The Cookstove Project provides a number of positive impacts for the refugee and the host community in Bangladesh. By lessening the amount of trees and brush cut down for firewood, the project preserves biodiversity. Reducing fumes and smoke in refugee homes improves reduces their risk of health complications associated with poor air quality and improves their quality of life, while boosting air quality as a whole in their communities an surrounding area.
The StarCB (SCB) company secures funding and develops carbon projects around the world. The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project works directly with local communities and is supported on the ground by SCB staff Shreya, Khaleq, and Sandeep. This local team ensures that on the ground facilities can provide vision and logistical support for the project.
Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.
The project encourages switching to a more efficient smokeless cookstove that mitigates emissions and improves indoor air quality.
Trust
Self-Reported
Long-term measurement and assessment of pollutant levels in outdoor air through monitoring stations and networks.
The project promotes efficient, smokeless cookstoves. It also assesses and monitors improvements to indoor and outdoor air quality using established metrics.
Trust
Self-Reported
Use of machinery or equipment at appropriate size and scale in a manner that considers contextual factors (e.g., cultural preferences, ecosystem fragility, availability or affordability of technology, etc.).
Field officers collect data through a customized web-based app adapted to the project needs and technological capacities.
Trust
Self-Reported
The capturing, removal, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the earth's atmosphere; effectiveness typically expressed in terms of anticipated stability and duration of storage.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region, allowing for increased carbon sequestration.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region by reducing fuel wood consumption.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces firewood consumption and subsequently decreases the rate of deforestation and biodiversity loss in the region.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Measurement and assessment of pollutants in indoor environments (e.g., residential, commercial, or industrial buildings).
The project promotes adoption of efficient, emissions-mitigating, and smokeless cookstoves, and it assesses indoor air quality improvements through periodic monitoring and baseline metrics.
Trust
Self-Reported
Reducing carbon emissions and, in some cases, substituting the most carbon-intensive energy sources (e.g., coal, natural gas) with cleaner energy sources (e.g., hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, solar, wind).
The project encourages switching to a more efficient, smokeless cookstove that mitigates carbon emissions. Use of the cookstoves also reduces deforestation and subsequent carbon losses.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Devices that use transducers to collect input data from the physical environment; data is then sent to network connection as a tool for carbon MRV.
The project uses simple and straightforward technologies to keep track of project data including cloud data storage and sensors in the cookstoves.
Trust
Self-Reported
Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region by reducing fuel wood consumption.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces firewood consumption and subsequently decreases the rate of deforestation and biodiversity loss in the region.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Use of sustainable water management practices to reduce consumption of water resources and to use water resources more efficiently; in agriculture, examples may include improved irrigation schedules and crop-specific irrigation techniques.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region and subsequently ensures better water-holding capacity for soil and in local evapotranspiration cycles.
Trust
Self-Reported
Reducing carbon emissions and, in some cases, substituting the most carbon-intensive energy sources (e.g., coal, natural gas) with cleaner energy sources (e.g., hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, solar, wind).
The project encourages switching to a more efficient, smokeless cookstove that mitigates carbon emissions. Use of the cookstoves also reduces deforestation and subsequent carbon losses.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Devices that use transducers to collect input data from the physical environment; data is then sent to network connection as a tool for carbon MRV.
The project uses simple and straightforward technologies to keep track of project data including cloud data storage and sensors in the cookstoves.
Trust
Self-Reported
The capturing, removal, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the earth's atmosphere; effectiveness typically expressed in terms of anticipated stability and duration of storage.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region, allowing for increased carbon sequestration.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.
The project helps mitigate deforestation issues to ensure that carbon is sequestered and stable within surrounding forest ecosystems serving as carbon sinks.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region by reducing fuel wood consumption.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces firewood consumption and subsequently decreases the rate of deforestation and biodiversity loss in the region.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Use of sustainable water management practices to reduce consumption of water resources and to use water resources more efficiently; in agriculture, examples may include improved irrigation schedules and crop-specific irrigation techniques.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region and subsequently ensures better water-holding capacity for soil and in local evapotranspiration cycles.
Trust
Self-Reported
Reducing carbon emissions and, in some cases, substituting the most carbon-intensive energy sources (e.g., coal, natural gas) with cleaner energy sources (e.g., hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, solar, wind).
