Friends of the Earth U.S. Promotes Lisa Archer to VP of Programs, Food & Agriculture 

WASHINGTON — Friends of the Earth U.S. is proud to announce the promotion of Lisa Archer to Vice President of Programs, Food & Agriculture, recognizing more than two decades of her leadership at the intersection of environmental health and justice, food systems, and chemical policy. 

Archer has developed and led campaigns that bring together science, organizing, policy advocacy, strategic communications, coalition building, and market transformation to challenge corporate power and advance systemic change. She currently directs Friends of the Earth’s Food & Agriculture Program, which works to transform the food system so it is healthy, equitable, resilient, and ecologically regenerative. Under Archer’s leadership, the program has grown from a small team into one of the organization’s largest programs, with more than 20 staff, fellows, and interns, and an annual budget of more than $5 million.  

“I’m honored to serve in this new role at an organization that is deeply committed to transforming a food system that currently concentrates corporate power, harms our health, pollutes our communities, and fuels the climate crisis,” Archer said. “This is a crucial moment to advance a resilient, regenerative, and just food system that puts the health of people and the planet before corporate profit. I’m proud of what we’ve built and excited to expand and accelerate this work, build power, and turn this vision into lasting change.” 
 
Archer will serve as one of two vice presidents leading the programs division, partnering with the Vice President of Programs, Climate & Biodiversity, to strengthen organizational strategy, fundraising, talent development, and collaboration across Friends of the Earth’s campaigns. Within Food & Agriculture, she will provide strategic vision and direction, working closely with Kari Hamerschlag, who has been promoted to Director, Food Systems & Agriculture Policy, and Dr. Kendra Klein, promoted to Director, Science & Agroecology, to strengthen the program’s leadership and deepen its impact. 

“Lisa has built the Food & Agriculture Program into a leading force for change,” said Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth U.S. “She brings a rare combination of strategic vision, deep expertise, entrepreneurial leadership, and a commitment to environmental and social justice. Over more than a decade, she has expanded the program’s reach, forged powerful partnerships, and delivered results on some of the most urgent challenges facing our food system. As Friends of the Earth enters this next chapter, her leadership will be critical to advancing the bold, transformative work needed to create a more just and sustainable future.” 

Archer first joined Friends of the Earth in 2001 as a Senior Campaigner working at the intersection of health, justice, and the environment. She left in 2006 to direct the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition she co-founded that brought together public health, environmental, worker, consumer, and women’s organizations to advance safer chemicals and protect human health and the environment, before returning to Friends of the Earth in 2012 to build its Food & Agriculture Program. 

Under Archer’s leadership, the Food & Agriculture team has developed successful campaigns to reduce pesticide use, protect pollinators, transform school food, challenge factory farming, support organic and ecologically regenerative agriculture, and ensure emerging agricultural technologies are governed in the public interest. Its work has helped secure pesticide reduction commitments from 13 major food retailers and 140 garden retailers, nurseries, and other suppliers, as well as commitments from more than 80 major retailers and food service companies to reject genetically engineered salmon. The team has also helped pass more than a dozen state laws restricting harmful pesticides, affecting tens of millions of acres. In California, the team works with more than 120 school districts serving roughly two million students to expand plant-rich, organic, and locally produced food. Internationally, the program works with partners in more than 30 countries to challenge public financing of industrial livestock and advance agroecology and food sovereignty.