#24 | Nourish & Nurture: The Farmlink Project's Quest to End Hunger and Protect the Planet
In today's episode, we present a real-life adaptation of the proverb, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Amid the 2020 pandemic lockdown, an isolated college student stumbled upon a shocking paradox while watching the news - farmers wasting surplus food, leading to an environmental crisis, while food banks struggled to meet demand. This disturbing dichotomy struck a chord with Aidan Reily, a Brown University junior, and his best friend, James Kanoff, a Stanford junior. Driven to bridge this gap, they rallied their friends, Ben and Will Collier from Connecticut, and successfully marshalled an army of 500 student volunteers. Together, they launched The Farmlink Project.
As of June 2023, this student-run non-profit has remarkably shifted 118 million pounds of excess farm produce to needy food banks, simultaneously sparing the environment from over 173,000 tons of carbon emissions. An inspiring testament to how proactive minds can turn adversity into a powerful tool for change.
Joining us for How We Change the World Podcast to represent The Farmlink Project is the dynamic Julia DeSantis. A recent graduate, Julia's academic credentials combined with her fervor for environmental preservation have propelled her to the role of Head of Sustainability and Development. Julia’s eloquence and expertise bring Farmlink's mission and efforts to life.
In this episode, we discuss:
• The birth of The Farmlink Project, sparked by the Covid pandemic and the determination of four college students.
• The paradox of food insecurity in the US, set against the backdrop of colossal food waste.
• The disparity in food insecurity across various demographics.
• Farmlink's mission to enable consistent and dignified access to food for all Americans.
• The organization's commitment to the global objective of halving food waste by 2030.
• The intricate interdependence of our food systems and the planet's health.
• The substantial role of food waste reduction in curbing climate change.
• Farmlink's nurturing of future leaders through its network of 600 student volunteers.
• The Farmlink Project's forward plan to instigate systemic change through a nationwide, collaborative hunger-fighting network.
