Why farmers?

We support farmers because farmers support the world

Full plates, thriving communities, and a resilient climate all start in the same place — with a committed farmer and the land they tend. That’s why TREES believes that lasting change is farmer-led.

A farmer in a white shirt among coffee plants

A bitter reality

African farmers are on the front lines

33 million smallholder farmers produce 80% of Africa's food. They nurture it from 600 million acres of degraded land in some of the most climate-vulnerable regions on earth — with few tools, little support, and a broken system.

But farmers know the land better than anyone. Their generational expertise, paired with TREES' science-backed regenerative farming approach, is strengthening communities, climate resilience, and biodiversity.

The solution

Collaboration creates the best yield

Regenerative farming is the art of blending a variety of trees, plants, and crops to create a farm that restores soil, sequesters carbon, and builds resilience to climate and market shocks. When farmers pair their firsthand knowledge with TREES' decades of learning, the progress is real.

Explore the TREES approach

A mother and son smiling together in their field

A farmer carrying a shovel through his papaya trees

The outcomes

When farmers embrace regenerative farming, they improve food security and diversity.

Diverse, regenerative farms produce more food and more variety. This reduces hunger and improves nutrition for farming families and the communities around them.

When farmers embrace regenerative farming, they lift their families out of poverty.

Resilient farms mean more consistent income and less vulnerability to droughts, floods, and market shocks that push farming families into crisis.

When farmers embrace regenerative farming, they create natural carbon sinks.

Regenerative farming naturally sequesters carbon, turning degraded land into one of the most effective climate solutions available.

Real farmers, real stories

Meet Justine

Before partnering with TREES, Justine grew and relied on just two crops to provide for her family all year. Today, Justine has nearly 4,000 trees growing on her farm and over a dozen plant species. At any given time, she has seven food crops and 38 marketable products she can rely on.

“I used to think a balanced diet was for rich people only. Now, I can assure you that it’s for knowledgeable farmers.”

Justine laughing among the leaves of her trees

African farmers lead the way

From restoration, resilience

Farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania live in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable farming regions. It would be easy to accept their fate. Instead, they’re leading the way. The TREES’ projects in the Lake Victoria region are showing everyone that farmer-led restoration works — and if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.

Explore the Lake Victoria projects

Map of Africa with project markers on Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania

A farmer with a watering can among tall trees in Kenya — Kenya

A farmer with a wheelbarrow in Tanzania — Tanzania

A farmer planting seedlings in a field in Uganda — Uganda

Proud to be recognized as a

UN World Restoration Flagship

As a World Restoration Flagship, TREES is recognized as one of the best large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts on the planet. This means both local farmers and global leaders are vouching for the impact of our work.

Farmers partner with TREES to restore their land and unlock prosperity.

Now, you can partner with us. Give today to support more farmers on the front lines of food security, poverty, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

Support farmers today