The project encourages switching to a more efficient, smokeless cookstove that mitigates carbon emissions. Use of the cookstoves also reduces deforestation and subsequent carbon losses.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Devices that use transducers to collect input data from the physical environment; data is then sent to network connection as a tool for carbon MRV.
The project uses simple and straightforward technologies to keep track of project data including cloud data storage and sensors in the cookstoves.
Trust
Self-Reported
The ability of soil to support plant growth for agriculture purposes or as suitable habitat for native plants; in agriculture, assesses the soil's ability to provide sustained and consistent yields of high quality crops.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region, which leads to reduced disturbance of soil ecosystems and fertility.
Trust
Self-Reported
Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.
The project encourages switching to a more efficient smokeless cookstove that mitigates emissions and improves indoor air quality.
Trust
Self-Reported
The capturing, removal, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the earth's atmosphere; effectiveness typically expressed in terms of anticipated stability and duration of storage.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region, allowing for increased carbon sequestration.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.
The project helps mitigate deforestation issues to ensure that carbon is sequestered and stable within surrounding forest ecosystems serving as carbon sinks.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region by reducing fuel wood consumption.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces firewood consumption and subsequently decreases the rate of deforestation and biodiversity loss in the region.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Use of sustainable water management practices to reduce consumption of water resources and to use water resources more efficiently; in agriculture, examples may include improved irrigation schedules and crop-specific irrigation techniques.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region and subsequently ensures better water-holding capacity for soil and in local evapotranspiration cycles.
Trust
Self-Reported
Reducing carbon emissions and, in some cases, substituting the most carbon-intensive energy sources (e.g., coal, natural gas) with cleaner energy sources (e.g., hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, solar, wind).
The project encourages switching to a more efficient, smokeless cookstove that mitigates carbon emissions. Use of the cookstoves also reduces deforestation and subsequent carbon losses.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Devices that use transducers to collect input data from the physical environment; data is then sent to network connection as a tool for carbon MRV.
The project uses simple and straightforward technologies to keep track of project data including cloud data storage and sensors in the cookstoves.
Trust
Self-Reported
The ability of soil to support plant growth for agriculture purposes or as suitable habitat for native plants; in agriculture, assesses the soil's ability to provide sustained and consistent yields of high quality crops.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region, which leads to reduced disturbance of soil ecosystems and fertility.
Trust
Self-Reported
The extent to which a person or household has the financial capacity to purchase or access a product, service, or basic necessity without facing undue financial burden. Often measured relative to the local economy in a given place.
The project dispenses cookstove materials, support, and information free of charge to the Rohingya Refugee population in order to ensure efficient stoves are accessible and affordable for all.
Trust
Self-Reported
Long-term measurement and assessment of pollutant levels in outdoor air through monitoring stations and networks.
The project promotes efficient, smokeless cookstoves. It also assesses and monitors improvements to indoor and outdoor air quality using established metrics.
Trust
Self-Reported
The provision of fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men.
Women comprise 50% of the personnel employed by the project, and women's groups are formed to encourage social interaction and empowerment that might not have occurred otherwise.
Trust
Self-Reported
Assurance that an employee can continue working their current job for the foreseeable future.
The project uses manufacturing facilities to produce the cookstoves, and it uses a network of sub-offices and local administrations to manage operations and distribution systems.
Trust
Self-Reported
Measurement and assessment of pollutants in indoor environments (e.g., residential, commercial, or industrial buildings).
The project promotes adoption of efficient, emissions-mitigating, and smokeless cookstoves, and it assesses indoor air quality improvements through periodic monitoring and baseline metrics.
Trust
Self-Reported
Fostering connections and collaborations between producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to maximize positive social, economic, and ecological impacts within communities and across regions.
The project employs the community to administer monthly visits and verifications. They provide the data, which is reviewed for accuracy, verified, and then put into the carbon count.
Trust
Self-Reported
Intermittent inspections of a project or intervention to assess and verify that anticipated impact (e.g., carbon stocks, emissions reductions) and permanence are occurring as intended.
Data related to the number of cookstoves deployed is updated on a daily basis, and random checks occur on a monthly basis after the installations are verified.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Gathering data on socioeconomic factors (e.g., income, education, employment, access to services) to understand disparities and identify areas that require targeted interventions.
