How Roots for Peace Supports Small-scale Farmers

Prior to entering the venture capital industry, Graham R. Taylor was an attorney with several San Francisco law firms, including Altheimer & Gray and Seyfarth Shaw, LLP. When not researching promising startups focused on emerging technologies, Graham R. Taylor supports several charitable organizations, including the work of the international agricultural nonprofit Roots of Peace.

Founded by husband and wife team Gary and Heidi Kuhn in 1997, Roots of Peace aims to assist people in the most vulnerable war-torn regions achieve stability and self-sufficiency through farming. Small-scale agriculture is one of the most common ways people around the world earn their livelihood, but without support, farmers in poverty-stricken regions are particularly susceptible to issues such as crop failure or drought. These farming families are also often deprived of access to health care, a diverse nutrient-dense diet, and health care. These barriers can make it difficult to reinvest in the farm and increase its productivity.

Roots for Peace helps farmers increase their income by converting former battlefields into productive farmland. The organization works with government agencies to remove landmines, helps in the selection of sustainable yet profitable crops, and educates farmers on growing techniques and pest control. Over the past two decades, Roots for Peace has benefited tens of thousands of farming families in numerous countries, including Croatia, Afghanistan, Angola, and Vietnam.