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Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Transform how we grow, distribute, and eat food.

Growing demandCheck my match

Food systems work covers regenerative agriculture, food security, sustainable sourcing and community-led development. Employers range from NGOs, foundations and government to food corporates and agri-startups, and field program roles look very different from corporate sourcing roles.

Food systems produce about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAO) and sit at the center of biodiversity, water and equity debates. SBTi FLAG guidance and Scope 3 agricultural accounting are pushing food corporates to set land-sector targets, and those programs need people who can pair program management with carbon and nature accounting.

Typical job titles

Entry-level
  • Program Officer
  • Sustainable Sourcing Analyst
  • Field Coordinator
Mid-level
  • Regenerative Ag Specialist
  • Food Systems Manager
  • Impact Manager
Senior
  • Director of Food Systems
  • Head of Sustainable Sourcing

Skills needed

Requirement levels feed the matching engine: mandatory gaps block the score, recommended gaps shape upskilling, differentiators set seniors apart.

Carbon & Climate Accounting
SkillRequirementWeight
Soil / agricultural carbon MRVDifferentiator1.5
Agroforestry economicsDifferentiator1.0
Regulatory & Disclosure
SkillRequirementWeight
Food security policy literacyDifferentiator1.0
Quantitative & Data Systems
SkillRequirementWeight
MEL frameworks & indicatorsMandatory2.5
Supply chain mapping platforms (Sourcemap)Recommended2.0
Field data tools (KoboToolbox)Recommended1.5
Circularity & Natural Capital
SkillRequirementWeight
Regenerative agriculture literacyMandatory2.5
Strategy & Stakeholder Delivery
SkillRequirementWeight
Theory of Change & logframe designMandatory2.5
Community engagementMandatory2.5
Partnership design (MOUs, frameworks)Recommended1.5

Key frameworks & regulations

  • SBTi FLAG
  • GHG Protocol ag guidance
  • TNFD food systems
  • EU Farm to Fork

Typical entry backgrounds

  • Environmental Science
  • Policy / Law
  • Other / Generalist

Proof-of-work portfolio projects

City or region food systems map
Foundational
Map the food system of one city or region.
~15 hours of effort
Food security monitoring framework
Intermediate
Design a monitoring framework for a food security program.
~25 hours of effort
Regenerative farm case study
Intermediate
Profile a regenerative farm and quantify its outcomes.
~30 hours of effort
SBTi FLAG-aligned sourcing strategy
Capstone
Draft an SBTi FLAG-aligned sourcing strategy for one commodity chain, with an MRV outline.
~80 hours of effort

Recommended certifications

CertificationProviderLevelStudy time
Circular Economy in CitiesEllen MacArthur Foundationbeginner15 h
Esri GIS FundamentalsEsriintermediate20 h

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