News

SEED News showcases ongoing achievements in eco-inclusive entrepreneurship, shares experiences from SEED on the global stage at high-level events, provides updates on organisational developments and more. We also feature news from SEED Partners and other leading voices in the field of entrepreneurship for sustainable development.

SEED is launching its new Longitudinal Study

Published: 06 April 2011
SEED will launch the baseline report of its first Longitudinal Study at the UNEP-SEED Symposium on the Green Economy: Accelerating the Transition, which will take place in Pretoria South Africa, on 15 April 2011. Read more
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The European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potočnik, speaks at the SEED Awards Ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by the German Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen

Published: 02 March 2011
The SEED Awards Ceremony for the seven 2010 SEED Winners from Kenya was generously hosted by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Read more
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SEED's Executive Director is invited to speak at the 5th Sustainability Summit and the International Business Forum in India

Published: 16 February 2011
SEED's Executive Director, Helen Marquard, took part in November in a session entitled Bottom of the Pyramid Approaches and Inclusive Growth - Innovative Business Models and Opportunities. Read more
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UNEP and Hisense Sign Global Partnership for the SEED Award Supporting Innovative Entrepreneurs

Published: 16 February 2011
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Hisense International Co. Ltd. today signed a partnership at a ceremony in UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, which will work to promote and strengthen the brand profile and global positioning of the SEED Award. Read more
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2009 SEED Winner, Nafore and Afrisolar Energy Kiosks, wins ERM's Low Carbon Competition

Published: 26 January 2011
The Low Carbon Enterprise Fund was established to support small “low carbon” businesses in the developing world. The fund sits within the ERM Foundation - a not-for-profit charity - and provides finance in the form of loans and equity stakes to entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Read more
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The SEED Initiative - a champion of social and environmental entrepreneurs in developing countries

Published: 19 January 2011
SEED's Executive Director, Helen Marquard, recently shared SEED's knowledge on sustainable entrepreneurship in the Digital Development Debates. Read more
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SEED Award Winners make headlines

Published: 05 January 2011
Three SEED Award Winners have been featured by other initiatives and organisations. Read more
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Behind the scenes: An interview with the SEED Jury

Published: 11 November 2010
We caught up with the jury for a little insight into the SEED Awards. Read more
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From bamboo bikes to biomass briquettes: UNEP unveils SEED Award Winners

Authors: Constance Hybsier Source: UN Environment
A novel solar device that turns waste heat into electricity in rural China, a Ugandan business that manufactures stationary from agricultural waste, a bamboo bicycle project in Ghana and a female-run business in South Africa making a hand-held laundry device that saves water are among the 30 winners of the 2010 SEED Awards, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced today. Read more
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Announcement: Meet the 2010 SEED Winners!

Published: 03 November 2010
The SEED Initiative is thrilled to announce its 2010 SEED Award Winners! From bamboo bicycles to fly-fisheries, from businesswomen's collectives to inspired youth, these entrepreneurs are building a more sustainable world, starting in their own communities. Read more
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Catching up with SEED Award winners and finalists: Oro Verde

Published: 01 November 2010
The 'green' gold of 2009 SEED Award winner Oro Verde has garnered international press coverage and is currently in the process of acquiring the Fairtrade and Fairmined labels. Read more
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The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Global Marketing Partnership: From vision to global outreach

Published: 31 October 2010
One of the first SEED Winners in 2005, the SRI Global Marketing Partnership has become the catalyst for an international enterprise spanning a good number of countries in Africa and Asia. Read more
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Special contributions from SEED affiliates

Published: 31 October 2010
The global law firm Hogan Lovells became a SEED Associatein 2008 as part of the firm's drive to broaden its pro bono practice into the area of international social entrepreneurship. Read more
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Catching up with SEED Award winners and finalists: Lighting Up Hope and Communities

Published: 30 October 2010
The Nicaraguan project, 'Lighting Up Hope and Communities', received a SEED Award in 2008 for its production and sale of solar products specially designed for local needs. Read more
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Catching up with SEED Award winners and finalists: The Maya Nut Programme

Published: 29 October 2010
Back in 2005 the Maya Nut Programme was selected as a SEED finalist for its impact on the lives of women and their families in rural Nicaragua and Guatemala. Read more
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SEED Executive Director participates in the 4th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility in Berlin

Published: 20 October 2010
SEED's Executive Director, Helen Marquard, took part in September in a session entitled Social Entrepreneurship: A New Development Paradigm” at the 4th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility at Humboldt-University Berlin. Read more
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2005 SEED Winner Blue Ventures is one of the 12 finalist in the BBC World Challenge

Published: 23 July 2010
Through an annual award, the World Challenge has identified, for the past six years, projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. Read more
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SEED Winners book success with the help of the Small Grants Programme

Published: 01 July 2010
The GEF (Global Environmental Facility) Small Grants programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP, has recently granted the women's group 'Solar Women of Totogalpa', a partner in the 2008 SEED winning initiative 'Lighting up Hope and Communities', funding for the construction of their solar restaurant. Read more
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New Partnerships for 2007 SEED Winner “Nueva Vida”

Published: 01 July 2010
Since they received the 2007 SEED award, “Nueva Vida” (New Life), based in the Ecuadorian Andes, has been able to make progress through new partnerships. Read more
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SEED Executive Director launches the 2010 SEED awards at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Bamako, Mali

Published: 25 June 2010
Helen Marquard, SEED's Executive Director has joined the 12thsession of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Bamako, Mali (20-25 June). During a UNEP-hosted event on the green economy at AMCEN, she launched the 2010 Awards for entrepreneurship in sustainable development. Read more
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Scale-up and replication for Social and Environmental Enterprises

Published: 21 June 2010
As part of the research agenda, SEED has published a new paper, exploring how the international development community approaches scale-up and replication. Read more
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2009 SEED winner from the Cook Islands expands to Africa and Asia

Published: 03 June 2010
The initiative 'Innovative oyster, fish and algae aqua-farming' in the Cook Islands was one of the 2009 SEED Winners. The initiative co-farms fish with shellfish and micro-algae in inland ponds, drawing on the tropical climate, natural nutrient cycles and new harvesting technologies. It will now expand to Nigeria and Pakistan. Read more
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Coming to a Supermarket Near You

Published: 26 May 2010
From only a vision and informal association of diverse partners, the SRI Global Marketing Partnership (System of Rice Intensification), one of the 2005 SEED award winners, has become the catalyst for an international enterprise spanning several countries and exporting many tons of certified organic and fair trade rice grown by small farm families. SRI-produced specialty rice is now available in retail stores. Read more
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Interview with Jonathan Tillson

Published: 02 March 2010
Jonathan Tillson, Head of the Sustainable Development Unit at the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Chair of the SEED Board, explains UK’s plans in regards to supporting social and environmental entrepreneurs and talks about the focus on social and environmental entrepreneurs during the Copenhagen summit and the implications for COP16 in Mexico and about achieving a sustainable Olympics 2012 in London. Read more
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Andaman Discoveries chosen as the 2009 Best Green Tour Operator in Thailand

Published: 02 March 2010
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has awarded Andaman Discoveries (2008 SEED Winner) the '2009 Best Green Tour Operator' title. Read more
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