Inisiatif Rizab Benih Komuniti (IRBK), which translates to “Community Seed Reserve Initiative”, is a seed-saving project of the Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty Forum (FKMM), a discussion and action platform to strengthen food security and food sovereignty in Malaysia that is partially funded with support from Agroecology Fund. The primary goals of this seed initiative are to raise the visibility of farmers’ seed systems, to encourage the spirit and practice of saving, processing, sharing and exchanging seeds between farmers, to jointly care for and conserve agrobiodiversity, especially heritage or local seeds, and to jointly strengthen farmers rights.
In addition to our annual global and regional grantmaking programs, Agroecology Fund is honored to provide support for participatory action and learning to leading organizations and networks in their territories. While shifting funding toward agroecology is our primary mission, creating space for learning, facilitating research and collaborating across geographies is also central to our work. When presented with the opportunity to support multiple grantee partners to attend FKMM’s Agroecology Conference on Community Seed Systems 2024 (AECoSS24) in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, we were happy to contribute resources to enable further connection and collaboration within the network. The conference is part of the IRBK work that Agroecology Fund already supports.
We followed up with both FKMM and grantee partners CREATE Trust and Seed Savers Network to learn more about their experiences at the conference—what they learned and what messages they want to amplify about the importance of community seed systems. Read each of their responses in the following Q&As to learn more about these initiatives and the important work they’re doing within their respective communities to create sustainable, just, climate-resilient food systems and the value of gathering in person to collaborate, learn, and connect.
(The following answers have been edited for brevity and clarity)
Q & A with NurFitri Amir Muhammad, project leader of IRBK, FKMM
Please share a brief introduction about your collaborative work on seed systems.
Inisiatif Rizab Benih Komuniti (IRBK), which translates to “Community Seed Reserve Initiative”, is a seed-saving project of the Food Security and Sovereignty Forum (FKMM), a discussion and action platform to strengthen food security and food sovereignty in Malaysia. FKMM was established in 2018 to advocate for farmers’ rights and policy changes toward agrobiodiversity through natural farming, permaculture, and organic agriculture. FKMM conducts theoretical and practical workshops on farmers’ rights, community seed systems, and GMOs.
IRBK was launched in 2020 with the support of the Agroecology Fund to help create a seed inventory with rural seed guardians and offer an alternative to the formal (commercial) seed system. The formal seed system supports seed patents, which ultimately work against farmers and undermine agrobiodiversity. Our work to develop and maintain a seed reserve strengthens farmers’ rights and supports a more biodiverse, climate-resilient food system.
Why did FKMM decide to organize this Conference? What were some of the highlights that stood out?
On April 26, Inisiatif Rizab Benih Komuniti and FKMM co-organized an Agroecology Conference on Community Seed Systems 2024 (AECoSS24) in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, in conjunction with the annual International Seed Day. This event was created to be a platform where farmers from all over the world could convene to discuss strategic action focusing on food security and sovereignty, farmers’ rights, and seed rights. FKMM invited farmers and organizers from across Malaysia, many of whom are Agroecology Fund partners, including Serikat Petani Indonesia (Indonesia), Consumer Research Education Awareness Training and Empowerment (India), Seed Savers Network (Kenya), Nous Somme la Solution (Senegal), Rural Women Farmers Association of Ghana (Ghana, member of NSS), and MASIPAG (Philippines). A total of 200 individuals with more than 20 speakers representing 15 countries from Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America gathered for the event. The primary goal of the gathering was to bring together people from around the world to begin to illustrate the significance their practices hold for local and small-scale farming, the critical role they play in contributing to seed security for resource-constrained households, and for supporting biodiversity. The conference intends to build on its initial success to continue to raise awareness of the importance of community seed systems with an eye toward influencing government policies.
What were the key learnings you received from the gathering? How are you thinking about them in the context of your work?
Key Learnings:
- Community and farmer seed systems promote partnerships and fairness through the co-creation of knowledge, citizen science, connectivity, and social and cultural values.
- Community seed systems promote genetic conservation and create opportunities for economic diversification.
- Gathering in person promotes learning and facilitates connections that empower communities.
These key learnings mirror what FKMM considers to be a crucial embodiment of agroecology and are essential for advancing a just transition toward a resilient food system—community, connection, and co-creation. We see the value of holding these types of conferences to bolster the strength and power of farmer collectives.
What message do you want to share about community seed systems and the role they play in food sovereignty?
FKMM believes that recognizing the interaction and complementarity between formal commercial seed systems and community seed systems can lead to a more inclusive and sustainable system. So we urge all stakeholders to recognize and protect farmers’ rights to seeds, which include the protection of traditional knowledge, equitable benefit sharing, and participation in decision-making. These socio-cultural components need to be recognized and protected by international agreements like the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas (UNDROP). FKMM is committed to promoting the community system and advocating for farmers’ rights because we believe this is crucial for sustainable agriculture and food security.
Additional stories about FKMM’s work can be read here and here.
