SD=HS

Sowing diversity =

Harvesting security

Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security

In 2050 there will be over nine billion mouths to feed worldwide. To realize this we need to drastically change the current unsustainable and unequal food production systems. SD=HS contributes to this change from local to global and vice versa. We help empower indigenous peoples and smallholder farmers to reclaim their role in contributing to food security and to strengthen their adaptive capacities. Food security starts with crop diversity. With farmers, local communities, scientists and national and global policymakers we collaborate towards more crop diversity in order to secure a sustainable and gender-just food production system that serves everyone.

Enabling farmers to improve crop diversity for food security

We establish and support Farmer Field Schools, where farmers work together to select, adapt and develop new plant varieties that better fit the needs and preferences of their communities.

Empowering women as managers of crop diversity

Over 50% of SD=HS participants and trainers are women. We develop engendered participatory tools and baseline surveys for the diagnosis of specific roles, access and needs on the management of plant genetic resources.

Neglected and underutilized species for nutritious diets

We developed an FFS curriculum for the management of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) to contribute to an enhanced community diet. Better recognition of NUS helps to reduce the hunger period.

Scaling up the Farmer Field School approach

We were able to expand the number of FFS from 20 to 300 within one agricultural season. Based on this expansion, we confirmed conditions to scaleup and mainstream FFS and share these publicly.

Opening the market for farmer seeds

SD=HS established a foothold in the seeds market that ignores the demands of smallholder farmers; with over 400 supported seed clubs in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam and the newly established cooperative Champion Seeds in Zimbabwe.

Pushing for implementation of Farmers’ Rights

We link local practices and voices of farmers with the global debate on Farmers’ Rights. We promote the implementation of Farmers’ Rights on global, national and local levels.