La Semilla ensures that nutritious and locally-grown food is given consideration in public, comprehensive, and strategic planning processes. We help advocate for policies that help address the root causes of hunger and inequitable food access while creating local economic opportunities. We grow, support, and learn from a robust network of food system activists and advocates.

La Semilla understands that hunger is an issue of injustice and systemic racism, ableism, classism, and misogyny. Empowered community members are essential in building a new food system where elected officials and allied institutional partners take their cues from those most impacted by historical divestment, extraction, and the resulting food scarcity. We cultivate relationships and strengthen networks rooted in mutual learning and collaboration, advocating for public policies and planning strategies that promote equitable access to good food for all people, ultimately building strong and thriving communities.

Our contributions have included the development of the City of Las Cruces Urban Agriculture and Food Policy Plan (2016); working alongside Doña Ana Communities United to advocate for a glyphosate ban in Las Cruces City properties (2019)]; informing the architecture of the New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Act (2021); and working with a statewide network of BIPOC farmers to develop the framework for a food and farming fund informed by Equitable Food Oriented Development (2022-2023); and launching the Joy in Justice program (2024), a comprehensive, participatory youth development program with a focus on social justice, community organizing, and food system activism in light of the impending passage of the Farm Bill.

We are currently dreaming up more leadership development opportunities for food system advocates in the Paso del Norte region and working on launching our community-controlled BIPOC food and farming fund.