Food Plant Solutions

“She’s just small for her age.” It’s something many caregivers hear. But what if the reason is not genetics or slow growth, but something far more serious? Stunting affects 150.2 million children under five around the world. And it is not just about height. It’s a sign of chronic undernutrition during the most critical years of development. Stunted children may face delays in brain development, struggle in school, and even earn less later in life. It limits their potential before they ever get the chance to show it. At Food Plant Solutions, we focus on prevention through education. We provide free, science-backed guides that help communities grow and use nutrient-rich local plants that are already well suited to their environment. With the right knowledge, families can nourish their children with what is already growing around them. Let’s change the story for the next generation. 💚 Support solutions that empower communities from the ground up. #StopStunting #GrowHope #FoodSecurityThroughEducation

Every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive. Yet, right now, over 150 million children under 5 are affected by stunting, robbing them of their full potential. Stunting isn't just about height. It affects brain development, learning ability, and future earning power. Even more alarming, 42.8 million children are suffering from wasting, with 12.2 million in severe danger. These are children at immediate risk of death due to poor nutrition. The numbers are getting worse in some regions. In Africa, the number of children affected by stunting has increased, not decreased, since 2012. We cannot let this continue. At Food Plant Solutions, we believe the most powerful tool we can offer is education. When communities understand how to grow and use local, nutritious plants, they can build lifelong food security from within. Let’s give every child the foundation they deserve. Donate or share our mission by visiting our website; foodplantsolutions.org 💚 Support the mission that empowers communities to end malnutrition for good. #NutritionMatters #EndMalnutrition #FoodSecurityThroughEducation

In the warmth of a Cambodian afternoon, the drumstick tree stands tall its long, slender pods hanging like nature’s green spoons. Locally grown and full of power, these pods are more than just vegetables. They’re vital tools in the fight against malnutrition. The drumstick tree, also known as moringa, is already valued for its nutrient-packed leaves. But its pods are just as incredible. Rich in Vitamin C and a source of fibre, they can be sliced and added to curries or soups, bringing both flavour and nourishment to everyday meals. Fast-growing and drought-resistant, this tree thrives in Cambodia’s climate. Its pods, leaves, and even flowers are edible offering year-round food security with minimal effort. Food Plant Solutions works to share knowledge about local plants like the drumstick tree. Our guides help families and caregivers grow and prepare these under-utilised plants to improve daily nutrition sustainably, simply, and affordably. Ever eaten a Drumstick Pod? We'd love to hear about it! #SupportTheMission #DrumstickTree #FoodPlantSolutions #Cambodia #GrowNutrition

Behind every Food Plant Solutions guide is a powerful resource. The Edible Plants of the World database, created by Tasmanian scientist Bruce French, contains over 33,600 edible plants. We use this information to produce easy-to-understand materials that support families and caregivers across Ethiopia. In Addis Ababa, this knowledge is being used to promote year-round food availability. Local food plants with different growing seasons ensure that households have access to nourishing food, even during lean months. This is not just science. It is practical, community-driven education that helps people grow and eat better, naturally. Support our work and share the solution. #EthiopiaNutrition #FoodPlantSolutions #PlantPower

From Hunger to Health with Local Plants 🥜👶 In one FPS-supported program, malnutrition in children dropped by up to 95 percent within a year. The key? Growing and using local food plants. In Zimbabwe, we are focusing on the incredible potential of local fruits and nuts. These are foods already known and loved, but not always fully understood for their nutritional value. FPS materials help families grow and use these plants effectively. The result is a more resilient diet, stronger health and a proud return to traditional knowledge. This is food security through education, not handouts. Visit our website for more details: foodplantsolutions.org #EndMalnutrition #LocalFoodMatters #ZimbabweHealth

Local food plants in Nepal are more than just traditional crops. They are key to a healthy, sustainable and independent future. Food Plant Solutions supports food sovereignty by working with in-country partners who use our guides to educate and empower communities. When people understand which plants to grow, when to grow them, and how to use them for maximum nutrition, they take control of their own wellbeing. Agroecological methods ensure that these practices also care for the environment. The result is food that supports people, land and livelihoods. Let’s celebrate and strengthen Nepal’s natural food heritage. You can check out the Food Plant Solutions Resources for Nepal on our Website: foodplantsolutions.org/country-resour… #Agroecology #FoodSovereignty #NepalNutrition

Wasting is one of the most dangerous forms of malnutrition. It happens when a child becomes dangerously thin in a short period of time, often too weak to fight off illness. Right now, 42.8 million children under five are suffering from wasting. Even more alarming, 12.2 million of them are experiencing severe wasting, putting their lives at immediate risk. But solutions exist, and they are often closer than we think. At Food Plant Solutions, we do not send food. We provide free, plain-language resources that help communities identify and grow nutrient-rich local plants. These plants are often already known, but under-used. When properly understood and prepared, they can provide life-saving nourishment. This is how we support long-term change. One guide, one garden, one child at a time. 💚 Help us fight wasting with knowledge that grows hope. #EndWasting #FoodSecurityThroughEducation #GrowHope

