American Farmland Trust was founded in 1980 to save America’s farms and ranches.
American Farmland Trust (AFT), founded in 1980, leads the conservation agriculture movement with a mission to save America’s farms and ranches. AFT achieves this through its mission by protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. AFT takes a holistic approach, recognizing the vital connection between land, sustainable farming, and the farmers who steward it. Through on-the-ground projects, objective research, and effective advocacy, AFT addresses agricultural challenges while positioning farming as a solution to climate change. The widely recognized No Farms No Food® message AFT crafted highlights the importance of farmland, connecting the food we eat to the farms that grow it.
AFT's efforts have saved millions of acres of farmland from development and supported tens of thousands of farmers in adopting sustainable practices. Despite these successes, the challenges are urgent: every day, 2,000 acres of farmland are lost to non-agricultural uses, many farms continue to lose topsoil and pollute waterways, and one-third of America’s farmland may change hands in the next 15 years as aging landowners sell their properties. These trends jeopardize the future of agriculture and the environment. Farmland is essential not only for food production—expected to increase by 60% by 2050—but also for restoring our planet through carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and clean water. Without enough farmland, we lose critical opportunities to combat climate change and optimize environmental benefits.
AFT uniquely addresses these issues by focusing on three key areas: protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and supporting farmers and ranchers with the knowledge and financial resources to sustain their operations. AFT believes that technology alone will not meet growing food demands; most food will continue to be grown on farmland. To ensure a sustainable future, AFT calls for proactive steps to retain agricultural land, implement restorative farming practices, and keep farmers on the land. Together, these efforts will secure our food system, restore the planet, and meet the demands of future generations.
