Global Food Initiative

The Global Food Initiative (GFI) is the primary way that the Church of the Brethren assists hungry people in developing food security. Since 1983, GFI (formerly Global Food Crisis Fund) has raised over $8,000,000 for community development projects in numerous countries around the globe. Read (and share!) the latest GFI newsletter or take a look at the list of 2022 GFI allocations, 2021 allocations, or previous GFI allocations.

GFI seeks to:

  • invest in small-scale economic development
  • join efforts to improve diet and health practices
  • champion soil conservation
  • promote awareness-raising and advocacy on hunger issues.

This work is made possible through your contributions. We encourage you to participate with us by:

  • praying that those who are hungry may have food
  • giving an individual contribution
  • participating in our ongoing “My 2¢ Worth” fundraiser (contact GFI for questions or materials)
  • taking an offering for GFI at your congregation or camp

Your support of the Global Food Initiative upholds the biblical command to lift the burden of the oppressed. Moreover it honors God, for as stated in Proverbs 14:31, “Kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.”

Llano Grande, Ecuador

This video is from the El Mesias congregation in Llano Grande, which is part of the greater Quito urban area. The GFI recently gave a second grant to support an expansion of the church’s community garden through the Fundacion Brethren y Unida (Brethren and United Foundation) in Ecuador. The grant was $8,000 and primarily will be used to build a cistern and install a sprinkler system for irrigation.

“La Chacra” (sometimes written “Chakra”) refers to the typical form of agriculture practiced by the Quichua indigenous peoples of the Andes.

The GFI continues to support Bread for the World with an annual donation on behalf of the denomination.
Fundacion Brethren y Unida – Global Food Initiative’s partner in Ecuador recently organized a “feria” or farmers’ market in the town of Picalqui. Local artisans, food vendors, and farmers were invited to sell their wares with FBU providing the publicity and securing the space for the market. A number of women and youth trained by FBU were able to sell their products directly to customers. GFI grants over the past three years have supported training in organic agricultural techniques as well as value-added food items.
  • GFI grants are given to relieve hunger and support agriculture in Pennsylvania, Venezuela, Spain, Burundi

    Grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) are supporting food distribution to the Hispanic community in Lancaster, Pa., agriculture micro-projects by the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela, a community garden project of the Church of the Brethren in Spain, and sustainable agriculture education in Burundi.

  • Emerging Church of the Brethren in Mexico seeks official government registration

    An emerging Church of the Brethren denomination is in process of formation in Mexico, reports Global Food Initiative manager and Global Mission staff Jeff Boshart following a trip to Tijuana in mid-April. Documents to make the group an official church in the country are being submitted to Mexican authorities, beginning a process that is expected to take several months.

  • Global Food Initiative supports agricultural projects and training in Nigeria, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uganda, United States

    The Global Food Initiative (GFI) of the Church of the Brethren has given a number of grants in recent weeks, in order to support a Soybean Value Chain project in Nigeria, a church-based community gardening effort in Ecuador, a work-study opportunity in Ecuador for trainees from Venezuela, a vegetable production workshop in Uganda, and a community garden in North Carolina.

  • This book will change your life

    No doubt you’ve heard these words a few times. The salesman making his pitch, the magazine/TV/Internet advertisement--always with the guarantee that this book (or whatever product is being promoted) will be transformational. Quite likely you’ve heard it from your pastor, who was encouraging you to take the Bible more seriously. But one would hardly expect to hear this statement at a welding workshop.

  • First GFI grants of the year support agricultural work and education in Africa and New Orleans

    Grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) are supporting the attendance of three Church of the Brethren leaders at a symposium on sustainable agriculture and appropriate technologies in Tanzania, repair of a vehicle owned by the agriculture department of Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), and Capstone 118’s outreach in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans.

  • Church of the Brethren funds give final grants for 2022

    Final grants for the year 2022 have been given by Church of the Brethren funds including the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF), the Global Food Initiative (GFI), and the Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA).

  • Global Church of the Brethren Communion holds meeting in the Dominican Republic

    For the first time since 2019, leaders of the Global Church of the Brethren Communion met in person, hosted by the Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic (DR). Leaders representing Brazil, the DR, Haiti, Honduras, India, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Spain, and the United States met for five days, including days of meetings and visits to agricultural projects.

  • GFI manager visits chicken project in Honduras

    Frequent hurricanes, political instability, high crime rates, and deforestation are just a few of the challenges to successful development work in Honduras. The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) is supporting an urban chicken project with a local church partner, Viviendo en Amor y Fe (VAF, Living in Love and Faith).

  • Latest Global Food Initiative grants go to the DRC, Rwanda, and Venezuela

    The latest round of grants from the Global Food Initiative (GFI) have been given to ministries of Churches of the Brethren in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for the Seed Projects; Rwanda, for purchase of a grain mill; and Venezuela, for agriculture micro-projects. For more about the GFI and to contribute financially to these grants, go to www.brethren.org/gfi.

  • Learning dry season farming in Burundi

    The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative sponsored a workshop on dry season farming in Gitega, Burundi, July 11-12


Chef Kevin Belton caught up with local beekeeper, David Young, to see how he turned his home into something sweeter than produce.


Seedworld – Soybean helps rebuild Nigeria

Church of the Brethren and SIL collaborate on a Soybean Production Guide. Read the story here. Get the Soybean Production Guide here.

Read about an EYN soybean value chain learning trip to Ghana in this Soybean Innovation Lab newsletter.

Read an earlier article on this collaboration with the Soybean Innovation Lab (scroll down).

Find out about the 2016 visit to the Soybean Innovation Lab Soybean Management and Appropriate Research & Technology (SMART) farm in Ghana.

David Young of Capstone 118, GFI partner in New Orleans

Pastor Martin Hutchison of Community of Joy Church of the Brethren