Established in 1985, CNFA is a Washington, DC-based, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering farmers and entrepreneurs and increasing and sustaining rural incomes in less developed parts of the world. This is accomplished through developing value-adding agricultural enterprises and strengthening farmer-market linkages. CNFA focuses on commercial activity, locally defined needs, and leveraged investment in order to foster the economic empowerment of rural residents and enterprises all along the food value chain—from farmers to local suppliers and processors, to larger companies, financial institutions, and distributors and exporters.