Colorado is known for its agriculture, and two companies are making waves in arenas familiar to the state: animal feed and nourishing kids with food and knowledge.

Food Tank, a nonprofit billed as a think tank for food, put Mad Agriculture and The Kitchen Community, both in Boulder, on its list of “117 Organizations to Watch in 2017.”

“Efforts to increase access to healthy and local foods, support farmers’ livelihoods, and improve the overall sustainability of the global food system are ongoing and continuously evolving thanks to businesses, organizations, and individuals committed to building a better food future,” Food Tank said.

Agriculture delivers $41 billion to Colorado’s economy and employs nearly 173,000 people, according to the state Department of Agriculture. While such food programs as those lauded by Food Tank might have little or no impact on that number now, George Washington Carver wasn’t the peanut butter king when he was messing around in his lab.

Mad Agriculture is listed at number 66. Food Tank says:

This company produces animal feed, harnessing the nutrient-recycling abilities of insects to turn food waste into a protein-rich feed supplement. Located in Boulder, Colorado, Mad Agriculture seeks to combat two major problems within the current food system by cultivating Black Soldier Fly Larva, feeding the larva using commercial food waste, and producing a healthy feed source for chickens and fish.

The company was founded by two University of Colorado researchers, Phil Taylor and Xavier Rojas, and photographer and graphic designer Rob Walcott.

The Kitchen Community is listed at 105:

Driven by the mission of strengthening communities by accelerating the real food at scale, The Kitchen Community builds outdoor classrooms, called Learning Gardens, in schools throughout the United States. By connecting children with real food, this organization based in Boulder, Colorado, aims to increase their academic achievement and increase community involvement and engagement with real food.

The community said it interacts with nearly 100,000 students across the country each day. Organizers expect it to reach 1 million kids in 1,000 schools by 2020.

Politically, though nonpartisan, Food Tank leans left as it works on healthier, more sustainable food, while delving into such social and environmental issues as women’s rights, climate change and soda taxes.