Securing food systems for community livelihood and ecological sustainability

Small-scale fishers and smallholder farmers are the backbone of global food systems. More than 3 billion people in coastal communities depend on small-scale fisheries for their main source of protein and smallholder farmers produce one-third of the world’s food supply. But unsustainable agricultural and fishing practices, heightened by the impacts of climate change, are exacerbating our lands and community seas.

Rare helps fishers and farmers adopt behavioral solutions and sustainable practices that balance food security with long-term environmental sustainability. Our goal is to transform food systems to promote reliable food sources, safeguard economic livelihoods, protect biodiversity, and provide an essential buffer against climate change.

How Rare secures and strengthens food systems

Rare works with rural communities in high-biodiversity ecosystems to develop sustainable and effective food systems. Our people-centered approach, rooted in behavioral and social science, helps communities break down complex problems and take actions to improve productivity and safeguard critical ecosystems. Rare mobilizes small-scale fishers, smallholder farmers, local leaders, and extension agents to solve food challenges and inspire community members to become agents for change.

	Supporting biodiversity through sustainable farming practices More than 75% of global food crops rely on animal pollination, which means smallholder farmers must prioritize practices that promote local biodiversity conservation. Rare uses a behavioral science approach to help small-scale farmers in Colombia adopt agroecological practices that benefit soil health, wildlife, ecological services, and thriving food systems.
	Sustainably managing coastal fisheries for ocean health and food security Food security in coastal communities relies on healthy fisheries and the sustainable management of natural resources. Rare supports fishing communities with the scientific knowledge, digital tools, and awareness to protect the coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds on which they depend.
	Surfacing and scaling food security solutions  Solution Search, an initiative of Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment, facilitates contests to uncover behavioral approaches that reduce the impacts of unsustainable fishing and farming practices.

Explore our food systems work

Rare supports community-led coastal fisheries management and small-scale farming across 60 countries to strengthen global food systems.