Zane Tickoo

My Story

Zane Tickoo is the founder of the Food Equity Initiative. He strives to be a leading voice for global agriculture reform and to empower people worldwide with the tools needed to reshape our inefficient food system. Years of work as a farmhand, coupled with intensive study of food systems, have led Zane to the realization that increasing food literacy and food diversity holds the key to safeguarding our environment, public health, and economy.

Tending the soil at a one-acre urban farm in Bridgeport, once paved in concrete and now bursting with life, was a powerful experience for Zane. Working alongside local volunteers to care for culturally relevant crops, he witnessed how reclaiming space for food production can nourish both community and hope. It deepened his belief that taking back control of how food is grown and shared is a powerful act of empowerment.

Zane is also the creator of SEEDS, an early childhood food literacy program built to scale and adapt across diverse classrooms, communities, and cultures. Through hands-on gardening, nutrition education, and environmental exploration, SEEDS equips children and educators with the tools to build healthier, more sustainable futures.

He currently collaborates with government agencies, nonprofits, and community groups to advance food literacy, environmental justice, advocacy, and sustainable policy. He delivered his TEDx Hartford talk “The Power of the Plate” in December 2024. Zane received the prestigious Global Challenge Award at the World Food Prize’s Global Youth Institute in Iowa, where he was selected to present his original research on food literacy in Brazil. He has also been featured in national media for his work in food justice and youth-led sustainability efforts. On weekends, Zane can often be found cultivating his home garden or creating shadow box art that brings food justice to life.