At TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation (TKREF), we recognize the need to forge sustainable solutions to the crises facing the world today.
To do so, we embrace the interconnectedness of agriculture, the environment and human health in solving high levels of atmospheric carbon, severe drought in California, deadly antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, and declining plant and animal species.

To us, sustainability promotes a food system in which all resources (e.g., soil, water, human labor, fertilizers) are used at or below their rate of recovery. The outcomes of a sustainable food system include the preservation of biodiversity and nature’s benefits (e.g., clean air and water, pollination), livable incomes for farmers and farm workers, affordable and healthy food, and the recovery of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing that food system sustainability is a tall order, TKREF embraces a positive philosophy and a creative approach to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
TKREF develops and implements adaptive solutions by cultivating collaboration, facilitating networks, catalyzing innovation, and collecting and sharing information with others. Vibrant and diverse partnerships are critical to success and we will collaborate with ranchers and other private landowners, government agencies, natural resource managers, researchers, and non-governmental organizations.
TKREF values science and believes that the scientific method, employed in an adaptive management framework, is one of the most fundamental tools for taking actions today to achieve our desired outcomes for the future. We are committed to sharing our knowledge and lessons learned, to facilitate the empowerment of others in creating sustainable landscapes. Finally, we recognize that we are in a unique position to take risks, experiment, measure outcomes, and share our successes and failures with our dedicated partners.
Find out more
Meet Our Team page.
Read about our Strategic Priorities.