programs and soil nutrient analyses help farmers understand how soil nutrients impact plant growth, soil health, and livestock nutrition, and how they can be used to optimize productivity.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Biodiversity.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Biodiversity conservation is another critical aspect of the Majete Reserve Project's efforts. The project goes beyond traditional conservation practices by actively supporting wildlife habitat. It achieves this by integrating agroforestry methods and planting woodlots for fuel, thereby creating additional habitat for wildlife. Education programs and community involvement play a vital role in strengthening these conservation efforts, ensuring that both the reserve and its surrounding landscapes are conducive to the coexistence of humans and wildlife.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Agroforestry

Agroforestry

Practice

Land management practice that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs into farming systems to derive environmental and economic benefits (greater crop yield, increased biodiversity, etc.); can include hedgerows, windbreaks, and silvopasture.

X

Farmer-to-farmer training emphasize agroforestry techniques such as the management of woodlots, forests, and gardens that promote tree crops for food, fiber, forage, shade, and wildlife habitat.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Biodiversity Monitoring

Biodiversity Monitoring

Practice

Establishing long-term monitoring programs to track changes in species populations, diversity, and ecosystem health over time.

X

Restoring forests and providing economic alternatives to poaching are contributing to increases in biodiversity, as documented through monitoring efforts by local citizens and outside experts.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Conservation

Conservation

Practice

The protection and preservation of natural environments from damage or destruction to safeguard biodiversity and ecological resilience.

X

The project provides communities with educational materials and programs that emphasize natural resource conservation within the reserve and in the managed landscapes that surround it.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Forest Management (improved)

Forest Management (improved)

Practice

Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.

X

The project educates and empowers local communities to support forest conservation through a variety of training programs (e.g., agroforestry methods, woodlot planting) and educational activities.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Intercropping

Intercropping

Practice

Planting more than one type of crop in the same space; uses water, nutrient, and light resources more efficiently on-farm.

X

The project provides and emphasizes trainings in crop cultivation that may help farmers diversify their crops, harvest times, and incomes, and may also increase biodiversity and minimize pests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Poaching (decreased)

Poaching (decreased)

Practice

The prevention or reduction of illegal hunting or capturing of wildlife, particularly for commercial purposes or exploitation; involves implementing measures and strategies to deter poaching activities.

X

Providing alternative sources of income reduces reliance on poaching activities. Community-held bylaws punish poachers within their own communities and using their own social systems.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Reforestation

Reforestation

Practice

The practice of planting an area with trees to contribute to ecological restoration efforts in former forest ecosystems.

X

The project plants trees in and around communities, including perennial tree crops that provide nutrient-rich foods, supporting community self-sufficiency and reduces pressure on wildlife reserves.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quality (improved)

Water Quality (improved)

Practice

Improvements to suitability of water for human uses; often through the reduction of pollutants or suspended sediments; frequently involves efforts to clean or restore groundwater resources.

X

The project trains local leaders in water management practices that preserve water quality by providing and protecting drinking water and by managing wastes materials from humans and livestock.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Water Quality Monitoring

Water Quality Monitoring

Practice

Monitoring physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of a water source or environment; prevents transmission of harmful bacteria to humans, mortality events, and environmental degradation.

X

The project works with local committees to oversee that water is being managed well and that sanitary conditions are maintained to ensure safe water for drinking and hygiene purposes.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Equity.

Supporting equity and inclusion fosters social justice, ensures equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promotes the well-being and participation of all, regardless of background or circumstances.

The Majete Reserve Project is focused on addressing issues of social equity. The project places a strong emphasis on ensuring access to essential needs and services for all members of the community and actively promotes disability inclusion. Education programs play a vital role in equipping communities with the knowledge and skills needed to transition to new land management techniques and explore new market opportunities, thereby reducing disparities and promoting social equity. They operate with the expectation that improved livelihoods and community well-being will ultimately reduce the level of need for external support over time. By fostering self-reliance and gradual poverty reduction, the project contributes to the overall well-being and sustainability of the communities it serves.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Boreholes and Water Wells

Boreholes and Water Wells

Practice

Cylindrical holes drilled into the ground by a machine (boreholes) or by hand (water wells) to access and extract water from underground aquifers; used to access water supply for domestic, agricultural, or industrial uses, among other uses.

