Strategic Plan 2025-2028

Below are the highlights of our Strategic Goals for 2025-2028. You can view our full plan to learn more about our objectives and priorities. 

Our Process

New Entry Sustainable Farming Project engaged in a staff-wide strategic planning process in Fall 2024-Winter 2025. The process was faciliated by the Tufts University Design and Digital Services Team. New Entry conducted a broad stakeholder survey to farmers, partners, funders, students, customers, and Tufts faculty, staff and advisors to gain insight into our programs and services. We then conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, reviewed our mission, vision, and values statements and refined each. We spent time brainstorming where we wanted to be in five years and what we wanted to achieve. We created strategic goals, sub-goals, and metrics for how to measure how we would arrive at our destination. Staff meet quarterly to review progress toward our strategic goals and complete an accomplishments report to track progress. Annually, we review our goals, subgoals, and accomplishments to determine what we achieved, what changes need to be made, and to assess, evaluate, and determine commitments to the goals for the next year. We welcome feedback on how we are doing!

New Entry Strategic Goals (2025-2028)

#1 - Empower Diverse and Resilient Farming Communities

  • Community Impact: Strengthen community connections to the land and build vibrant local and regional food communities, enhancing local food access and community involvement.
  • Invest in Diversity and Expand Reach: Broaden the pool of potential new farmers, including those from historically underserved communities, to drive diverse and innovative agricultural practices. Provide culturally responsive training and resources to immigrant, refugee, and underrepresented farmers, ensuring equitable opportunities and fostering inclusive growth.
  • Mentorship Programs: Strengthen New Entry’s alumni network to coach and mentor new farmers, building a robust support system for long-term success.

#2 – Enhance Training and Education to “Future Proof” Farm Viability

  • Scale Training: Train 500-1,000 farmers across the US annually, focusing on financial literacy, climate-smart practices, and interdisciplinary learning to build a knowledgeable and resilient farming workforce and next generation “agri-preneurs.”
  • Quality Resources: Continuously improve training programs and create high-quality practical resources and courses, ensuring farmers have access to the best tools and knowledge.
  • Maximize Profitability: Improve educational programming and technical assistance to maximize farmer profitability and resilience, including cutting-edge ecological/regenerative practices.

#3 – Address Secure Land Access for Sustainable Farming

  • Incubator Success: Address land access for incubator farmers beyond the incubator, supporting new farmers in their critical early stages. Research and pilot a shared use land access and infrastructure development model for graduates, securing vital resources for sustainable farming. 
  • Policy Advocacy: Advocate for policies that protect farmland and improve land access and infrastructure for new and diverse farmers, ensuring long-term viability.
  • Infrastructure Development: Engage producers to access infrastructure, housing, and capital needs for farmland development.

#4 – Promote Agricultural Innovation and Climate Resilience

  • Technological Advancement: Facilitate knowledge generation and support farmers to adopt new technologies to improve profitabilityand soil health, driving innovation inagriculture.
  • Climate Resilience: Advocate for research and funding for climate-resilient technologies and promote regenerative agriculture practices, ensuring sustainable and resilient farming methods.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Deepen expertise through collaboration with Tufts faculty, students, and other researchers by providing science-based solutions and capacity development for farmers in the face of climate change
    and food systems transformation.

#5 – Strengthen Market Access and Local Food Distribution

  • Market Expansion and Local Sourcing: Expand market opportunities for local and regional food producers by championing increased adoption of local sourcing by schools and institutions, and build long-lasting buyer relationships, ensuring stable and profitable market channels that support local economies.
  • Equitable Access: Increase access to healthy diets in underserved communities through initiatives like the Mobile Market and partnerships with food access organizations, addressing food insecurity.
  • Food Safety: Ensure farmers and food hub meet certifications for wholesale markets.
  • Community Education: Educate and raise awareness about the importance of healthy, fresh, and local produce in the community, ensuring food security and resilience is ingrained throughout the local and regional food supply system.

#6 – Optimize New Entry's Organizational Efficiencies

  • Funding Diversification: Seek diverse funding strategies to ensure financial stability and sustainability.
  • Professionalize Communications: Adopt consistent branding and increase storytelling across channels to enhance marketing and communications efforts.
  • Operational Effectiveness: Improve organizational effectiveness and develop efficient processes, including facilitating stronger collaboration across programs.
  • Volunteer Programs: Broaden volunteer and internship programs to leverage community support and engagement.
  • Staff Development: Guide staff development and career paths to ensure a motivated and skilled workforce.
  • Office Space: Explore and attain adequate office space to support organizational growth.