Our purpose is to connect a global grassroots network of food and farming changemakers to transform our food system. Our work supports leaders to become mentors to the next generation, and for the next generation to stand out in their communities as leaders. Farmers, educators, food distributors, indigenous people, activists and policymakers all play a role in how the world feeds itself. MESA works to form relationships between these groups that transcend physical, psychological and political borders. By building relationships, we can link ancestral practices with innovation to advance earth stewardship, equitable economies and multicultural alliances worldwide.
Since 1997, MESA has connected over 1400 farmers, educators, activists and agri-prenuers and helped start 145 small-scale farms and food justice projects worldwide.
A non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, MESA enables cross-cultural exchange around global practices of sustainable agriculture. The training is a two-way exchange to spur innovation and preserve traditional techniques worldwide and advance a farmer-led grassroots movement to rebuild the global food system. Training programs focus on ecological production practices, processing, direct marketing, community organizing, education, agroecology research and organic plant breeding.
MESA facilitates international training and exchange opportunities for farmers, leaders, and agrarians from the US and around the world. MESA proudly offers the only J-1 Training and Cultural Exchange Program--as designated by the U.S. Department of State--to solely facilitate a "share and learn" experience on behalf of sustainable agriculture for small-scale farmers and grassroots leaders. MESA's U.S. agricultural program designation permits us to sponsor trainees (aka "Stewards") for up to 12 months on a J-1 training visa to come to the U.S. for training and cross-cultural exchange.
MESA establishes global partnerships with NGOs, universities, and community organizations that are well regarded in the field of sustainable agriculture and cultural exchange. In partnership with these organizations and the alumni networks, MESA offers reciprocal programs for experiential learning programs; so far exchanges have also taken place in Peru, Thailand and Tanzania.
MESA also manages competitive matching grant and microloan programs for participating Hosts and Stewards. Sustainable Projects Recognizing Innovative Growers (SPRIG) grants foster innovation, mentorship, and experimentation in sustainable food systems by supporting collaborative on-site projects involving Hosts and Stewards. Hosts and Stewards are eligible for grants to launch SPRIG projects in their home communities. Since 1998, MESA has funded 145 SPRIGs worldwide designed by enterprising Steward alumni in the U.S., Peru, Ecuador, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Lithuania, Armenia, Kenya, Bolivia and Mexico. Projects include new farms, farmers markets and stores, city-wide compost programs, farmer cooperatives, seed-saving systems, on-farm solar panels, bee-hives, native plant nurseries, and many more.
