Community seed banks play a vital role in ensuring seed and food security for small-scale farmers in India. Since 2020, their number has grown rapidly, and new trends are emerging. This seminar brings together key actors to explore these developments and exchange experiences. It will take place in New Delhi on 8–9 April 2025.

The seminar is part of the project Unfolding the Potentials of Community Seed Banks for Food and Nutrition Security among Smallholder Farmers in India through the Realization of Farmers’ Rights (DIVERSIFARM-India). The project is carried out by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (Norway) and the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, (Chennai), with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi.

The event is co-organized with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), The Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, India Office.

Highlights from the programme:

• The DIVERSIFARM-India team will present early findings from a mapping of 300 out of 800 known community seed banks in India.

• A new typology of community seed banks will be shared, along with an interactive online atlas currently under development.

• Representatives from community seed banks will share their experiences and reflections.

• Insights from other countries in the Global South will be presented.

• Supporting organisations and networks will discuss how they promote community seed banks – and how support can be improved.

• Ample time will be set aside for interactive discussion on challenges, opportunities and ways forward.

For more information:

• Download the seminar programme (PDF, 229KB)

• Read more about the DIVERSIFARM-India project

• Presentation of selected community seed banks from the mapping