Food Tank

What Food Tank does

Food Tank is a U.S.-based non-profit think tank founded in 2012/2013, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, focused on food-system transformation across sustainable agriculture, food waste, food security, food sovereignty, and food policy. The organization operates as a media and convening platform rather than a software product company, producing original editorial coverage, the "Food Tank Explains" educational primer series, the "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" podcast, and the Food Tank Arts and Food Tank Live sub-brands for documentary and streaming programming.

The core technology is a WordPress-based website (foodtank.com) used for content distribution, event registration, and member engagement, supplemented by a 350,000+ subscriber email newsletter, active social media presence on Twitter/X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and an Eventbrite integration for ticketed events. The organization does not disclose proprietary software, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Food Tank generates revenue through two primary streams: (1) recurring membership programs and donations from individuals and organizations supporting its mission, and (2) event sponsorships and collaborations with corporate partners (e.g., Driscoll's, Meatable, Oatly, Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, Stonyfield, Amy's Kitchen) and institutional partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, FAO, UNEP, the Global Food Institute at George Washington University, the Culinary Institute of America, and Tufts University. It serves three primary segments: food-system professionals and advocates (researchers, policymakers, farmers, chefs), corporate partners seeking sustainability-aligned visibility, and the general public interested in food sustainability. Leadership is concentrated under President Danielle Nierenberg, with 11–50 employees and no disclosed parent company, institutional investor, or public-listing status.

Name

Food Tank

Legal name

Food Tank

Website

https://foodtank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Food Tank is a U.S. non-profit think tank that produces editorial content, podcasts, and large-scale summits to advance sustainable agriculture, food waste reduction, and food policy, serving researchers, policymakers, corporate sponsors, and the general public via a 350,000+ subscriber newsletter and global convening partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Systems Media and Advocacy

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable food systems
• Food policy research
• Food systems advocacy
• Food security media
• Agricultural policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership and Donations: Food Tank generates revenue through membership programs and donations, allowing individuals and organizations to support the organization's mission of food system change. The website features a donate button and membership/join options.
2. Event Sponsorships and Collaborations: The organization partners with corporations (such as Driscoll's, Meatable, Oatly, Whole Foods Market) and institutions (Global Food Institute at George Washington University, Culinary Institute of America) for event sponsorship, collaborating on summits and conferences as a revenue-generating activity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Food Tank operates a digital media and convening platform that publishes original editorial content on sustainable food systems, produces a podcast, distributes a newsletter to a large subscriber base, and hosts in-person summits and events that bring together food systems stakeholders. Its offering is fundamentally a content-and-convening service delivered through a website, podcast, email, and live events, supported by individual memberships, donations, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

Food Tank is a think tank focused on food system transformation, operating primarily as a content and events organization. The core offering is a digital news platform (foodtank.com) featuring editorial articles, analysis, and reporting across food systems topics including sustainable agriculture, food waste, urban agriculture, and policy. This is complemented by the 'Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg' podcast, a robust events program including summits and Climate Week NYC series, Food Tank Arts creative programming, Food Tank Live streaming events, an email newsletter with 350,000+ subscribers, and Working Groups that convene stakeholders around specific food system issues. The organization functions as a media and convening platform rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg: A podcast featuring conversations about food systems transformation hosted by Danielle Nierenberg