X

The Project has learned that boreholes work well where water supply is low. The boreholes maintain sufficient water for communities throughout the year, even when streams and shallow wells dry up.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Disability Inclusion (increased)

Disability Inclusion (increased)

Practice

Practice of ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities, access, and participation in all aspects of society; involves creating inclusive environments, removing barriers, and promoting the rights, dignity, and well-being of people with disabilities.

X

The project addresses access to essential needs and services for all members of the community and works to mainstream disability inclusion.

Trust

Self-Reported

Education Programs

Education Programs

Practice

Informative courses that provide training necessary for the advancement of an initiative's targeted objectives

X

Education programs provide a basis for helping communities make a gradual transition to new land management techniques and to new market opportunities.

Trust

Self-Reported

Empowered Participation

Empowered Participation

Practice

Transitioning to a more sustainable and just world to provide marginalized communities with fair representation, cultural consent, and full participation in the commensurate distribution of benefits from their activities and work.

X

Input from a diverse cross-section of participating communities is emphasized to ensure that current and future plans are culturally and contextually appropriate.

Trust

Self-Reported

Poaching (decreased)

Poaching (decreased)

Practice

The prevention or reduction of illegal hunting or capturing of wildlife, particularly for commercial purposes or exploitation; involves implementing measures and strategies to deter poaching activities.

X

Providing alternative sources of income reduces reliance on poaching activities. Community-held bylaws punish poachers within their own communities and using their own social systems.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Poverty (reduced)

Poverty (reduced)

Practice

Measures implemented to offer relief from extreme financial hardship and associated detriments to quality of life and general wellbeing; ideally, aid will provide enduring economic, social, political benefits in addition to poverty alleviation.

X

The project's focus on initiatives that link enhanced livelihoods and resilient ecosystems aims to gradually reduce poverty while gradually increasing self-reliance.

Trust

Self-Reported

Sanitation and Hygiene

Sanitation and Hygiene

Practice

The practices, facilities, and conditions that promote safe management of human waste, maintenance of cleanliness, and prevention of diseases in individuals and communities; encompasses various aspects related to the proper disposal of waste, access to clean water, and personal hygiene practices.

X

The project supports rural communities that lack basic necessities (clean water, health services, education, etc.) with infrastructure and knowledge to meet their own needs and close inequity gaps.

Trust

Self-Reported

Water Quality (improved)

Water Quality (improved)

Practice

Improvements to suitability of water for human uses; often through the reduction of pollutants or suspended sediments; frequently involves efforts to clean or restore groundwater resources.

X

The project trains local leaders in water management practices that preserve water quality by providing and protecting drinking water and by managing wastes materials from humans and livestock.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Women's Economic Empowerment

Women's Economic Empowerment

Practice

The increased capacity of women to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from economic resources and opportunities (e.g., jobs, financial services, property, skills development); increases ability to negotiate fairer distribution of benefits derived from economic growth.

X

The project facilitates workshops and social infrastructure to mobilize women as key agents of change and ensures women have seats on different committees to better clarify and address their needs.

Trust

Self-Reported

Carbon.

Carbon capture and storage plays a crucial role in tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all living beings.

The Majete Reserve Project's multifaceted approach to carbon management involves integrating sustainable land management practices, agroforestry, and community engagement. The Majete Reserve employs a strategy of transition to regenerative agricultural practices. By adopting regenerative farming techniques, carbon is sequestered in the soil through increased organic matter, which not only improves soil health but also acts as a long-term carbon sink. Moreover, the project's focus on agroforestry is instrumental in carbon management. The planting of trees and the maintenance of woodlots for fuel, food, and habitat within the project's purview serve as carbon reservoirs.

Practices

(to learn more about practices, check out our podcast series)

Agroforestry

Agroforestry

Practice

Land management practice that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs into farming systems to derive environmental and economic benefits (greater crop yield, increased biodiversity, etc.); can include hedgerows, windbreaks, and silvopasture.

X

Farmer-to-farmer training emphasize agroforestry techniques such as the management of woodlots, forests, and gardens that promote tree crops for food, fiber, forage, shade, and wildlife habitat.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Air Quality (improved)

Air Quality (improved)

Practice

Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.

X

The project has worked to mitigate the effects of charcoal burned for cooking to improve indoor and outdoor air quality by reducing particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions.