Local food plants are not just survival food. They are deeply nutritious, environmentally resilient and often undervalued. In Ghana, Food Plant Solutions works with partners to highlight these plants and the vital role they play in creating a diverse, sustainable diet. Each plant is chosen for its nutrition, growing cycle and seasonal needs. This helps communities maintain food supplies all year round. With agro-ecological methods, farmers protect the land while feeding their families. With knowledge, women become leaders in nutrition and change-makers in their communities. This is food sovereignty in action, and it starts with education. Support our mission to grow local solutions to global hunger. #FoodSovereignty #Agroecology #GrowWithUs

In Rwanda, the Maasai stinging nettle is harvested with care to avoid its sting. Once boiled, it transforms into a rich source of iron and vitamins that fight anaemia and help children grow strong. What was once avoided is now a quiet hero of nutrition. 💚 #FoodPlantSolutions

With over 33,600 edible plants in the Edible Plants of the World database, the knowledge behind Food Plant Solutions is both deep and practical. Our guides highlight local food plants with strong nutrition, natural pest resistance and year-round growing potential. The goal is simple: help people make informed choices that support health, environment and livelihoods. We focus especially on supporting women, who often lead the way in growing, preparing and sharing food. Knowledge is the first harvest. Health follows. #GrowWithKnowledge #SustainableNutrition

In a small garden outside Phnom Penh, a grandmother pulls sweet potatoes from the soil while her granddaughter gathers the leafy tops. What looks like a simple harvest is actually a meal rich in nutrients and a powerful defence against malnutrition. Sweet potato is a quiet hero in Cambodia. The roots provide energy, while the dark green leaves are rich in iron and Vitamin A essential for strong blood and good eyesight. Both the roots and leaves are easy to grow, even in poor soils or wet conditions. At Food Plant Solutions, we celebrate plants like sweet potato not just for their resilience, but for their ability to nourish entire communities. Our Cambodia guides teach families how to grow, cook, and benefit from this under-utilised superfood. Sweet potatoes remind us that food security doesn’t need to come from far away. Sometimes, the answer is already growing at our feet. Have you used sweet potato leaves in your cooking? We’d love to know! 💚 #SupportTheMission #LocalFoodSolutions #FoodPlantSolutions

In Cambodia, nutrition isn’t found on a shelf. It grows in the soil, winds through village fences, and hangs from trees just beyond the front door. But what transforms it into true nourishment is understanding. Food Plant Solutions is helping turn everyday plants into powerful tools for health. Through simple, illustrated guides written in plain language, families are discovering that what they need has been with them all along. A banana flower, once discarded, becomes dinner. A sweet potato vine, once overlooked, becomes the start of a thriving home garden. We don’t deliver food. We deliver information. About the plants that already grow well, suit the climate, and carry the nutrients that matter most. From school gardens to rural farms, this knowledge is spreading, and so is the change. This is Cambodia’s story. Not of aid, but of action. Not of short-term fixes, but of homegrown futures. And it’s just one of many. #FoodSecurityThroughEducation #SupportTheMission #CambodiaImpact #LocalSolutions #FoodPlantSolutions

One of Rotary’s most powerful global projects was born in Tasmania. Did you know, Food Plant Solutions is the only Rotary Action Group headquartered outside the USA. It is proudly Australian, proudly Rotarian, and quietly transforming lives in more than 59 countries. What began as a small idea has become a global movement. FPS provides free, science-based resources that help communities fight malnutrition using local plants already growing around them. No handouts. No dependency. Just knowledge, dignity, and the power to grow lasting change. This is Rotary in action — practical, compassionate, and driven by local solutions. But here’s the truth. We’ve only just begun. Imagine the impact if every Rotary club in Australia championed this mission. One idea from one island could help nourish the world. Let’s back what we started. Let’s show the world what Australian Rotarians can do. 💬 Are you a Rotarian ready to help the world grow its own solutions? #foodplantsolutions #madeintasmania #homegrown #rotaryactiongroup #rotaryinternational #feedtheworld

On a warm morning in Cambodia, a mother hands her child a slice of golden mango. It’s not just a sweet moment. It’s a powerful act of nourishment. Mangoes are bursting with Vitamin A, a nutrient essential for clear eyesight and strong immune systems. For young children and pregnant women especially, that single fruit can make a real difference. In Cambodia, mangoes grow easily. They offer a natural, low-cost solution to everyday health challenges. At Food Plant Solutions, we focus on local plants like mango that are already part of daily life. Our educational guides help families grow, prepare and appreciate the value of what’s right in their own backyard. When children eat mangoes regularly, they’re not just enjoying a treat. They’re building a healthier future. Mango is just one of many opportunity crops we highlight in our resources, available for over 59 countries. With the right knowledge, communities can grow their way out of malnutrition. What local fruits were part of your childhood? We’d love to hear your memories! 🥭 #SupportTheMission #FoodSecurityThroughEducation #cambodia #mango