Field officers collect background information, cookstove information, the status of cookstoves, and the needs and status of houses from clients using a web-based app.
Trust
Self-Reported
The increased capacity of women to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from economic resources and opportunities (e.g., jobs, financial services, property, skills development); increases ability to negotiate fairer distribution of benefits derived from economic growth.
Switching to more efficient cookstoves reduces the burden on women to collect fuelwood and also reduces health impacts that stem from cooking with less efficient stoves.
Trust
Self-Reported
Positive modifications to air quality achieved by controlling and reducing pollution levels, dust, particulate matter (PM) emissions, and by consistently monitoring overall quality.
The project encourages switching to a more efficient smokeless cookstove that mitigates emissions and improves indoor air quality.
Trust
Self-Reported
Use of machinery or equipment at appropriate size and scale in a manner that considers contextual factors (e.g., cultural preferences, ecosystem fragility, availability or affordability of technology, etc.).
Field officers collect data through a customized web-based app adapted to the project needs and technological capacities.
Trust
Raw Data
The capturing, removal, and storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the earth's atmosphere; effectiveness typically expressed in terms of anticipated stability and duration of storage.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region, allowing for increased carbon sequestration.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
A natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere; helps mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs; systems that absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., forests, oceans, soils) play a crucial role in balancing the carbon cycle.
The project helps mitigate deforestation issues to ensure that carbon is sequestered and stable within surrounding forest ecosystems serving as carbon sinks.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Halting or avoiding the removal of preexisting forest ecosystems; often requires combatting the conversion of forest ecosystems into land for commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces the rate of deforestation in the region by reducing fuel wood consumption.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Management practices that focus on strengthening or restoring forest ecosystems to increase carbon stocks and reduce GHG emissions; may also focus on reducing GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from forestry disturbance.
Using efficient cookstoves reduces firewood consumption and subsequently decreases the rate of deforestation and biodiversity loss in the region.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Reducing carbon emissions and, in some cases, substituting the most carbon-intensive energy sources (e.g., coal, natural gas) with cleaner energy sources (e.g., hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, solar, wind).
The project encourages switching to a more efficient, smokeless cookstove that mitigates carbon emissions. Use of the cookstoves also reduces deforestation and subsequent carbon losses.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
Devices that use transducers to collect input data from the physical environment; data is then sent to network connection as a tool for carbon MRV.
The project uses simple and straightforward technologies to keep track of project data including cloud data storage and sensors in the cookstoves.
Trust
Self-Reported
Gathering data on socioeconomic factors (e.g., income, education, employment, access to services) to understand disparities and identify areas that require targeted interventions.
Field officers collect background information, cookstove information, the status of cookstoves, and the needs and status of houses from clients using a web-based app.
Trust
Third-Party Verification
The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project uses a meticulous approach to monitor, report, and verify its impacts. It uses established metrics and periodic monitoring to assess changes in air quality, emissions reductions, and the amount of wood used for fuel. Field officers collect data through a web-based app to ensure accurate and comprehensive collection of data.
The project also follows stringent regulatory and voluntary guidelines, adhering to Gold Standard Emission Reductions methodologies to demonstrate additional carbon reductions. Its cloud-based infrastructure allows for real-time storage and verification of data, with monthly household data validation visits, and it comprehensively measures its environmental and social impacts to maintain complete data transparency.
The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project employs a variety of established standards and methodologies to accurately measure and assess impacts through the StarCB (SCB) company. For reduced emissions from cooking and heating, it adheres to the Technologies and Practices to Displace Decentralized Thermal Energy Consumption (TPDDTEC) standard.
To measure the safe drinking water supply and its carbon credits, the project relies on Verra Methodologies such as VMR0006, for High Efficiency Firewood Cookstoves, and VM0018, for Energy Efficiency and Solid Waste Diversion within a Sustainable Community. These methodologies provide a structured framework to measure and quantify the project’s positive impacts on emissions reductions, energy efficiency, and waste diversion.
The project also establishes a baseline scenario that represents continued use of non-renewable wood fuel (e.g., firewood, charcoal) by the target population to meet their thermal energy needs, which serves as a reference point for measurement. By providing a baseline to compare the project’s impacts, this demonstrates the additional benefits and emissions reductions achieved through the use of efficient cookstoves. The project’s commitment to using standardized measurement methodologies and a well-defined baseline scenario ensure accuracy and credibility for its reported results.