Trust

Self-Reported

Conservation

Conservation

Practice

The protection and preservation of natural environments from damage or destruction to safeguard biodiversity and ecological resilience.

X

The project provides communities with educational materials and programs that emphasize natural resource conservation within the reserve and in the managed landscapes that surround it.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Cover Cropping

Cover Cropping

Practice

Regenerative agricultural practice where specific crops are planted to improve soil health, fertility, and overall ecosystem resilience; typically grown between main crop seasons or in fallow periods to cover and protect the soil from erosion, nutrient loss, and weed growth.

X

The project facilitates farmer-to-farmer training and features improved farming techniques such as cover crops that increase soil health, reduce weeds, and minimize runoff.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Forest Management (improved)

Forest Management (improved)

Practice

Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.

X

The project educates and empowers local communities to support forest conservation through a variety of training programs (e.g., agroforestry methods, woodlot planting) and educational activities.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Intercropping

Intercropping

Practice

Planting more than one type of crop in the same space; uses water, nutrient, and light resources more efficiently on-farm.

X

The project provides and emphasizes trainings in crop cultivation that may help farmers diversify their crops, harvest times, and incomes, and may also increase biodiversity and minimize pests.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Mulching

Mulching

Practice

Adding a protective layer of material on top of the soil (e.g., wood chips, compost, leaf litter, crop residues, etc.).

X

Farmer-to-farmer trainings promote improved farming techniques such as mulching that minimize weeds, maximize water retention, enhance soil fertility, and retain nutrients.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Reforestation

Reforestation

Practice

The practice of planting an area with trees to contribute to ecological restoration efforts in former forest ecosystems.

X

The practice of planting an area with trees to contribute to ecological restoration efforts in former forest ecosystems.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Soil Nutrient Analysis

Soil Nutrient Analysis

Practice

Measuring the nutrient levels in soil (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.) to assess availability and potential deficiencies.

X

Training programs and soil nutrient analyses help farmers understand how soil nutrients impact plant growth, soil health, and livestock nutrition, and how they can be used to optimize productivity.

Trust

Third-Party Verification

Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV)

Assessment targets for the Hunger Project’s Majete Reserve initiative arose through the project’s design. The Hunger Project consistently focuses on alleviating poverty and hunger, creating sustainable livelihoods, and building toward community self-reliance. The Majete project also adopted the Epicenter Strategy’s three pillars: empowerment of women, mobilization of communities toward self-reliance, and creation community-government partnerships.
Those efforts have had a direct and measurable impact on the ecosystem health of the adjacent Majete reserve. The reserve benefits when people can meet their physical needs without negatively impacting its protected habitats. While correlating data between the improvement of human and natural communities is difficult, both clearly benefited.

[Learn more about the challenges of measurement and equity]

Primary Measurement Methods

This overview is not an endorsement or recommendation and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision.

Measurement (M)

Description

Benefits

Reporting Method (R)

Verification Type (V)

Soil Nutrient Analysis

Trainings help farmers understand soil nutrients and how they impact plant growth, soil health, and livestock nutrition. Analysis of soil from different ecosystems and management regimes helps farmers understand how to optimize productivity.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Water Quality Monitoring

The project works with local committees to oversee that the water is being managed well and that sanitary conditions are maintained to ensure safe water for drinking and hygiene purposes.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Water Quantity and Availability Reporting

The project trains local leaders in practices to manage water resources through drilling bore holes, sanitary disposal of wastewater, and methods for reducing use of water in agriculture.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Socio-economic Data Surveys

The project and project participants have been consistently surveyed every few years to see changes in community leadership, hunger, poverty, education, health, and water. Data collected is shared publicly by The Hunger Project Epicenter Strategy.
Air Clean air is vital for maintaining human health, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases, and supporting ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Air.

Air.

Clean and accessible water is crucial for the well-being of ecosystems, the preservation of biodiversity, and the fulfillment of essential human needs.

Water.

Water.

Healthy soils are essential for promoting robust plant growth, enhancing nutrient cycling, supporting diverse microbial communities, and mitigating soil erosion.

Soil.

Soil.

Enhancing and safeguarding biodiversity ensures the stability of ecosystems by providing invaluable services such as pollination, pest control, and genetic diversity.

Biodiversity.

Biodiversity.

