Littlefoot Ventures

🌍 Reflecting on 2024: My Favorite Media on Food & Sustainability 🌱 As the year comes to a close, I'm taking a moment to highlight some of the articles, reports and multi-media that inspired, challenged, and deepened my understanding of the food system in 2024. From innovative solutions to food loss and waste to unpacking systemic challenges, these pieces represent the ideas shaping the future of food and sustainability and reminded us why we do what we do – because the food system holds immense potential to combat the climate crisis, improve livelihoods, and ensure a better future for generations to come. 📖 Eva Goulbourne top picks: 1️⃣ The problem with food and climate (and how to fix it) (TED Talk) https://lnkd.in/esffSfDa 2️⃣ 100 Million Farmers: Breakthrough Models for Financing a Sustainability Transition https://lnkd.in/eVvk-nxy 3️⃣ Inclusive Innovation in Agriculture: Redesigning Agtech Ecosystems for All https://lnkd.in/eTSPbux6 4️⃣ Move to sustainable food systems could bring $10tn benefits a year, study finds https://lnkd.in/eEW-vW_G 5️⃣ How to Have Hard Conversations About Sustainability When People Would Rather Talk About Anything Else https://lnkd.in/enkp6HuG 6️⃣ The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024: Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms https://lnkd.in/eNkA3JRj 7️⃣ Uneaten Food Is Responsible for 14 Percent of U.S. Methane Emissions, According to New ReFED Study https://lnkd.in/eKzTVtpG 8️⃣ How to turn the tables on food waste (TED Talk) https://lnkd.in/en-E8dQp 9️⃣ Growing A Better Food System (Podcast) https://lnkd.in/efGN-M93 🔟 From trash to table: will upcycled food save the planet? https://lnkd.in/gqy9bSDT ✨ What inspired you this year? We’d love to hear about the articles, videos, or ideas that you loved this year. Share your favorites in the comments! Here’s to a new year filled with food system innovation, collaboration, and impact. 💚 #Sustainability #ClimateAction #FoodForTheFuture #FoodWasteReduction #CircularEconomy #FoodPolicy #FoodSystemTransformation #FoodNews

📚 Eva Goulbourne has curated a thoughtful list of books that explore food, agriculture, innovation, and leadership—perfect for gifting to food changemakers in your life or for your own inspiration. We hope this Littlefoot Ventures holiday book guide inspires both reflection and action as we close out the year. At the Table: The Chef's Guide to Advocacy by Katherine Miller This empowering read highlights how chefs and food professionals can become advocates for meaningful change. https://lnkd.in/eWpfa2pQ Seeding Innovation: The Path to Profit and Purpose in the 21st Century by Robyn O'Brien A bold exploration of how businesses can align profit with purpose to drive innovation for a better future. https://lnkd.in/euqSNYNk The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy by Sasha Issenberg An engaging dive into the global journey of sushi and what it reveals about food, trade, and culture. https://lnkd.in/eyAxePbB Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take by Paul Polman and Andrew Winston A practical and inspiring guide to how businesses can create lasting positive impact. https://lnkd.in/gjqhzzCK The Activist Leader: A New Mindset for Doing Business by Jon Miller and Lucy Parker This book reframes leadership for the modern age, encouraging leaders to take a stand for a better world. https://lnkd.in/e37nrMe7 The Change-Maker's Guide to Feeding the Planet: How to Solve Big Problems the Next Gen Way by Christine R Gould An inspiring call-to-action for young innovators to tackle global food challenges with creativity and impact. https://lnkd.in/evkc7nJX Becoming a Dangerous Woman: Embracing Risk to Change the World by Pat Mitchell A powerful memoir encouraging women to take risks and lead boldly to drive meaningful change. https://lnkd.in/eWMGRKiB Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal by Mark Bittman A sweeping history of how our food system evolved—and how we can fix it for a sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/eQ4PErmm Mise: On the Future of Food by Mike Lee This visually stunning book explores what our food system could look like in the future, written and designed by food futurist Mike Lee. https://lnkd.in/e5JpyW5K We hope these titles spark new ideas and fuel your commitment to building a more sustainable food system in the year ahead! 🌱✨ #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Books #FoodSystemTransformation #FoodFuture #FoodWaste #BookRecommendations #FutureOfFood