The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project employs a systematic and transparent approach to reporting its impacts. It annually reports its outcomes through SCB, the project developer, and through the Bondhu Foundation, working on the ground to ensure comprehensive reporting. This collaboration, in addition to the use of a specialized application used by the local community, facilitates effective data collection and verification.
The project also adheres to established measurement standards that provide a structured framework to accurately quantify its impacts. The annual data that is collected is meticulously reviewed and verified using these standards to ensuring that reported results align with the project’s objectives and chosen measurement methodologies.
By engaging with local organizations such as the Bondhu Foundation, the project gathers real-time information on the ground, thus enabling timely and accurate reporting of its social and environmental impacts. This collaborative approach not only ensures transparency, it also enhances the project’s accountability, which ultimately contributes to its credibility and effectiveness in achieving its goals.
The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project maintains a rigorous approach to verification to ensure the accuracy and credibility as required by Gold Standard registration, which is a recognized and respected certification process for carbon credit projects. The project also relies on annual reporting through entities like the StarCB company and the Bondhu Foundation. These organizations contribute to the verification process by conducting regular site visits and by reviewing the reported data to validate results. For carbon credits in particular, the project’s target is to generate at least 200,000 carbon credits each year over a 5-year period, representing a substantial reduction of at least 1 million metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
The combination of the Gold Standard registration and the involvement of local organizations in the verification process ensures the project’s impacts are thoroughly assessed, certified, and validated, thereby upholding the project’s transparency, credibility, and overall effectiveness in achieving its environmental and social objectives.
The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project minimizes the risk of non-delivery through a comprehensive due diligence process that scrutinizes both its feasibility and technical parameters. The project collaborates with an experienced project developer that has successfully executed over 26 high-impact projects. The credibility of the project’s credits is further affirmed by their retirement from reputable organizations like PwC and the Laudes Foundation, which are renowned for their stringent standards in carbon credit assessment.
Moreover, the StarSCB company (SCB) ensures alignment between the project’s objectives and those of local authorities, and prioritizes active involvement of local communities and organizations in the project’s activities. This community-centered approach is pivotal to the its success. SCB also remains committed to regular site visits and vigilant monitoring efforts to ensure the project is on track and consistently meets its goals.
While efficient cookstoves effectively preserve carbon stocks in forests and land areas, these areas are susceptible to threats such as deforestation, degradation, and the release of stored carbon back into the atmosphere due to activities like land conversion or wildfires. These factors introduce the possibility of reversing the project’s positive impacts.
Non-permanence is a concern for the project, but it offers advantages by directly addressing deforestation drivers and their impact on carbon forest stocks, as opposed to other forestry projects that impact carbon stocks more indirectly. However, the risk of reversal varies, dependent on factors such as the current deforestation rates in surrounding forests.
The project is required to confirm the presence of regulatory surplus in compliance with the guidelines and criteria specified in the most recent standards put forth by Gold Standard. The project must also verify that it is not compelled or mandated by any legal or regulatory framework (e.g., laws, other mandatory regulations).
The project follows strict guidelines for leakage provided by Gold Standard. Leakage related to non-renewable firewood that is saved through the project is assessed based on ex-post surveys of users and the areas from which this firewood is sourced. The potential source of leakage due to the use of non-renewable firewood saved under the project by non-project households/users that previously used renewable energy sources is considered.
The Rohingya Refugee Cookstove Project’s credits are sold on the voluntary market for about $8 per tonne. Credits with a vintage of 2017 and beyond are trading at market prices between $11 and $15 per tonne, according to data from VCM Partners.
The StarSCB company (SCB) has been a leader in the low carbon sector and is able to bring these credits to market, leveraging its market expertise and extensive project development experience. SCB is known for its culture of collaboration and innovation to create a low carbon future. As an early adopter of decentralized technology and radical transparency, SCB is the preferred partner for fostering investments in projects that benefit not only the environment, but also the health and well-being of local communities, and it believes in market-driven climate solutions for the Global South.
Rohingya Refugee Cookstove participants are paid before the project is started so they do not have to wait for credits to be sold to be compensated. Over time, preset milestones are being reached, and the project and its participants continue to be paid accordingly.
