Sustainable Agriculture

Hunger eradication, adequate nutrition and food security depend on the adoption of sustainable agriculture solutions with clear social and environmental targets. SEED-supported enterprises deliver entrepreneurial solutions to improve the agricultural sector’s resource efficiency and crop yields while ensuring that communities are able to adapt to climate change. Exemplary SEED-supported enterprises cultivate indigenous and nutritious crops, manufacture environmentally friendly fertilisers, deliver real-time market insights and training services using accessible technology and more.

SEED celebrates the success of former SEED Award winner on International Day for Biological Diversity

Published: 21 May 2014
This year the IBD has the overarching theme Island Biodiversity, paying tribute to the fact that islands and their surrounding near-shore marine areas constitute unique ecosystems. Read more
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SEED participates in the Joint United Nations General Assembly and ECOSOC Thematic Debate/Forum on Partnerships

Published: 09 April 2014
SEED was invited to partake in the joint thematic debate/forum on partnerships, held on 09 and 10 April 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Read more
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2014 SEED Awards Applications – Now Open Grassroots Green Entrepreneurs Can Win Business Support Package

Authors: Amélie Heuër, Mellab Shiluli Source: UN Environment
Start-up social and environmental entrepreneurs who have developed innovative products or services and are working with local communities can win a tailor-made business support package through the 2014 SEED Awards, which open for nominations today. Read more
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SEED Awards 2014 - A Call for Applications

Published: 11 February 2014
Start-up social and environmental entrepreneurs who have developed innovative products or services and are working with local communities can win a tailor-made business support package through the 2014 SEED Awards, which open for nominations today. Read more

SEED Awards 2014 - Apply by 8 April!

Published: 01 January 2014
The SEED Initiative has just launched the 2014 SEED Awards to support entrepreneurs for sustainable development. Read more

SEED Annual Report 2013

Published: 18 December 2013
Looking back, 2013 has been a particularly good year for SEED, a year marked particularly by the selection of the 34 new SEED Winners - remarkable exemplars of social and environmental entrepreneurs at the grassrootsand by growing interest internationally in the programme, but also by new partnerships to build on those that have been essential in SEED’s growth so far. Read more
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From Plates that Grow Food to Certified Cocoa: UN Awards Innovative Green Enterprises at Green Economy Symposium

Published: 31 October 2013
The 34 winners of the 2013 SEED Awards were announced today. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Agroforestry Practices and Economic Empowerment

Published: 31 August 2013
Agroforestry Practices and Economic Empowerment targets farmers through community groups, enabling them to plant native trees, fruit tree species and various crops that are sold through the local grocery markets. While generating income for its participants, the enterprise contributes to forest conservation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Blessed Bee for Life

Published: 31 August 2013
The beekeeping enterprise Blessed Bee for Life provides farmers with tools and equipment for beehives, teaches them about beekeeping and helps them sell their honey products. Women are fully integrated into production, reducing not only poverty but also environmental degradation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Cocoa Project

Published: 31 August 2013
Green Organic Watch Growers Cooperative Society Ltd promotes certified organic cocoa production, promoting sustainable farming practices so farmers can tap into speciality export markets. While continuously improving smallholder farms in terms of production, productivity and quality, the enterprise contributes to sustainable agricultural and green business development. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Growing a Sustainable Future: Sustain for Life Hospital Gardens

Published: 31 August 2013
Sustain for Life demonstrates sustainable agriculture techniques to produce nutritious food for hospitals while training vulnerable and marginalised community members, mainly women. The enterprise improves livelihoods at two locations in southwest Uganda and creates new markets by selling surplus food. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Tia Nuru

Published: 31 August 2013
Tia Nuru enables and empowers individuals through consultation, educational events and training in how to build sustainable living systems. In this way, the enterprise reduces the environmental footprint of their customers while promoting new services to the local community and preserving local resources. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Josmak International (U) Ltd

Published: 31 August 2013
Pumpkin Value Addition Enterprise provides training on pumpkin value addition skills, marketing and financial management to vulnerable groups of women, encouraging them to start their own businesses. In the mentoring it provides for pumpkin growing, the enterprise promotes sustainable agricultural practices. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: High Atlas Foundation

Published: 30 August 2013
High Atlas Agriculture (HAA) aims to export organic farming products to generate a revenue stream that assists rural communities throughout the entire agricultural development cycle: nurseries, irrigation, training, organic certification and marketing. It will thus increase household incomes for rural families while preserving natural resources. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: The Dried Fish/Food Company

Published: 30 August 2013
The Dried Fish/Food Company (DFC) manages a value-added fish and food processing facility focused on solar-dried products. In partnership with a women entrepreneurs’ organisation, the enterprise provides day-to-day food for rural and urban communities, proactively managing food security and reducing the economic gender gap. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Farmer Eco Enterprise Development (FEED Africa)

Published: 30 August 2013
Farmer Eco Enterprise Development (FEED Africa) develops low-carbon eco-farming for emerging organic farmers, empowering them to enter the green economy as entrepreneurs. It offers them support on infrastructure, land development, management, training, mentorship, marketing skills and helps them to access markets. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Muthi Futhi

Published: 30 August 2013
Muthi Futhi is a community enterprise that cultivates and processes indigenous medicinal plants for sale as primary raw materials and in the form of finished herbal products. The pioneering business is designed both to protect the endangered biodiversity of KwaZulu-Natal and to create jobs. Read more
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SEED South Africa, a partnership between SEED and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) South Africa

Published: 05 March 2013
Progress is being made towards the promotion of social and environmental entrepreneurship within South Africa. Read more
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Case Study: Blue Ventures

Published: 07 September 2012
“Madagascar’s first community-run marine protected area” is a partnership between local people, research institutes, NGOs and a commercial fishing company and focuses on marine conservation and sustainable livelihoods along the southwest coast of Madagascar. Read more
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Case Study: Pintadas Solar

Published: 07 September 2012
Pintadas Solar creates sustainable and replicable models geared towards improving livelihoods and climate resilience in areas where agriculture and pasture is the main economic activity. Read more
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Case Study: Village Cereal Aggregation Centres

Published: 07 September 2012
This initiative enables farmers to deliver high-quality grain to the market value chain, reduce post-harvest losses, and encourage more participation of youth in cereal production. Read more
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Case Study: Rural Enterprise Network

Published: 07 September 2012
The “Rural Enterprise Network” (REN) is a social marketing organisation that aims to link small-scale farmers in Sri Lanka to input-output markets through improved product quality, access to market information and the establishment of a common brand. Read more
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2012 SEED Symposium: The Green Economy in Africa: Climate Change and Energy, Agriculture and Food Security, and the Role of Grassroots Entrepreneurs

Published: 29 March 2012
On 29th March, SEED hosted a high-level symposium on the Green Economy in Pretoria, South Africa. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Marula Zimbabwe

Published: 30 August 2011
The women-led initiative Marula Zimbabwe trains local women to produce, process, control the quality of, and market marula tree products. The fruit, bark, juice, skin, and leaves of this native plant are used to produce a variety of products, such as jam, wine, dried kernels, oil, nuts, herbal powder, and soap. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Upscaling the siliviculture based enterprises of coastal communities in Kenya

Published: 30 August 2011
The initiative encourages community stewardship and conservation of coastal environmental resources by promoting nature-based enterprises that are economically beneficial. It does so by providing training in aquaculture, mariculture, mangrove cultivation, bee-keeping, and more, by organising beach clean-ups, and establishing “Community Forest Associations” Read more
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