Diversity and inclusion foster social justice, ensure equal access to resources derived from the environment, and promote the well-being of all, regardless of background.

Equity.

Equity.

Carbon capture and storage is crucial for tackling climate change, and by safeguarding the sustainability of our ecosystems, helps to ensure a thriving future for all.

Carbon.

Carbon.

Measuring, assessment, and record-keeping conducted by the project collaborators. Self-reporting may include fieldwork, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, stakeholder evaluations, verifying paperwork, and other methods.

Self-Reported

Self-Reported

Project collaborators may use data capture and verification methods such as game cameras, in-field geo-referenced documentation, and satellite data to confirm self-reported results.

Raw Data

Raw Data

Some or all data is placed onto blockchain to ensure the immutability and transparency of specified shared data, sometimes using specified protocols for designated certifiers and registries.

On-Blockchain

On-Blockchain

Evaluation or assessment conducted by an independent, trusted entity utilizing established standards and protocols, often in association with a specified certification process.

Standards & Certifications

Standards & Certifications

Evaluation or assessment is conducted by an independent, trusted entity to ensure the accuracy and integrity of reported data.

Third-Party Verified

Third-Party Verified

Record keeping mechanism that establishes standardized protocols for credit issuance and project registration, and provides a public ledger where credit ownership can be tracked from creation to retirement; the traceability of registry transactions protects the integrity of credit assets by ensuring that a credit or token cannot be allocated to more than one entity.

Registry

Registry

Measurements

Since its inception in 2011, the Majete project has not only been clear and transparent about its goals, but those goals were generated through equitable participation in the planning process. Informed by the Hunger Project’s successes elsewhere, community leaders developed participatory processes to build consensus on project priorities for its initial five-year funding. Those priorities ultimately galvanized into six categories: community leadership, hunger, poverty, education, health, and water.

The project then developed baseline data for 2012 from existing averages and secondary sources and set a 2015 midline evaluation date and a 2018 final evaluation deadline. Project participants established impact indicators and targets for each category. The project fell short of its goals for poverty and slightly short of its goals for community leadership, hunger, and water, while equaling or exceeding its targets for education and health.

Additional qualitative data indicated that community members were particularly appreciative of farmer training, increased economic freedom for women, community healthcare improvements, and accessible, safe drinking water. All of these data provided insights into second-stage initiatives that are currently underway.

African Parks data provides the basis for monitoring the continued improvements within the boundaries of the reserve.

Reporting

The Dioraphte Foundation has provided financial support for data collection, analysis, and reporting of the project’s results. The reporting and dissemination of the initial 2012-2018 data provided critical insights into the increased self-reliance of the project’s communities. Simultaneously, African Parks documented and reported on the continued improvement of ecological conditions within the boundaries of the Majete Reserve. They reported reductions in poaching, underbrush burning, firewood harvesting, parkland grazing, and erosion. As a result, forests and grasslands rebounded and have provided significantly-improved habitat and nourishment for wildlife, including the megafauna that had virtually disappeared due to poaching and ecosystem degradation.

This coordinated reporting helped to document the integral relationship between the well-being of human communities and ecosystem health. Reporting and sharing this data locally, regionally, and internationally has provided much-needed documentation of the potential successes of projects designed to concurrently address human and ecosystem health. Additionally, the sharing of this data helps to convey not only the importance of embedding individual and community self-reliance into project design but also successful mechanisms for doing so.

Verification

Primary project funders have included the Dioraphte Foundation, the Fairnell Foundation, and TCR Airband (Microsoft). These philanthropic funders contractually require independent verification of the project’s impact data, as well as the sharing of that data within the communities, among project collaborators, and with the national government.

Risk

Risks for the Majete project stem from multiple variables. Economic instability is perhaps the most significant since the welfare of communities is integrally tied to the protection of surrounding ecosystems, both within and surrounding the reserve. Climate instability and extremes also pose direct and indirect challenges. Hunger and poverty are exacerbated by climate impacts, which in turn create socioeconomic conditions that lead to poaching, fuelwood extraction, and other problematic activities. Finally, if self-reliance goals are achieved, many of the preexisting conditions will likely return without continued philanthropic or government support.

The Majete project’s strongest mitigation strategy is probably its empowerment of local communities–particularly the women within those communities–and the continued training of leaders and workers who help provide and perpetuate livelihoods based on community development and ecosystem health.