About
Team
The EBF platform features an unprecedented collaboration of climate experts, web3 and blockchain technologists, carbon registries, standards organizations, environmentalists, academics, impact investors, and the ReFi Community in support of an accelerated response to our planet’s greatest challenges.
This website was built by The Lexicon™, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization headquartered in Petaluma, CA.
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© 2024 – Lexicon of Food™
We have no idea who grows our food, what farming practices they use, the communities they support, or what processing it undergoes before reaching our plates.
As a result, we have no ability to make food purchases that align with our values as individuals, or our missions as companies.
To change that, we’ve asked experts to demystify the complexity of food purchasing so that you can better informed decisions about what you buy.
The Lexicon of Food’s community of experts share their insights and experiences on the complex journey food takes to reach our plates. Their work underscores the need for greater transparency and better informed decision-making in shaping a healthier and more sustainable food system for all.
Professionals at universities and research institutions seeking scholarly articles, data, and resources.
Tools to align investment and grant making strategies with advances in agriculture, food production, and emerging markets.
Professionals seeking information on ingredient sourcing, menu planning, sustainability, and industry trends.
Chefs and food industry professionals seeking inspiration on ingredients and sustainable trends to enhance their work.
Individuals interested in food products, recipes, nutrition, and health-related information for personal or family use.
Individuals producing food, fiber, feed, and other agricultural products that support both local and global food systems.
This online platform is years in the making, featuring the contributions of 1000+ companies and NGOs across a dzen domain areas. To introduce you to their work, we’ve assembled personalized experiences with insights from our community of international experts.
Businesses engaged in food production, processing, and distribution that seek insight from domain experts
Those offering specialized resources and support and guidance in agriculture, food production, and nutrition.
Individuals who engage and educate audience on themes related to agriculture, food production, and nutrition.
Nutritional information for professionals offering informed dietary choices that help others reach their health objectives
Those advocating for greater awareness and stronger action to address climate impacts on agriculture and food security.
Professionals seeking curriculum materials, lesson plans, and learning tools related to food and agriculture.
Over half the world’s agricultural production comes from only three crops. Can we bring greater diversity to our plates?
In the US, four companies control nearly 85% of the beef we consume. Can we develop more regionally-based markets?
How can we develop alternatives to single-use plastics that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?
Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?
Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?
It’s not only important what we eat but what our food comes in. Can we develop tools that identify toxic materials used in food packaging?
Explore The Lexicon’s collection of immersive storytelling experiences featuring insights from our community of international experts.
The Great Protein Shift
Our experts use an engaging interactive approach to break down the technologies used to create these novel proteins.
Ten Principles for Regenerative Agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture? We’ve developed a framework to explain the principles, practices, ecological benefits and language of regenerative agriculture, then connected them to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?
How can we responsibly manage our ocean fisheries so there’s enough seafood for everyone now and for generations to come?
Mobilizing agronomists, farmers, NGOs, chefs, and food companies in defense of biodiversity in nature, agriculture, and on our plates.
Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?
Will sustainably raising shellfish, finfish, shrimp and algae meet the growing demand for seafood while reducing pressure on wild fisheries?
How can a universal visual language to describe our food systems bridge cultural barriers and increase consumer literacy?
What if making the right food choices could be an effective tool for addressing a range of global challenges?
Let’s start with climate change. While it presents our planet with existential challenges, biodiversity loss, desertification, and water scarcity should be of equal concern—they’re all connected.
Instead of seeking singular solutions, we must develop a holistic approach, one that channel our collective energies and achieve positive impacts where they matter most.
To maximize our collective impact, EBF can help consumers focus on six equally important ecological benefits: air, water, soil, biodiversity, equity, and carbon.
We’ve gathered domain experts from over 1,000 companies and organizations working at the intersection of food, agriculture, conservation, and climate change.
The Lexicon™ is a California-based nonprofit founded in 2009 with a focus on positive solutions for a more sustainable planet.
For the past five years, it has developed an “activator for good ideas” with support from Food at Google. This model gathers domain experts from over 1,000 companies and organizations working at the intersection of food, agriculture, conservation, and climate change.