Q & A with Dr. P. Duraisingam, CREATE Trust, India
Please share a brief introduction about your collaborative work on seed systems.
CREATE Trust is working on the revival of traditional rice paddy varieties in Tamil Nadu and at the national level. The work focuses on three primary areas in building seed systems: mapping of native paddy seeds in different agroecological regions, conservation and experimentation, and exchange of seeds with farmers. We organize training and capacity-building programs on quality seed production to help maintain genetic purity. We strengthen the community seed system by organizing annual seed festivals and seed fairs to create awareness and showcase diversity. As of now, we have revived and conserved more than 200 traditional paddy varieties, and they are conserved at the community level by farmers at seed banks. These varieties are experimented with by farmers under diverse climate conditions and climate variations.
What were your primary reasons for wanting to attend the seed systems conference? What were some of the highlights from your time in Malaysia?
CREATE Trust was interested in attending the conference to begin to understand the global context of how community seed systems are working across the world. We learned about so many aspects of seed systems from this gathering, including new approaches and strategies for wider outreach, challenges and opportunities farmers face, civil society collaborative actions, contributions of other stakeholders, and what strengthening farmer capacities to become self-reliant looks like globally.
What were the key learnings you received from the gathering? How are you thinking about them in the context of your work?
From the presentations and interactions with participants, panelists, and the organizers, it quickly became clear that there are many similarities in the approach to building alternate seed systems with community participation. While CREATE Trust focuses only on paddy, many others who shared their stories at the gathering are building diverse crop seed systems. It was very useful to be connected to and learn from many seed savers with great experience and knowledge. A major highlight was meeting a university professor from Malaysia with whom I could exchange information about traditional paddy varieties. We’ve already started planning to widen our focus beyond paddy thanks to the influence and information from this gathering. In the coming years, we will focus on native millet and vegetables in our working area.
What message do you want to share about community seed systems and the role they play in food sovereignty?
Farmers across the globe never consider seed as a commodity. They consider seeds to be a community resource, and to nurture that tradition, they have historically had many cultural and ritual practices. Many of these practices have been neglected with the advent of the Green Revolution. In the context of genetically engineered seeds with patent laws and its threat to genetic pollution and negative effects on agrobiodiversity, it is important that the community seed systems need to be strengthened across the world. We can’t achieve food sovereignty without seed sovereignty. Beyond community, it is essential that we establish community seed savers and system networks at National and Regional levels.
Additional stories about CREATE Trust can be read here.
Q & A with Daniel Wanjama, Coordinator, Seed Savers Network, Kenya (SSN)
Please share a brief introduction about your collaborative work on seed systems.
Our work started 14 years ago as a response to restrictive seed sector laws in Kenya that prohibited farmers from sharing, exchanging, and selling seeds. Policies pushing farmers to adopt hybrid seeds and use chemical fertilizers and pesticides have increased food insecurity and pushed small-scale farmers deeper into poverty.
In response to this, SSN has forged both local and international partnerships creating a network of more than 3 900 farmers organizations in Kenya and attracted technical and financial support from international partners like Agroecology Fund. Our grassroots activities are aimed to achieve food and seed sovereignty.
What were your primary reasons for wanting to attend the seed systems conference? What were some of the highlights from your time in Malaysia?
I wanted to attend the seed systems conference in Malaysia because I knew there were possibilities of learning actionable models or techniques that could be useful in advancing the SSN agenda back in Kenya. The conference offered a platform to gain insights into successful seed systems from around the world, network with other advocates, and share our experiences. The level of diversity of the participants and topics for discussion also caught my attention. I took home implementation ideas shared by people, from farmers, researchers, and the private sector. That combination of diversity is rare in Kenya because most of the research is funded by the people who want to promote green revolution technologies. This conference created a unique learning opportunity rarely available.
What were the key learnings you received from the gathering? How are you thinking about them in the context of your work?
One of the key learnings I brought back from the conference was the use of microbial treatments for seed dressing. This technique offers a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments, enhancing seed health and reducing environmental impact. Another valuable method I learned was using paper and postcards for seed sharing, which can facilitate easier and more effective seed exchange among farmers. We are now considering how these techniques can be integrated into our existing practices to improve our seed systems. There is also a regulatory requirement to treat seeds with seed dressing chemicals for protection against pest insects and diseases. We have started conducting research on the practical implementation of microorganisms for seed dressing.
What message do you want to share about community seed systems and the role they play in food sovereignty?
Community seed systems play a crucial role in achieving food sovereignty. They empower farmers to maintain control over their seeds, preserve biodiversity, and ensure the resilience of local food systems. By supporting community-based seed systems, we can enhance food security, protect the environment, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. These systems enable farmers to save, share, and exchange seeds, fostering a sense of community and resilience against external pressures such as fluctuations in seed prices and climate change. Supporting these grassroots initiatives is essential for building a sustainable and equitable food system.
Additional stories about Seed Savers Network here and here (scroll to #95).
