Media release from Grow Hope Saskatchewean

What started as a 160-acre pilot project is now a province-wide movement. As seeding begins for the 2026 season, seven Saskatchewan farm families have dedicated over 500 acres to Grow Hope Saskatchewan, a unique initiative that bridges the gap between local fields and global food security.

Since its 2018 debut, the project has raised nearly $1.7 million for international food assistance. By uniting urban donors with rural producers, Grow Hope transforms local crops into life-saving support for communities facing hunger across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

The “Multiplier” Effect

The Grow Hope project relies on a powerful partnership: farmers provide land and labour, while donors “sponsor” acres by covering input costs of up to $350 per acre. Once harvested and sold, the proceeds are forwarded to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. These funds are matched up to 4:1 by the Government of Canada — meaning a single $350 sponsorship can result in up to $2,500 of total impact.

“Grow Hope is about stewardship and generosity,” says Terry Aberhart, a participating farmer from Langenburg. “It reminds us that farming has always been about more than production. It is about care, responsibility, and service.”

Real Impact: From 3kg to 50kg

The results of this collective effort are tangible. Project coordinator Michael LeBlanc recently visited Rwanda to witness the impact firsthand. He met farmers who, through sustainable techniques funded by these donations, boosted their cassava yields from 3 kilograms to 50 kilograms per plant.

“It was deeply moving,” LeBlanc recalled. “I saw the dual nature of these projects: food for today and food for tomorrow.”

Learn more about how to become a “virtual farmer” by sponsoring an acre or by contributing any amount at GrowHopeSK.ca.

Background

Built on the belief that collective action can create a more food-secure world, Grow Hope Saskatchewan is entering its ninth growing season with renewed commitment and a steady expansion, as farmers, churches, and partner organizations work together toward the shared goal: a world without hunger.

Since its first growing season in 2018, the project has grown from two farming families’ generous donation to plant 160 acres into a province-wide effort that now sees more than 500 acres of farmland dedicated annually to producing crops in support of global food security.

For local farmers, participation begins with a simple commitment — donating land, inputs, and labour to grow a crop on assigned acres. With an estimated cost of approximately $350 per acre to grow a crop, community sponsorship plays a key role in sustaining the project. Donors from Saskatchewan are encouraged to make a donation to Grow Hope Saskatchewan to help cover the cost to farm the crops. Crops produced through Grow Hope Saskatchewan are sold at market value, with revenues contributing directly to fight global hunger.

Last year, farmers and supporters raised $326,671 through a combination of crop sales and acre sponsorships.

These contributions may be matched through federal funding at a matching ratio of 1:1 up to 4:1, significantly increasing their overall impact and extending the reach of local contributions to communities facing food insecurity in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

To date, the project has contributed nearly $1.7 million toward international food assistance and long-term development programming, even before adding the effect of government matching.

“We have an opportunity to make a real positive impact around the world.” Canadian Foodgrains Bank Representative Rick Block relates about the project. “For those who are passionate about sustainability, global food security – this is the project for you.”

Grow Hope consists of six Christian development agencies who have partnered together with Canadian Foodgrains Bank and work alongside local church networks, congregations, volunteers, and farming families.

This collaborative model reflects a growing recognition that complex global challenges require coordinated responses. In the 2024–25 year alone, Canadian Foodgrains Bank members supported 128 projects, reaching more than 1.17 million people in 37 countries. Grow Hope Saskatchewan contributes to this broader effort by providing resources that support both immediate food assistance and long-term resilience.

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