About Seed Savers Network Kenya – Our Story, Strategy, Mission & Impact
About Seed Savers Network
Preserving indigenous seeds for food sovereignty
Our Story
Seed Savers Network is a Civil Society Organisation dedicated to preserving agricultural biodiversity and empowering farming communities across Kenya. Founded on the principle that seed sovereignty is fundamental to food sovereignty, we work directly with smallholder farmers to conserve, regenerate, and exchange indigenous seed varieties that are resilient to climate change and vital for sustainable food systems.
Our journey began with a simple yet powerful realization: the loss of traditional seed varieties represents not just a loss of genetic diversity, but a loss of cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and community resilience. For over a decade, we have been at the forefront of the seed conservation movement in Africa, establishing a network of community seed banks, training seed ambassadors, and advocating for policies that protect farmers' rights to save, exchange, and sell their seeds.
Today, we work with over 96,500 farmers across Africa, maintaining 121+ community seed banks that safeguard thousands of indigenous varieties. Our approach combines traditional knowledge with modern sustainable practices, creating a holistic model that addresses food security, climate resilience, and economic empowerment simultaneously.
We believe that access to a wide variety of seeds is crucial for enhancing food sovereignty, resilience, and sustainability in agriculture. Our goal is to empower farmers by providing them with the resources and knowledge needed to cultivate diverse crops, thereby preserving biodiversity and adapting to changing climate conditions.
Our Journey & Milestones
Foundation
Key Achievements:
- First community seed bank established
- Initial network of 50 farmers created
- Documented first 50 indigenous seed varieties
Expansion
Key Achievements:
- Expanded to 3 counties
- Established 5 field gene banks
- Trained first 100 Seed Ambassadors
- Launched annual seed fairs
Recognition
Key Achievements:
- National recognition from Ministry of Agriculture
- Began policy advocacy initiatives
- Partnership with National Gene Bank
- 10,000+ farmers in network
Growth
Key Achievements:
- 75+ community seed banks established
- International partnerships formed
- Deposits to Svalbard Global Seed Vault
- Digital seed exchange platform launched
Innovation
Key Achievements:
Present
Key Achievements:
Our Impact Over the Years
Three Pillars Guide Our Work
Every initiative we run falls under one of these three pillars — preserving agricultural biodiversity for future generations.
Agrobiodiversity Conservation
Preserving local varieties in seed banks and on farms to maintain biodiversity.
- Established 121+ community seed banks across Kenya
- Safeguard thousands of indigenous and climate-resilient seed varieties
- Serve as local seed reserves for smallholder farmers
- Reduce reliance on commercial seed markets
- Operate as learning hubs for seed saving techniques
- Facilitate farmer-led seed exchanges
- Work with farmers to regenerate and multiply traditional seeds
- Conserved over 3,000 traditional seed accessions
- 1,000 varieties stored at National Gene Bank and Svalbard Global Seed Vault
- Supported field regeneration programs
- Documented and characterized 64 farmer varieties
- Maintain live collections of crops requiring continuous cultivation
- 11 community demonstration plots established
- Main field gene bank at Seed Savers Learning Center
- Serve as hands-on learning spaces
- Research centers comparing indigenous vs commercial varieties
- Document and evaluate traditional seed varieties
- Organize local and national seed fairs
- Support farmer cooperatives and community seed banks
- Digital Online Seed Exchange Platform
- Annual national seed fairs with 3,000+ farmers
- Preserve genetic diversity and strengthen food sovereignty
Capacity Building
Empowering communities through education and training in sustainable agriculture.
- Soil fertility management: composting, mulching, organic fertilizers
- Natural pest & disease control using bio-pesticides
- Drought-resilient farming with traditional crops
- Water conservation techniques
- Companion planting strategies
- Farmer-to-farmer extension model
- Train on seed saving, storage, and multiplication
- Advocate for farmer-managed seed systems
- Facilitate community seed fairs and seed banks
- Expand agroecology and biodiversity conservation
- Training in processing and packaging traditional foods
- Link farmers to organic markets and cooperatives
- Facilitate equipment access for processing
- Support product development from traditional crops
- Develop collective branding and certifications
- Practical, hands-on learning space
- Knowledge exchange between farmers and researchers
- Preserve traditional agricultural practices
- Integrate modern sustainable farming techniques
Advocacy & Policy
Shaping policies that protect farmers' seed rights and biodiversity.
- Recognition of farmer varieties in seed laws
- Challenge restrictive seed policies
- Advocate against GMO ban lifting
- Engage with policymakers at all levels
- Support food sovereignty legislation
- Public participation forums
- Media engagements and campaigns
- Grassroots mobilization
- Farmer testimony collection
- Policy brief development
- 83 seed fairs conducted nationwide
- Farmer-to-farmer seed exchanges
- Policy maker engagement
- Traditional food showcases
- Climate resilience demonstrations
Our Core
Our Mission
We are on a mission to conserve agrobiodiversity by strengthening communities' seed systems for improved seed access and enhanced food sovereignty.
Our Vision
To be a leading agent in promoting diverse seed access to farming communities.
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What is Seed Savers Kenya?
We are a non-governmental organization dedicated to preserving indigenous seeds and promoting sustainable agriculture practices across Kenya.
How can I get involved?
You can participate by volunteering, donating seeds, or supporting our conservation programs. Visit our 'Get Involved' page for more details.
Are your seeds organic?
Yes, all seeds in our collection are organically grown and free from genetic modification.
Do you offer training programs?
We conduct regular workshops on seed saving, organic farming, and sustainable agriculture techniques.
Can I donate seeds?
Absolutely! We accept donations of indigenous seeds that meet our conservation criteria.
How do you preserve seeds?
We use both traditional methods and modern seed bank techniques to ensure long-term viability.
Do you distribute seeds to farmers?
Yes, we work with smallholder farmers to provide access to indigenous seed varieties.
How can I support your work financially?
You can make donations through our website or participate in our adoption programs.
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