Permanence

Permanence is best ensured by the project’s emphasis on individual and community self-reliance. In addition, the project’s emphasis on equitable participation in community governance and development provides a template for planning and governance that can sustain the efforts initiated by the project.

Additionality

The potential for additionality does not seem to pose a significant concern for the project.

Leakage

Leakage concerns have not been identified for the project.

Market

This project is funded solely through philanthropic and government sources. To date, no ecological benefit credits have been established.

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We have no idea who grows our food, what farming practices they use, the communities they support, or what processing it undergoes before reaching our plates.

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Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?

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Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?

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Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?

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Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?

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What if making the right food choices could be an effective tool for addressing a range of global challenges?

Let’s start with climate change. While it presents our planet with existential challenges, biodiversity loss, desertification, and water scarcity should be of equal concern—they’re all connected.

Instead of seeking singular solutions, we must develop a holistic approach, one that channel our collective energies and achieve positive impacts where they matter most.

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About

The Lexicon™ is a California-based nonprofit founded in 2009 with a focus on positive solutions for a more sustainable planet.

For the past five years, it has developed an “activator for good ideas” with support from Food at Google. This model gathers domain experts from over 1,000 companies and organizations working at the intersection of food, agriculture, conservation, and climate change.

Together, the community has reached consensus on strategies that respond to challenges across multiple domain areas, including biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, food packaging, aquaculture, and the missing middle in supply chains for meat.

Lexicon of Food is the first public release of that work.

 

Agrobiodiversity

Over half the world’s agricultural production comes from only three crops. Can we bring greater diversity to our plates?

Meat OS

In the US, four companies control nearly 85% of the beef we consume. Can we develop more regionally-based markets?

Single-Use Plastics

How can we develop alternatives to single-use plastics that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?

Regenerative Agriculture

Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?

Alternative Proteins

Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?

Food Packaging

It’s not only important what we eat but what our food comes in. Can we develop tools that identify toxic materials used in food packaging?

Featured

Explore The Lexicon’s collection of immersive storytelling experiences featuring insights from our community of international experts.

The Great Protein Shift
Our experts use an engaging interactive approach to break down the technologies used to create these novel proteins.

Regenerative Agriculture Principle 1

Ten Principles for Regenerative Agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture? We’ve developed a framework to explain the principles, practices, ecological benefits and language of regenerative agriculture, then connected them to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Food is Medicine

Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?

Fisheries

How can we responsibly manage our ocean fisheries so there’s enough seafood for everyone now and for generations to come?

Ecological Benefits

Mobilizing agronomists, farmers, NGOs, chefs, and food companies in defense of biodiversity in nature, agriculture, and on our plates.

Food Choices

Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?

Aquaculture

Will sustainably raising shellfish, finfish, shrimp and algae meet the growing demand for seafood while reducing pressure on wild fisheries?

Lex Icons

How can a universal visual language to describe our food systems bridge cultural barriers and increase consumer literacy?

Welcome to the “FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET” game!

This game was designed to raise awareness about the impacts our food choices have on our own health, but also the environment, climate change and the cultures in which we live.

First, you can choose one of the four global regions and pick a character that you want to play.

Each region has distinct cultural, economic, historical, and agricultural capacities to feed itself, and each character faces different challenges, such as varied access to food, higher or lower family income, and food literacy. 

As you take your character through their day, select the choices you think they might make given their situation. 

At the end of the day you will get a report on the impact of your food choices on five areas: health, healthcare, climate, environment and culture. Take some time to read through them. Now go back and try again. Can you make improvements in all five areas? Did one area score higher, but another score lower? 

FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET will help you better understand how all these regions and characters’ particularities can influence our food choices, and how our food choices can impact our personal health, national healthcare, environment, climate, and culture. Let’s Play!

The FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET game allows users to experience the dramatic connections between food and climate in a unique and engaging way. The venue and the game set-up provides attendees with a fun experience, with a potential to add a new layer of storytelling about this topic.

Starting the game: the pilot version of the game features four country/regions: Each reflects a different way people (and the national dietary guidelines) look at diets: Nordic Countries (sustainability), Brazil (local and whole foods instead of ultra-processed foods); Canada (plant-forward), and Indonesia (developing countries).

Personalizing the game: players begin by choosing a country and then a character who they help in making food choices over the course of one day. Later versions may allow for creating custom avatars.