Together, the community has reached consensus on strategies that respond to challenges across multiple domain areas, including biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, food packaging, aquaculture, and the missing middle in supply chains for meat.
Lexicon of Food is the first public release of that work.
Over half the world’s agricultural production comes from only three crops. Can we bring greater diversity to our plates?
In the US, four companies control nearly 85% of the beef we consume. Can we develop more regionally-based markets?
How can we develop alternatives to single-use plastics that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly?
Could changing the way we grow our food provide benefits for people and the planet, and even respond to climate change?
Can we meet the growing global demand for protein while reducing our reliance on traditional animal agriculture?
It’s not only important what we eat but what our food comes in. Can we develop tools that identify toxic materials used in food packaging?
Explore The Lexicon’s collection of immersive storytelling experiences featuring insights from our community of international experts.
The Great Protein Shift
Our experts use an engaging interactive approach to break down the technologies used to create these novel proteins.
Ten Principles for Regenerative Agriculture
What is regenerative agriculture? We’ve developed a framework to explain the principles, practices, ecological benefits and language of regenerative agriculture, then connected them to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Food-related chronic diseases are the biggest burden on healthcare systems. What would happen if we treated food as medicine?
How can we responsibly manage our ocean fisheries so there’s enough seafood for everyone now and for generations to come?
Mobilizing agronomists, farmers, NGOs, chefs, and food companies in defense of biodiversity in nature, agriculture, and on our plates.
Can governments develop guidelines that shift consumer diets, promote balanced nutrition and reduce the risk of chronic disease?
Will sustainably raising shellfish, finfish, shrimp and algae meet the growing demand for seafood while reducing pressure on wild fisheries?
How can a universal visual language to describe our food systems bridge cultural barriers and increase consumer literacy?
This game was designed to raise awareness about the impacts our food choices have on our own health, but also the environment, climate change and the cultures in which we live.
First, you can choose one of the four global regions and pick a character that you want to play.
Each region has distinct cultural, economic, historical, and agricultural capacities to feed itself, and each character faces different challenges, such as varied access to food, higher or lower family income, and food literacy.
As you take your character through their day, select the choices you think they might make given their situation.
At the end of the day you will get a report on the impact of your food choices on five areas: health, healthcare, climate, environment and culture. Take some time to read through them. Now go back and try again. Can you make improvements in all five areas? Did one area score higher, but another score lower?
FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET will help you better understand how all these regions and characters’ particularities can influence our food choices, and how our food choices can impact our personal health, national healthcare, environment, climate, and culture. Let’s Play!
The FOOD CHOICES FOR A HEALTHY PLANET game allows users to experience the dramatic connections between food and climate in a unique and engaging way. The venue and the game set-up provides attendees with a fun experience, with a potential to add a new layer of storytelling about this topic.
Starting the game: the pilot version of the game features four country/regions: Each reflects a different way people (and the national dietary guidelines) look at diets: Nordic Countries (sustainability), Brazil (local and whole foods instead of ultra-processed foods); Canada (plant-forward), and Indonesia (developing countries).
Personalizing the game: players begin by choosing a country and then a character who they help in making food choices over the course of one day. Later versions may allow for creating custom avatars.
Making tough food choices: This interactive game for all ages shows how the food choices we make impact our health and the environment, and even contribute to climate change.
What we eat matters: at the end of each game, players learn that every decision they make impacts not only their health, but a national healthcare system, the environment, climate and even culture.
We’d love to know more about you and why you think you will be a great fit for this position! Shoot us an email introducing you and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Providing best water quality conditions to ensure optimal living condition for growth, breeding and other physiological needs
Water quality is sourced from natural seawater with dependency on the tidal system. Water is treated to adjust pH and alkalinity before stocking.
Producers that own and manages the farm operating under small-scale farming model with limited input, investment which leads to low to medium production yield
All 1,149 of our farmers in both regencies are smallholder farmers who operate with low stocking density, traditional ponds, and no use of any other intensification technology.
Safe working conditions — cleanliness, lighting, equipment, paid overtime, hazard safety, etc. — happen when businesses conduct workplace safety audits and invest in the wellbeing of their employees
Company ensure implementation of safe working conditions by applying representative of workers to health and safety and conduct regular health and safety training. The practices are proven by ASIC standards’ implementation
Implementation of farming operations, management and trading that impact positively to community wellbeing and sustainable better way of living
The company works with local stakeholders and local governments to create support for farmers and the farming community in increasing resilience. Our farming community is empowered by local stakeholders continuously to maintain a long generation of farmers.
