Seeds: the gift of life

Navdanya (‘nine seeds’) is a women-centred movement protecting biological and cultural diversity. Their network of seed keepers and organic producers spreads across 18 states in India. They have helped set up community seed banks across the country, trained over 500,000 farmers in seed ‘sovereignty’ and sustainable agriculture and helped setup the largest fair trade organic network in the country.

Navdanya has its own learning center on its biodiversity conservation and organic farm and is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture. It has created awareness on the hazards of genetic engineering, defended people’s knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation and climate change.
» See www.navdanya.org

“The story of seed has become one of loss, control, dependence and debt. It’s been written by those who want to make vast profit from our food system, no matter what the true cost.  It’s time to change the story.”

» View the ‘Seeds of Freedom‘ film trilogy which charts the story of seed from its roots at the heart of traditional, diversity-rich farming systems across the world, to being transformed into a powerful commodity, used to monopolise the global food system.