It started with one powerful question: “Why are children still going hungry when nutritious plants are all around them?” In 2005, agricultural scientist Bruce French AO shared this question with the @rotaryclubof in Tasmania. That moment sparked a movement. What began as a small Rotary project grew into a global force, Food Plant Solutions. By simply sharing knowledge about local, nutrient-rich plants, FPS empowered communities to tackle malnutrition from the roots up. No handouts. Just education, dignity, and lasting change. From the Solomon Islands to Uganda, from a Tasmanian school garden to the halls of World Vision’s global symposium, FPS has grown into the world’s most accessible nutrition resource. Today, nearly 200 educational guides serve communities in almost 60 countries, each one developed in collaboration with locals to ensure cultural fit and real impact. None of this would have been possible without passionate Rotarians, dedicated volunteers, and partnerships grounded in trust. Together, they’ve reached children, families, and entire villages with life-changing knowledge. And it all began with one person asking the right question. 💚 Want to help grow global nutrition solutions? Your support can make that next ripple. 👉 Support the mission today: foodplantsolutions.org #EmpowerNotAid #FoodSecurity #SustainableNutrition #rotaryinternational #rotaryaustralia

Imagine sitting down for dinner, knowing that 1 in every 11 people around the world can't do the same. In 2023, it’s estimated that between 713 and 757 million people faced hunger. That’s nearly 10% of the global population. In Africa, the numbers are even more staggering, 1 in every 5 people. This isn’t just about empty stomachs. It’s about children missing out on the nutrients they need to grow. It’s about families forced to make impossible choices between food and other necessities. At Food Plant Solutions, we believe knowledge is key to changing this. Our free, science-based guides help communities identify and grow local, nutrient-rich plants, ones that thrive in their environment and meet vital dietary needs. Food security isn’t out of reach. With the right tools, families can nourish themselves, children can thrive, and communities can flourish. 🌱 One guide can help an entire village. 💡 One donation can help us reach another country. Let’s turn awareness into action. #LocalPartnerships #SustainableNutrition #GrowWithUs #foodplantsolutions #rotaryinternational

What does it look like when a young public health nutritionist steps onto the Rotary International Convention stage to talk about food, climate, and community? It looks like passion. It sounds like possibility. This week, Ashlyn Anderson shared the story of Food Plant Solutions. Not just as a global initiative, but as a personal mission. Speaking to Rotarians from all over the world, she explained why education is the most powerful tool we have to fight malnutrition. She spoke about how 2.8 billion people can’t afford a healthy diet. About how children still die from preventable deficiencies. But most of all, she spoke about hope. Hope found in a school garden in Vietnam. In refugee families reconnecting with their farming roots. In simple guides that help entire communities grow local, nutritious plants, right where they live. Ashlyn reminded us that solutions don’t need to be expensive or complex. They need to be shared, understood, and owned by the people they serve. A heartfelt thank you to Ashlyn for telling this story with such warmth, and to Michael Plunkett from Deloraine Rotary for capturing the moment on video. Have you seen the presentation? We’d love to hear what stood out most to you. 🌱 Support the mission | 💬 Share your thoughts below #FoodSecurityThroughEducation #Rotary2025

In the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's Capital city, something truly inspiring is taking root. The Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Central Mella, Rotary Club of Hobart, and Nutrition for Education and Development (N4ED) are working hand in hand to create an Integrated Children’s Centre. This vibrant, welcoming space will bring together health care, nourishing meals, and early education for children under five. This isn’t just a building project. It’s a community-driven movement. One where parents will watch their little ones thrive, where the meals served are full of Ethiopia’s own powerful plants like teff and barley, and where local women are empowered to grow the future, literally, through sustainable farming. These crops aren’t just ingredients. Teff is packed with iron and zinc to support development. Barley offers protein and essential minerals. When children eat well, they learn, play, and grow into strong, confident adults. With support from a Rotary Global Grant and guidance from Food Plant Solutions, this partnership is creating a blueprint for lasting change. It is led by the people, for the people, and it’s only the beginning. Explore 7 FPS resources now available to support this mission in Ethiopia. Visit our website and see how local plants are transforming futures. foodplantsolutions.org/country-resour… #NutritionEducation #FoodSecurity #EmpoweredCommunities #RotaryImpact #FoodPlantSolutions

We don't fly in food we share knowledge. 📚 FPS creates easy-to-use guides on growing local, nutrient-rich plants, empowering communities to build lasting food security themselves. One guide can change a village. 🌱 #EmpowerNotAid #FoodSecurity #SustainableNutrition

🌍 Lasting change starts locally. We partner with trusted local orgs to equip communities with tailored, science-backed resources on nutritious food plants they already grow building lasting food security. Collaboration is our method; empowerment our mission. 🌱 #LocalPartnerships #GrowWithUs