What happens if we can no longer grow our own food? It may sound unthinkable, but the power to grow our own food is under threat. Across Eastern Africa, climate change, biodiversity loss, changing farming systems, and restrictive policies are putting pressure on the Indigenous seeds, local livestock breeds, and traditional knowledge systems that have sustained communities for generations. Our food systems are built on diversity. The seeds farmers save, the breeds they conserve, and the knowledge they pass from one generation to another are the foundation of resilience, culture, and food sovereignty. When communities lose the ability to control these resources, we risk losing not only biodiversity, but also the power to determine what we grow, what we eat, and how we feed future generations. For over a decade, Seed Savers Network (SeedSavers) has worked alongside farming communities to protect this power; conserving Indigenous seeds, strengthening community seed systems, promoting agroecology, and advocating for farmers' rights. Today, SeedSavers works with more than 120,000 farmers and established 125 community seed banks, alongside communities. Building on this experience, SeedSavers is convening the 1st Eastern Africa Indigenous Seed Conference, taking place from 17–20 November 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme "Realizing […]