Freezing seafood rapidly when it is at peak freshness to ensure a higher quality and longer lasting product
Our harvests are immediately frozen with ice flakes in layers in cool boxes. Boxes are equipped with paper records and coding for traceability. We ensure that our harvests are processed with the utmost care at <-18 degrees Celsius.
Sourcing plant based ingredients, like soy, from producers that do not destroy forests to increase their growing area and produce fish feed ingredients
With adjacent locations to mangroves and coastal areas, our farmers and company are committed to no deforestation at any scale. Mangrove rehabilitation and replantation are conducted every year in collaboration with local authorities. Our farms are not established in protected habitats and have not resulted from deforestation activity since the beginning of our establishment.
Implement only natural feeds grown in water for aquatic animal’s feed without use of commercial feed
Our black tiger shrimps are not fed using commercial feed. The system is zero input and depends fully on natural feed grown in the pond. Our farmers use organic fertilizer and probiotics to enhance the water quality.
Enhance biodiversity through integration of nature conservation and food production without negative impact to surrounding ecosysytem
As our practices are natural, organic, and zero input, farms coexist with surrounding biodiversity which increases the volume of polyculture and mangrove coverage area. Farmers’ groups, along with the company, conduct regular benthic assessments, river cleaning, and mangrove planting.
THE TERM “MOONSHOT” IS OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE an initiative that goes beyond the confines of the present by transforming our greatest aspirations into reality, but the story of a moonshot isn’t that of a single rocket. In fact, the Apollo program that put Neil Armstrong on the moon was actually preceded by the Gemini program, which in a two-year span rapidly put ten rockets into space. This “accelerated” process — with a new mission nearly every 2-3 months — allowed NASA to rapidly iterate, validate their findings and learn from their mistakes. Telemetry. Propulsion. Re-entry. Each mission helped NASA build and test a new piece of the puzzle.
The program also had its fair share of creative challenges, especially at the outset, as the urgency of the task at hand required that the roadmap for getting to the moon be written in parallel with the rapid pace of Gemini missions. Through it all, the NASA teams never lost sight of their ultimate goal, and the teams finally aligned on their shared responsibilities. Within three years of Gemini’s conclusion, a man did walk on the moon.
FACT is a food systems solutions activator that assesses the current food landscape, engages with key influencers, identifies trends, surveys innovative work and creates greater visibility for ideas and practices with the potential to shift key food and agricultural paradigms.
Each activator focuses on a single moonshot; instead of producing white papers, policy briefs or peer-reviewed articles, these teams design and implement blueprints for action. At the end of each activator, their work is released to the public and open-sourced.
As with any rapid iteration process, many of our activators re-assess their initial plans and pivot to address new challenges along the way. Still, one thing has remained constant: their conviction that by working together and pooling their knowledge and resources, they can create a multiplier effect to more rapidly activate change.
Co-Founder
THE LEXICON
Vice President
Global Workplace Programs
GOOGLE
Who can enter and how selections are made.
A Greener Blue is a global call to action that is open to individuals and teams from all over the world. Below is a non-exhaustive list of subjects the initiative targets.
To apply, prospective participants will need to fill out the form on the website, by filling out each part of it. Applications left incomplete or containing information that is not complete enough will receive a low score and have less chance of being admitted to the storytelling lab.
Nonprofit organizations, communities of fishers and fish farmers and companies that are seeking a closer partnership or special support can also apply by contacting hello@thelexicon.org and interacting with the members of our team.
Special attention will be given to the section of the form regarding the stories that the applicants want to tell and the reasons for participating. All proposals for stories regarding small-scale or artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, communities of artisanal fishers or aquaculturists, and workers in different steps of the seafood value chain will be considered.
Stories should show the important role that these figures play in building a more sustainable seafood system. To help with this narrative, the initiative has identified 10 principles that define a more sustainable seafood system. These can be viewed on the initiative’s website and they state:
Seafood is sustainable when:
Proposed stories should show one or more of these principles in practice.