Making tough food choices: This interactive game for all ages shows how the food choices we make impact our health and the environment, and even contribute to climate change.

FoodChoices-Sylvia-Groceries-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-YesNo-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-Drinks-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-DinnerPlate-Screen
FoodChoices-Sylvia-CharacterDescription-Screen

What we eat matters: at the end of each game, players learn that every decision they make impacts not only their health, but a national healthcare system, the environment, climate and even culture.

Majete Reserve

Application

We’d love to know more about you and why you think you will be a great fit for this position! Shoot us an email introducing you and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Water Quality

Providing best water quality conditions to ensure optimal living condition for growth, breeding and other physiological needs

Water quality is sourced from natural seawater with dependency on the tidal system. Water is treated to adjust pH and alkalinity before stocking.

Learn how to improve

Smallholder Farmer

Producers that own and manages the farm operating under small-scale farming model with limited input, investment which leads to low to medium production yield

All 1,149 of our farmers in both regencies are smallholder farmers who operate with low stocking density, traditional ponds, and no use of any other intensification technology.

Learn how to improve

Worker Safety

Safe working conditions — cleanliness, lighting, equipment, paid overtime, hazard safety, etc. — happen when businesses conduct workplace safety audits and invest in the wellbeing of their employees

Company ensure implementation of safe working conditions by applying representative of workers to health and safety and conduct regular health and safety training. The practices are proven by ASIC standards’ implementation

Learn how to improve

Community Livelihood

Implementation of farming operations, management and trading that impact positively to community wellbeing and sustainable better way of living

The company works with local stakeholders and local governments to create support for farmers and the farming community in increasing resilience. Our farming community is empowered by local stakeholders continuously to maintain a long generation of farmers.

Learn how to improve

Frozen at Peak Freshness

Freezing seafood rapidly when it is at peak freshness to ensure a higher quality and longer lasting product

Our harvests are immediately frozen with ice flakes in layers in cool boxes. Boxes are equipped with paper records and coding for traceability. We ensure that our harvests are processed with the utmost care at <-18 degrees Celsius.

Learn how to improve

Deforestation Free

Sourcing plant based ingredients, like soy, from producers that do not destroy forests to increase their growing area and produce fish feed ingredients

With adjacent locations to mangroves and coastal areas, our farmers and company are committed to no deforestation at any scale. Mangrove rehabilitation and replantation are conducted every year in collaboration with local authorities. Our farms are not established in protected habitats and have not resulted from deforestation activity since the beginning of our establishment.

Learn how to improve

Natural Feed

Implement only natural feeds grown in water for aquatic animal’s feed without use of commercial feed

Our black tiger shrimps are not fed using commercial feed. The system is zero input and depends fully on natural feed grown in the pond. Our farmers use organic fertilizer and probiotics to enhance the water quality.

Learn how to improve

Increased Biodiversity

Enhance biodiversity through integration of nature conservation and food production without negative impact to surrounding ecosysytem

As our practices are natural, organic, and zero input, farms coexist with surrounding biodiversity which increases the volume of polyculture and mangrove coverage area. Farmers’ groups, along with the company, conduct regular benthic assessments, river cleaning, and mangrove planting.

Learn how to improve

THE TERM “MOONSHOT” IS OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE an initiative that goes beyond the confines of the present by transforming our greatest aspirations into reality, but the story of a moonshot isn’t that of a single rocket. In fact, the Apollo program that put Neil Armstrong on the moon was actually preceded by the Gemini program, which in a two-year span rapidly put ten rockets into space. This “accelerated” process — with a new mission nearly every 2-3 months — allowed NASA to rapidly iterate, validate their findings and learn from their mistakes. Telemetry. Propulsion. Re-entry. Each mission helped NASA build and test a new piece of the puzzle.

The program also had its fair share of creative challenges, especially at the outset, as the urgency of the task at hand required that the roadmap for getting to the moon be written in parallel with the rapid pace of Gemini missions. Through it all, the NASA teams never lost sight of their ultimate goal, and the teams finally aligned on their shared responsibilities. Within three years of Gemini’s conclusion, a man did walk on the moon.

FACT is a food systems solutions activator that assesses the current food landscape, engages with key influencers, identifies trends, surveys innovative work and creates greater visibility for ideas and practices with the potential to shift key food and agricultural paradigms.