🎉 Celebrating 7 Years of Driving Change in the Food System 🌱 🌍 Seven years ago, Littlefoot Ventures was born from a desire to drive meaningful change in the food system—a system that’s not only integral to our lives but also to the future of our planet. 👣 As a founder (Eva Goulbourne), a mother of “little feet” of my own, and a fierce advocate for sustainability, I started this journey with a simple yet urgent mission: to amplify and accelerate strategies that combat the climate crisis through food system transformation. Since then, Littlefoot Ventures has been at the forefront of change, partnering with 45+ companies and nonprofits to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in food. Our milestones shown below are not just statistics—they represent real, measurable steps toward a more sustainable food system. They reflect the energy, urgency, and unwavering commitment that defines Littlefoot Ventures. We’ve achieved more than I could have imagined, and it’s all thanks to the trust and collaboration of our clients and partners: Unilever, Google, ReFED, Matriark Foods, Brightly, Chef Ann Foundation, Compass Group, AmpleHarvest.org, Upcycled Food Association, Blue Stripes, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), FMI- The Food Industry Association, International Food Waste Coalition, Eurest, The Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation 💬 Let’s connect! Whether you’re a leading brand, visionary investor, dedicated nonprofit, or an individual passionate about making a difference, Littlefoot Ventures is ready to partner with you to drive systemic change. Reach out to explore how we can collaborate and transform the future of food—together. 🌱✨ https://lnkd.in/e33Vv79H #Sustainability #ClimateAction #FoodSystemTransformation #FoodFuture #Upcycling #FoodWaste #FoodInsecurity #Consulting #Food #Nonprofits #CPG #RegenerativeAgriculture

🌟 Our December Newsletter is here! 🌟 In this month's issue: 🌱 Celebrating Our 7 Year Anniversary: Littlefoot Ventures began with a clear mission: to transform the food system and tackle the climate crisis head-on. Today, we’re proud to share how far we’ve come—alongside our visionary clients and collaborators who’ve made this journey possible. 💰 Funding Opportunity Alert: ReFED's Catalytic Grant Fund is now open to tackle on-farm food loss. 🔍 2024 Year in Review: Highlights of our work with Blue Stripes, Chef Ann Foundation, Brightly, Google, and more. 📚 Top Reads: Eva Goulbourne provides insights on top articles and insights shaping the future of sustainable food systems. And much more! Click to explore!👇 #FoodNews #Sustainability #FoodSystems #ClimateAction #FoodWaste #RegenerativeAgriculture

🚀 Big news for Brightly! 🌎 We’re thrilled to celebrate our client Brightly on their oversubscribed $2.3M seed round led by Schreiber Foods. Brightly is on a mission to combat food waste, hunger, and climate change by transforming food rescue into high-integrity carbon credits. By monetizing the methane emissions avoided when Food Rescue Organizations divert edible food from landfills, Brightly unlocks funding to scale food rescue efforts—feeding communities while reducing harmful greenhouse gases. This milestone underscores Brightly's innovative approach to creating impact-driven solutions that empower FROs, support corporate sustainability goals, and tackle two of the world's most pressing challenges: climate change and food insecurity. A huge congratulations to CEO Andy Levitt, COO Jesse Kahn, and the entire Brightly team! 🎉 Read more about their incredible work and future vision here: https://lnkd.in/ed36SyTH #ClimateTech #FoodRescue #Sustainability #CarbonCredits #FoodWaste

