Catalyst Commons

  • Approach
  • Projects
  • Services
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  • Approach
  • Projects
  • Services
  • Contact

Projects

We develop fundamental tools and services that address time-sensitive issues in sustainable agriculture: farm viability, ecological seed, farmland and ecosystems.
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FarmsReach

FarmsReach is an online network that helps family farmers to connect, learn and be more successful. Through our platform, farmers share information with each other, connect with farm advisors and nonprofit organizations, access practical toolkits, and source inputs and supplies. Learn more.

Growing Roots Initiative

In collaboration with FarmsReach since Spring 2016, UC Berkeley's Growing Roots is a multi-stakeholder initiative to help over 300 California family farmers increase their economic and environmental sustainability. Coordinating educational programs among agricultural nonprofits and farmer training sites, the program targets minority and immigrant populations to increase skills in business, marketing, food safety, ecological farming, and value-added processing. Learn more. 
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CA Farm Education & Support Services Summit - Sept 9, 2016

The 2016 Summit of CA organizations built on momentum from the Farmer Educator Network (FEN) started on the CA Central Coast, and on results from the 2015 Convening hosted by FarmsReach and Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA). The Summit was co-hosted by FarmsReach and UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (UC SAREP), and focused on:
  • Identification of program overlaps, gaps & new opportunities
  • Collaborative fundraising
  • Communication channels and tools for cross-pollination
  • Capacity for individual organizations
  • Continuity in our collective progress to achieve outcomes
Read more about the Summit outcomes.

Seed Commons

Seed Commons is a practical software application to increase farmer participation in Participatory Plant Breeding. By enabling easier, more thorough data collection and management, our goal is to accelerate development of varieties adapted to highly diverse agro-ecological systems. The software and mobile application will allow the non-scientific agriculture community (such as farmers) to track and analyze specific seed variety performance for participatory research projects as well as to guide their own seed purchases. To learn more, get in touch!
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Recent Clients & Collaborators

Past Projects

  • The Food Commons – Upcoming new website.
  • UC Small Farm Program – Agritourism program.
  • UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (UC SAREP) – CA Farm Education Summit (above) & Soil Nutrient Management program.
  • Organic Seed Alliance – CA Seed Summit workgroups.
  • Agriculture equipment manufacturer – AgTech research project.
  • The Farmers Guild, incubated by FarmsReach, 2013-2014.
  • Catalyst Commons platform pilot, 2011.
  • Regional Agriculture Supply Chain Convening, 2010.
  • The San Francisco Foodshed Project, funded by California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), 2009-2010.
  • Om Organics, 2002+.
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