The Sustainable Smallholder is a brand that specializes in working with start-ups, NGOs, and multinationals to improve the lives of smallholder farmers in a sustainable manner. They achieve this through a unique approach called farmer co-creation, which involves involving the farmers in the design process.

Recognizing the diverse challenges faced by smallholder farmers, The Sustainable Smallholder aims to provide tailored innovations that address these risks and help improve their livelihoods, food security, and nutrition. They understand that smallholders are not a homogenous group and offer both ‘move up’ and ‘move out’ strategies, supporting farmers in undertaking profitable commercial activities or seeking non-farm employment opportunities.

The brand employs a human-centered design approach, which involves engaging with farmers and observing their behaviors and motivations in their natural environment. This empathic approach helps them gain a deep understanding of farmers' needs, enabling them to design products and solutions that truly meet those needs.

The Sustainable Smallholder values high-quality design and believes that everyone, especially the poor, deserves good design. They emphasize the importance of research and listening to the people they are designing for, as this provides the foundation for creating great products. With a mix of techniques including observations, interviews, and ethnographic research, they gather valuable data to inform their design process.

By partnering with The Sustainable Smallholder, organizations can contribute to the sustainable development of smallholder farmers and support their journey towards prosperity.