Each activator focuses on a single moonshot; instead of producing white papers, policy briefs or peer-reviewed articles, these teams design and implement blueprints for action. At the end of each activator, their work is released to the public and open-sourced.

As with any rapid iteration process, many of our activators re-assess their initial plans and pivot to address new challenges along the way. Still, one thing has remained constant: their conviction that by working together and pooling their knowledge and resources, they can create a multiplier effect to more rapidly activate change.

Picture of Douglas Gayeton

Douglas Gayeton

Co-Founder
THE LEXICON

Picture of Michiel Bakker

Michiel Bakker

Vice President
Global Workplace Programs
GOOGLE

Eligibility, Submission Terms and Conditions

Sponsor

A Greener Blue Global Storytelling Initiative is sponsored by The Lexicon, a US based 501(c)(3) public charity.

Opportunity

Storytellers will join A Greener Blue Storytelling Collective to create stories for the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture with the FAO and its partner organizations. Members of the Collective will take part in a private online “Total Storytelling Lab” led by The Lexicon’s Douglas Gayeton. Upon completion of this online certificate program, members of the Collective will join seafood experts from around the globe in creating A Greener Blue Storytelling initiative.

Terms

Who can enter and how selections are made.

A Greener Blue is a global call to action that is open to individuals and teams from all over the world. Below is a non-exhaustive list of subjects the initiative targets.

  • Creatives and storytellers with a passion for food and the willingness to support small-scale fisherpeople and experts worldwide. This category includes, but is not exhausted in photographers, videomakers, illustrators, podcasters, and writers.
  • Food Activists working to change open sea fishing and aquaculture; 
  • Members of fishing and indigenous communities that support their communities, share their stories and protect their way of life;
  • Local and International NGOs work every day with actors across the whole value chain to create more sustainable seafood models.

To apply, prospective participants will need to fill out the form on the website, by filling out each part of it. Applications left incomplete or containing information that is not complete enough will receive a low score and have less chance of being admitted to the storytelling lab.

Nonprofit organizations, communities of fishers and fish farmers and companies that are seeking a closer partnership or special support can also apply by contacting hello@thelexicon.org and interacting with the members of our team.

Special attention will be given to the section of the form regarding the stories that the applicants want to tell and the reasons for participating. All proposals for stories regarding small-scale or artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, communities of artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, and workers in different steps of the seafood value chain will be considered.

Stories should show the important role that these figures play in building a more sustainable seafood system. To help with this narrative, the initiative has identified 10 principles that define a more sustainable seafood system. These can be viewed on the initiative’s website and they state:
Seafood is sustainable when:

  • it helps address climate change
  • it supports global ecosystems
  • it optimizes impact on resources and nutrient cycles.
  • it promotes a safe growing environment for safe food sources.
  • it advances animal welfare.
  • it enhances flavor and nutrition.
  • it builds resilience and self-sufficiency in local communities.
  • it prioritizes inclusion, equality, and fair treatment of workers.
  • it preserves legality and the quality and the story of the product throughout the value chain.
  • it creates opportunities along the whole value chain.

Proposed stories should show one or more of these principles in practice.

Applications are open from the 28th of June to the 15th of August 2022. There will be 50 selected applicants who will be granted access to The Lexicon’s Total Storytelling Lab. These 50 applicants will be asked to accept and sign a learning agreement and acceptance of participation document with which they agree to respect The Lexicon’s code of conduct.

The first part of the lab will take place online between August the 22nd and August the 26th and focus on training participants on the foundation of storytelling, supporting them to create a production plan, and aligning all of them around a shared vision.

Based on their motivation, quality of the story, geography, and participation in the online Lab, a selected group of participants will be gifted a GoPro camera offered to the program by GoPro For A Change. Participants who are selected to receive the GoPro camera will need to sign an acceptance and usage agreement.

The second part of the Storytelling Lab will consist of a production period in which each participant will be supported in the production of their own story. This period goes from August 26th to October 13th. Each participant will have the opportunity to access special mentorship from an international network of storytellers and seafood experts who will help them build their story. The Lexicon also provides editors, animators, and graphic designers to support participants with more technical skills.

The final deadline to submit the stories is the 14th of October. Participants will be able to both submit complete edited stories, or footage accompanied by a storyboard to be assembled by The Lexicon’s team.

