Seed Savers Network, Kenya (SSN)

Location

Kenya

Parent Organization

Seed Savers Network

Overview

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.

Mission

We are on a mission to conserve agrobiodiversity by strengthening communities' seed systems for improved seed access and enhanced food sovereignty.