Products and services

• Food Tank Digital News Platform Website (foodtank.com) publishing original articles, news pieces, and explainers on sustainable food systems, food policy, food security, and agriculture. Free to access; intended for general readers, advocates, students, and food-system professionals.
• Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg Podcast Interview-style podcast hosted by Food Tank's president featuring farmers, chefs, researchers, and policy experts discussing sustainable food systems. Distributed via standard podcast platforms.
• Food Tank Summits and Events In-person summits and events that convene farmers, chefs, researchers, advocates, and corporate partners around sustainable food systems topics. Funded in part through corporate sponsorships.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Rockefeller FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026The Rockefeller Foundation partnered with Food Tank to create the FOOD 2050 documentary, narrated by Academy Award winner Viola Davis. The documentary explores solutions for feeding 10 billion people by 2050 through climate-resilient agriculture. The Rockefeller Foundation has committed over US$220 million to nutrition initiatives.
• Global Food Institute at George Washington UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Food Tank partnered with the Global Food Institute at George Washington University and the Culinary Institute of America to co-host the 1st Annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit in Washington D.C. in October 2025.
• José AndréscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Celebrity chef José Andrés co-announced the 1st Annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit with Food Tank, bringing culinary and humanitarian perspectives to food policy discussions.
• Driscoll'sminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2025Driscoll's served as a collaborating partner for the 1st Annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit.
• MeatableminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2025Meatable served as a collaborating partner for the 1st Annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit.
• OatlyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2025Oatly served as a collaborating partner for the 1st Annual Food and Agriculture Policy Summit.
• Tufts University Food is Medicine InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Tank partners with Tufts University Food is Medicine Institute for Capitol Hill Programming events, including 'The Power and Peril of Food' programming in July 2026.
• Whole Foods MarketmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhole Foods Market co-hosts Climate Week NYC events including 'Gen Z Farmers: A Love Story' with Food Tank in September 2026.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNEP partners with Food Tank for Climate Week NYC programming, including the 'Climate Action: A Food Waste Breakthrough' event.
• American Farmland TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Farmland Trust co-hosts the 'Thriving Farms and Ranches' event during Climate Week NYC with Food Tank.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO partners with Food Tank and Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation for the Official North American World Food Day Celebration in San Diego, October 2026.
• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Tank President Danielle Nierenberg visits CIMMYT in Mexico for ground-truthing activities in August 2026, meeting with scientists and farmers.
• Chautauqua InstitutionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood Tank President Danielle Nierenberg delivers keynote address at Chautauqua Institution's 'The Future of Food: Climate, Technology and the Next Agricultural Revolution' series in August 2026.
• Rodale InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRodale Institute co-hosts Marion Nestle's 90th Birthday Party Celebration during Climate Week NYC with Food Tank.
• Organic Trade AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganic Trade Association co-hosts the 'Soil to Shelf' event during Climate Week NYC.
• Organic ValleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganic Valley co-hosts the 'Soil to Shelf' event during Climate Week NYC.
• StonyfieldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStonyfield co-hosts the 'Soil to Shelf' event during Climate Week NYC.
• Amy's KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmy's Kitchen co-hosts the 'Soil to Shelf' event during Climate Week NYC.
• Sprouts Healthy Communities FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSprouts Healthy Communities Foundation partners with Food Tank and FAO for the Official North American World Food Day Celebration.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Tank co-hosts events with EDF during London Climate Action Week 2026, covering topics including methane abatement, net zero corporate standards, climate risk, biofuels, and aviation decarbonization.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Civil Eats: Non-profit digital news organization covering food systems, agriculture, and policy. Closest direct peer — similar non-profit media model, overlapping editorial scope (sustainable agriculture, food policy, food justice), and comparable audience-engagement approach.
• Grist: Non-profit news outlet covering climate, food systems, and sustainability. Direct peer in mission, format (digital journalism + events), and non-profit funding model; Food Tank sits alongside Grist in the food/climate media ecosystem.
• Food Policy Action: Non-profit food policy advocacy organization focused on U.S. food and agriculture policy. Direct peer in food policy advocacy, comparable audience of food system professionals, and similar event-driven convening model.
• Bread for the World: Non-profit advocacy organization focused on hunger, food security, and U.S. food policy. Direct peer in food advocacy and policy engagement, with comparable convening and grassroots mobilization tactics.
• WhyHunger: Non-profit focused on ending hunger and building sustainable food systems. Direct peer in food systems advocacy, working with farmers and community organizations on food security, and operating events and convenings.

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Large global research organization with programs on food, agriculture, and climate. Comparable thought-leadership and convening role but at substantially greater scale and institutional backing; broader sustainability portfolio than Food Tank's food-only focus.
• Heifer International: Large non-profit focused on ending hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture. Overlapping food security and smallholder farmer focus, but much larger scale, programmatic depth, and field operations versus Food Tank's media/convening model.
• Oxfam America: Major international NGO with significant food security, agriculture, and climate programs. Comparable food systems and smallholder farmer focus but operates globally with substantially larger budget and field programs.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Large environmental non-profit with significant food and agriculture programs (methane, nitrogen, sustainable agriculture). Partner of Food Tank on London Climate Action Week; broader environmental scope but overlapping food/climate advocacy and convening.

Regional players

• Edible Communities: Network of regional food magazines covering local food systems, sustainable agriculture, and culinary topics. Comparable editorial focus on sustainable food but distributed regionally rather than through a centralized national/global platform.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/food_tank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/foodtank
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefoodtank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-tank-the-food-think-tank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Tank