Non-profit rolls out bite-sized webinars that connect soil care, IPM and worker well-being to fortify produce supply chains against climate and labor pressures
Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is marking Earth Day 2025 by launching a year-long push to embed sustainability throughout North American produce supply chains.
The Washington, D.C. based nonprofit is rolling out a suite of free, 30-minute webinars and other training tools aimed at growers, farmworkers and retail buyers, positioning education as the fastest way to protect farmland, preserve natural resources and keep agriculture economically viable in the face of climate change, soil depletion and persistent labor shortages.
Now in its 55th year, Earth Day has become a global reminder that environmental stewardship and social progress are inseparable.
EFI’s initiative answers that call by linking practical on-farm techniques such as integrated pest management (IPM) and regenerative soil care with the human dimension of fair wages, safe workplaces and worker empowerment.
The organization argues that durable change only happens when the people who harvest and pack fresh produce are equipped to participate in solutions.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have for transforming agriculture. By equipping growers, workers, and buyers with practical knowledge, we can embed sustainability into every level of the supply chain. Sustainability is not just about protecting the planet it’s about ensuring that agriculture remains viable for generations to come. By helping industry leaders understand the connections between environmental stewardship and worker well-being, we’re building a stronger, more resilient food system.”
Madelyn Edlin, EFI’s Product Marketing Manager
The 2025 webinar mini-series, available on demand and at no cost, dives into four core topics.
One session, developed with the Regenerative Organic Alliance, shows how healthy soils, biodiversity and fair labor conditions reinforce one another to improve farm resilience.
Another unpacks IPM as a science-based pathway to reduce pesticide loads while maintaining high-quality yields, explaining why EFI now treats IPM benchmarks as an integral part of its social-responsibility audits.
A third module presents three actionable tactics companies can adopt immediately to make “people-first” policies a pillar of corporate sustainability.
Finally, a live event scheduled for May 20 run in partnership with THX! Dreams will examine how elevating farmworker voices strengthens long-term business performance; registration is open to the entire supply chain.
By packaging each lesson into half-hour blocks, EFI hopes to lower the barrier to entry for busy compliance managers, produce buyers and field supervisors.
The organization notes that participants can watch recordings at their own pace or bring entire crews together for group viewing, creating a common vocabulary around sustainability goals.
The curriculum also dovetails with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices and can serve as a primer for companies seeking EFI certification or other third-party standards.
Partnerships play a central role in the campaign.
EFI’s collaboration with the Regenerative Organic Alliance connects environmental science to farm-level labor metrics, while the alliance with THX! Dreams highlights mental health and professional-development programs that improve retention in a chronically tight labor market.
These joint efforts reflect a broader industry trend toward multi-stakeholder solutions, where certifiers, nonprofit advocates and private brands share data and training resources instead of operating in silos.
