Campaign Priorities
Feed People.
Food security is a basic human right. It is essential for the health and upward mobility of smallholder farmers and their families and communities. It is also essential for the stability of society. Farmers must produce more food than ever before to feed the world. There is no more water or land or resources to do it—and the climate is changing. Plants hold the potential for long-term, sustainable solutions. With our record of successful partnerships, the Danforth Center is uniquely positioned to accelerate delivery of improved staple crops to smallholder farmers where the need is greatest.
Sustain the Earth.
We can't afford to ignore our changing climate, and farmers have a vital role to play in combating it. They need better tools, and improved plants are key. Plants naturally store carbon. Improved plants can store more and help scrub the atmosphere of greenhouse gases. Plants and microbes work together to absorb nutrients. Improved plants do this more efficiently, diminishing the need for polluting nitrogen fertilizer. New perennial and cover crops slow erosion and mitigate runoff. By improving existing crops and discovering new ones, the Danforth Center can sustain the Earth while feeding the world.
Grow our Community.
Danforth Center scientists are making groundbreaking discoveries that form a critical foundation to address global issues of food security amid a changing climate. But unless the science is paired with strategies to deliver marketable solutions, the discoveries will never reach their potential to improve the human condition. We are challenging our supporters to help us create an ecosystem where our discoveries lead to innovative products, stimulate economic growth, and result in our campus and region becoming the number one location for agtech innovation worldwide.
Continue to Lead.
Scientific discovery is the foundation. Founded in 1998, the Danforth Center is today the largest independent nonprofit dedicated to plant science in the world. We are moving fast—and we need to keep our edge. To advance scientific discovery, the Danforth Center seeks to attract the best and the brightest scientists from around the world. To retain them, we must constantly improve both our facilities and our processes. With your help, we will add new cores, new technologies, and the support that propels new ideas to discovery.