Elizabeth Sachs Email and Phone Number

I direct PBFI's strategic initiatives to explore and advance the role of agriculture in the shift to plant-rich diets. I help the plant-based industry invest in agricultural resilience and increase market opportunities for diverse crops, farms, and farmers. We conduct technical assistance and facilitate pilot projects to build sustainable supply chains, and research and advocacy to increase and inform investments in agricultural development. We recently launched an industry community of practice for learning and collaboration to:+Build pipelines for sustainably produced pulses, grains, and seeds to support diverse crop rotations, soil health, and growing demand for minimally processed, nutrient-dense ingredients.+Partner with breeders to create profitable markets for adaptive, resilient crop varieties that perform well in low-input systems and provide functionality in plant-based foods.+Support the true costs of transitioning to organic and other ecological management practices.+Create mechanisms to ensure volumes, price stability, and flexible specifications for farmers; and consistent supply and quality for buyers.+Achieve economies of scale through industry aggregation, collaboration with middle-chain suppliers and distributors, and sidestream innovations. +Expand infrastructure to process and distribute diverse crops, varieties, and identity-preserved ingredients. +Incubate regional plant-based businesses to increase value-added agriculture and rural entrepreneurship.+Leverage Federal agriculture and conservation programs to support research, production, transition, and market development for sustainably produced plant-based foods.+Align outcomes frameworks, navigate the crowded field of certifications, develop benchmarking and verification systems, and help farmers fulfill requirements.We are also building a multi-stakeholder coalition to develop a coordinated action plan for a national commitment to a plant-forward future.

I led a consultancy that advised and supported pioneering sustainable agriculture and environmental organizations on program design and management, impact strategy, research and evaluation, policy analysis, and revenue development. Areas of expertise include organic agriculture and markets, soil health and natural resources conservation, pesticides/toxics reduction, and Federal Farm Bill programs. I also helped to develop some of the earliest "healthy food in health care" programs in hospitals and other large-scale regional food wholesale distribution and procurement initiatives. I raised more than $250 million in Federal, state, and foundation grants and coordinated numerous large cross-sector collaboratives to support my clients' goals and impact.

I spent two years on staff and 15 years consulting for the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence (now Tennessee Nonprofit Network), an intermediary support provider to nonprofits and public agencies in the Mid-South.  I supported the Alliance and its ~160 members in organizational learning and development, strategic planning, funding strategy, communications, and program evaluation. I led research and publications functions, taught workshops, and coordinated large regional collaborative grants, securing millions in Federal and foundation funding for brownfields remediation, parks conservation, community health centers, affordable housing development, and more. I also co-founded one of the country's first intensive capacity building programs for nonprofits and their leaders.