All applicants who will exhibit conduct and behavior that is contrary to The Lexicon’s code of conduct will be automatically disqualified. This includes applicants proposing stories that openly discriminate against a social or ethnic group, advocate for a political group, incite violence against any group, or incite to commit crimes of any kind.

All submissions must be the entrant’s original work. Submissions must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.

Participants will retain the copyrights to their work while also granting access to The Lexicon and the other partners of the initiative to share their contributions as part of A Greener Blue Global Storytelling Initiative.

If a potential selected applicant cannot be reached by the team of the Initiative within three (3) working days, using the contact information provided at the time of entry, or if the communication is returned as undeliverable, that potential participant shall forfeit.

Offering

Selected applicants will be granted access to an advanced Storytelling Lab taught and facilitated by Douglas Gayeton, award-winning storyteller and information architect, co-founder of The Lexicon. In this course, participants will learn new techniques that will improve their storytelling skills and be able to better communicate their work with a global audience. This skill includes (but is not limited to) how to build a production plan for a documentary, how to find and interact with subjects, and how to shoot a short documentary.

Twenty of the participants will receive a GoPro Hero 11 Digital Video and Audio Cameras by September 15, 2022. Additional participants may receive GoPro Digital Video and Audio Cameras to be announced at a later date. The recipients will be selected by advisors to the program and will be based on selection criteria (see below) on proposals by Storytelling Lab participants. The selections will keep in accordance with Lab criteria concerning geography, active participation in the Storytelling Lab and commitment to the creation of a story for the Initiative, a GoPro Camera to use to complete the storytelling lab and document their story. These recipients will be asked to sign an acceptance letter with terms of use and condition to receive the camera. 

The Lexicon provides video editors, graphic designers, and animators to support the participants to complete their stories.

The submitted stories will be showcased during international and local events, starting from the closing event of the International Year of Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 in Rome, in January 2023. The authors of the stories will be credited and may be invited to join.

All selection criteria

Storytelling lab participation:

Applicants that will be granted access to the storytelling Lab will be evaluated based on the entries they provided in the online form, and in particular:

  • The completeness of their form
  • The relevance of their story (coherence with the main goal of the initiative and 10 principles)
  • Written motivation explained
  • Geography (the initiative aims at showcasing stories from all over the world so the mix of locations will be a factor that the selection committee will take into account)
 

Applications will be evaluated by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).

When selecting applications, the call promoters may request additional documentation or interviews both for the purpose of verifying compliance with eligibility requirements and to facilitate proposal evaluation.

Camera recipients:

Participants to the Storytelling Lab who will be given a GoPro camera will be selected based on:

  • Quality of the story (coherence with the initiative and the 10 principles)
  • Motivation demonstrated during the interaction in the online class
  • Participation in the online class (participants that will attend less than 4 classes will be automatically excluded)
 

The evaluation will be carried out by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).

Incidental expenses and all other costs and expenses which are not specifically listed in these Official Rules but which may be associated with the acceptance, receipt and use of the Storytelling Lab and the camera are solely the responsibility of the respective participants and are not covered by The Lexicon or any of the A Greener Blue partners.

All participants who receive a Camera are required to sign an agreement allowing GoPro for a Cause, The Lexicon and GSSI to utilize the films for A Greener Blue and their promotional purposes. All participants will be required to an agreement to upload their footage into the shared drive of The Lexicon and make the stories, films and images available for The Lexicon and the promoting partners of A Greener Blue.

Additional Limitations

Selection and distribution of the camera is non-transferable. No substitution or cash equivalent of the cameras is granted. The Lexicon and its respective partners and representatives are not responsible for any typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of the Initiative, including, but not limited to, errors in any printing or posting or the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of any selected participant, or the distribution of any equipment. Any attempt to damage the content or operation of this Initiative is unlawful and subject to possible legal action by The Lexicon. The Lexicon reserves the right to terminate, suspend or amend the Initiative, without notice, and for any reason, including, without limitation, if The Lexicon determines that the Lab cannot be conducted as planned or should a virus, bug, tampering or unauthorized intervention, technical failure or other cause beyond The Lexicon’s control corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Contest. In the event any tampering or unauthorized intervention may have occurred, The Lexicon reserves the right to void suspect entries at issue.

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