Applications are open from the 28th of June to the 15th of August 2022. There will be 50 selected applicants who will be granted access to The Lexicon’s Total Storytelling Lab. These 50 applicants will be asked to accept and sign a learning agreement and acceptance of participation document with which they agree to respect The Lexicon’s code of conduct.
The first part of the lab will take place online between August the 22nd and August the 26th and focus on training participants on the foundation of storytelling, supporting them to create a production plan, and aligning all of them around a shared vision.
Based on their motivation, quality of the story, geography, and participation in the online Lab, a selected group of participants will be gifted a GoPro camera offered to the program by GoPro For A Change. Participants who are selected to receive the GoPro camera will need to sign an acceptance and usage agreement.
The second part of the Storytelling Lab will consist of a production period in which each participant will be supported in the production of their own story. This period goes from August 26th to October 13th. Each participant will have the opportunity to access special mentorship from an international network of storytellers and seafood experts who will help them build their story. The Lexicon also provides editors, animators, and graphic designers to support participants with more technical skills.
The final deadline to submit the stories is the 14th of October. Participants will be able to both submit complete edited stories, or footage accompanied by a storyboard to be assembled by The Lexicon’s team.
All applicants who will exhibit conduct and behavior that is contrary to The Lexicon’s code of conduct will be automatically disqualified. This includes applicants proposing stories that openly discriminate against a social or ethnic group, advocate for a political group, incite violence against any group, or incite to commit crimes of any kind.
All submissions must be the entrant’s original work. Submissions must not infringe upon the trademark, copyright, moral rights, intellectual rights, or rights of privacy of any entity or person.
Participants will retain the copyrights to their work while also granting access to The Lexicon and the other partners of the initiative to share their contributions as part of A Greener Blue Global Storytelling Initiative.
If a potential selected applicant cannot be reached by the team of the Initiative within three (3) working days, using the contact information provided at the time of entry, or if the communication is returned as undeliverable, that potential participant shall forfeit.
Selected applicants will be granted access to an advanced Storytelling Lab taught and facilitated by Douglas Gayeton, award-winning storyteller and information architect, co-founder of The Lexicon. In this course, participants will learn new techniques that will improve their storytelling skills and be able to better communicate their work with a global audience. This skill includes (but is not limited to) how to build a production plan for a documentary, how to find and interact with subjects, and how to shoot a short documentary.
Twenty of the participants will receive a GoPro Hero 11 Digital Video and Audio Cameras by September 15, 2022. Additional participants may receive GoPro Digital Video and Audio Cameras to be announced at a later date. The recipients will be selected by advisors to the program and will be based on selection criteria (see below) on proposals by Storytelling Lab participants. The selections will keep in accordance with Lab criteria concerning geography, active participation in the Storytelling Lab and commitment to the creation of a story for the Initiative, a GoPro Camera to use to complete the storytelling lab and document their story. These recipients will be asked to sign an acceptance letter with terms of use and condition to receive the camera.
The Lexicon provides video editors, graphic designers, and animators to support the participants to complete their stories.
The submitted stories will be showcased during international and local events, starting from the closing event of the International Year of Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 in Rome, in January 2023. The authors of the stories will be credited and may be invited to join.
Storytelling lab participation:
Applicants that will be granted access to the storytelling Lab will be evaluated based on the entries they provided in the online form, and in particular:
Applications will be evaluated by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).
When selecting applications, the call promoters may request additional documentation or interviews both for the purpose of verifying compliance with eligibility requirements and to facilitate proposal evaluation.
Camera recipients:
Participants to the Storytelling Lab who will be given a GoPro camera will be selected based on:
The evaluation will be carried out by a team of 4 judges from The Lexicon, GSSI and the team of IYAFA (Selection committee).
Incidental expenses and all other costs and expenses which are not specifically listed in these Official Rules but which may be associated with the acceptance, receipt and use of the Storytelling Lab and the camera are solely the responsibility of the respective participants and are not covered by The Lexicon or any of the A Greener Blue partners.
All participants who receive a Camera are required to sign an agreement allowing GoPro for a Cause, The Lexicon and GSSI to utilize the films for A Greener Blue and their promotional purposes. All participants will be required to an agreement to upload their footage into the shared drive of The Lexicon and make the stories, films and images available for The Lexicon and the promoting partners of A Greener Blue.