💰💰 3 Food Waste Grants to Apply for Before the End of the Year 💰💰 If you’re working on food waste reduction or recycling initiatives, these funding opportunities could be game-changers. Act soon to take advantage of them! 1️⃣ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program Purpose: Develop and implement a national consumer food waste reduction campaign, boost compost sales, and educate households on composting. Funding: $39 million Deadline: December 20, 2024 Eligibility: States, local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public-private partnerships. 2️⃣ Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants Purpose: Improve collection, transport, systems, and processes related to post-use materials, including food waste. Funding: $78 million total ($58M for local governments, $20M for tribes/intertribal consortia). Deadlines: December 20, 2024 (local governments); March 14, 2025 (tribes). Eligibility: Local governments and tribes. 3️⃣ ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund Purpose: Drive innovative solutions to reduce on-farm food loss, maximize the value of surplus produce, and establish new market opportunities. Funding: Grants ranging from $100K–$250K, plus non-financial support from ReFED. Deadline: Letters of intent due January 21, 2025. Eligibility: Nonprofits and for-profits reducing food waste in the U.S. ✨ Need help securing funding? ✨  We know that finding funding can be challenging, which is why we created the 5-week Climate Messaging Mastery Course. This program empowers food-focused nonprofit leaders with the skills to craft compelling impact narratives that resonate with climate-focused donors—creating pathways to secure the funding you need to propel your mission forward. To be notified when applications for our next cohort open, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eac5pjEs Know someone who could benefit from knowing about these opportunities? Tag them in the comments! 👇

🌱 Today is World Soil Day! 🌎 Regenerative agriculture is one of the most powerful solutions to heal our soil, grow healthy food, and fight climate change. By restoring soil health, regenerative practices capture carbon, boost biodiversity, and make farming more resilient. Protecting soil through regenerative agriculture isn’t just good for the planet—it’s essential for a sustainable food future. ✨ Here’s how we can act: 1️⃣ Support sustainable agriculture practices that restore soil health, improve water and air quality, boost biodiversity, and combat climate change. 2️⃣ Reduce food waste—when food is wasted, so are the soil resources used to grow it. 3️⃣ Advocate for policies that invest in soil restoration and sustainable food systems. At Littlefoot Ventures, we’re committed to solutions that heal our soil while feeding communities. Whether it’s partnering with food rescue organizations (such as AmpleHarvest.org), upcycling organizations (such as Upcycled Food Association and Matriark Foods) or advocating for regenerative agriculture (through Soil Health Alliance), we believe soil health is key to a sustainable future. #WorldSoilDay #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #Sustainability #ClimateAction Eva Goulbourne

🌟 🏆 Congratulations to Ryp Labs for being crowned the global winner of Lineage’s Food Chain Innovation Challenge! 🎉 Ryp Labs' groundbreaking biomimicry solution, designed to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, is a game-changer in the fight against post-harvest food waste. As part of their win, they’ll receive $50,000 and a coveted spot in Lineage's executive-led incubator program, setting the stage for even greater impact in the food system. Let’s celebrate the incredible work being done to reduce food waste. Innovative solutions like this inspire hope for a more sustainable food future. 👏 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUyH2KBP #FoodWaste #FoodTech #Sustainability #FoodNews

🚨 20% of household food waste is linked to confusion over date labeling terms. Yesterday, the USDA and FDA took a proactive step to tackle this issue by issuing a Request for Information on food date labeling practices, consumer perceptions, and their impact on food waste and household expenses. This initiative paves the way for potential federal policies, such as the proposed Food Date Labeling Act — which Littlefoot helped guide and amplify through our client work with #Unilever — aimed at standardizing date labels and reducing unnecessary food waste. By addressing consumer confusion and supporting informed policymaking, this effort could be a game-changer for food waste reduction and sustainability. 🌎 More info here: https://lnkd.in/gZEgG4FS #FoodWaste #Sustainability #FoodPolicy #FoodSystems

🌱 💵 Funding Opportunity Alert! ReFED’s Catalytic Grant Fund is now accepting applications for innovative solutions that reduce on-farm #foodloss, maximize the value of quality surplus produce, and establish new market opportunities. The Fund is offering grants of $100K to $250K as well as non-financial support from ReFED, which will be leveraging its knowledge, network, and data to help recipients grow. Learn more about how you can get funding to help combat food waste and support farmers here: https://lnkd.in/e3JTbxEG #FoodWaste #Sustainability #GrantOpportunity #FundingOpportunity