Who we are

The Lab is a network for farmers and food businesses building the future of agriculture together.



Our Story

Born from Crisis.

Built by Community.

The Ag & Food Lab grew from lived experience — from years of working alongside farmers, food businesses, small retailers, and community organizations to understand where Colorado's local food system was failing the people it should serve most, and what it would take to change that.

The story begins with Dave and Roberto. As farmers on Colorado's eastern plains, they knew firsthand the barriers small and under-resourced producers face: limited access to land, infrastructure, markets, and consistent support. When COVID hit in 2020, those barriers deepened. Families already struggling to access healthy food faced even greater disruption. Small farmers couldn't reach markets, move product, or sustain their businesses.


Dave and Roberto responded. They launched a food hub from a barn on their farm — a practical, community-rooted answer to an urgent crisis. What started in a barn grew into a 15,000-square-foot warehouse shared by multiple farmers and food businesses, becoming a place for aggregation, storage, distribution, and small business growth. And through that work, something became undeniable: food access and farm viability are deeply connected. Communities need reliable access to fresh, affordable, culturally relevant food. The farmers and businesses serving those communities need land, infrastructure, technical assistance, and flexible support.


Three years in, Eileen joined the work. With experience alongside producers, food access partners, and local food system leaders — and a background in nonprofit management — she brought a clear vision: a food system where the people closest to the challenges help define the solutions, guide the work, and shape how resources are used.


Together, Dave, Roberto, and Eileen founded The Ag & Food Lab — a flexible testing ground where community-initiated solutions could be tried, strengthened, and scaled. The Lab was built in direct response to what farmers, retailers, residents, and food businesses were naming: limited land and infrastructure access for BIPOC, immigrant, and under-resourced farmers; limited access to affordable, fresh, and culturally relevant food in low-income communities; and limited decision-making power for the people most affected by food system inequities.


Today, those same people continue to shape The Lab. Farmer leadership informs what training, land access, and market support are needed. Retailers share what their customers need and what barriers stand in the way. Community partners and residents provide feedback on food preferences, accessibility, and trust. Advisory councils, program data, and partner experience all help The Lab understand what's working, what needs to change, and where resources should go next.


The Ag & Food Lab is community-initiated — born from real conditions and solutions identified during years of direct food systems work. It is community-guided — shaped continuously by the farmers, retailers, residents, and partners doing the work. And it is community-led — because the people most affected by food system inequities aren't just participants. They help define the problems, test the solutions, and determine how resources and infrastructure are used to create lasting change.


What We Believe

  • About The Land

    We believe that the entire food system depends on taking care of the land, which serves as its foundation. We prioritize sharing land with farmers who are committed to making real changes in agriculture, particularly through regenerative practices that restore the health of our soils and ecosystems. By working together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient food system for everyone.

  • About Community

    We believe lasting change is a shared responsibility. It takes all of us, working together and contributing our unique strengths, to build a sustainable future. When we recognize our interconnectedness, we can support one another and create the ripple effect needed to transform our world.

  • About Sustainability

    We believe sustainability includes caring for the land and the people who cultivate it. Farmers are the roots of a sustainable and just food system. True sustainability involves creating an evironmentally sound, balanced, regenerative approach where both farmers and their businesses can thrive, not just survive. By supporting the well-being of farmers and their communities, we can build a more resilient food system that benefits everyone.

  • About Opportunity

    We believe in creating opportunities for under-resourced and historically overlooked farmers. Just as diversity enhances natural ecosystems, incorporating more voices and ideas into agriculture strengthens the entire system. By empowering a broader range of farmers, we cultivate a more resilient and innovative future—one that benefits both the land and the communities that rely on it for nourishment.

  • About Innovation

    Innovation in agriculture is crucial for addressing the challenges of today’s food system. It involves exploring new ideas, technologies, and practices that improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience. Here are some key aspects of agricultural innovation we believe in:

    • Regenerative Practices: Innovative approaches, such as regenerative agriculture, focus on restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and improving water management. This not only benefits the environment but also leads to healthier crops and better yields.
    • Embracing New Technologies: Farmers are increasingly adopting tools like precision agriculture, data analytics, and smart farming technologies to optimize their operations and reduce waste.
    • Collaborative Learning: Farmers who share knowledge and experiment together foster a culture of innovation. Collaborating with research institutions, agricultural organizations, and local communities can lead to creative solutions that address specific challenges.
    • Consumer Engagement: Understanding consumer preferences and feedback can drive innovation in product development and marketing. Engaging with consumers helps farmers align their practices with market demands, ensuring that they meet the needs of their communities.

Our team

The Lab’s team is driven by a shared passion for building stronger food systems and ensuring that everyone in the food chain has the support they need to succeed.

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our board

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