Tree · Nanning, Guangxi, China
Farmers' Seed Network (农民种子网络)
Smallholder farmers in China keeping seeds, traditional knowledge and agrobiodiversity in their own hands
Since 2013Works nationally
- seed sovereignty
- community seed banks
- participatory plant breeding
- agrobiodiversity
- traditional knowledge
- women farmers
A farmer-led network that grew out of participatory plant breeding research begun in 2013 and was registered as an NGO in Nanning, Guangxi in 2018. It supports community seed banks, participatory breeding and local food systems in about 40 rural communities across 10 provinces, including Guangxi, Hebei and Naxi mountain villages in Yunnan. In July 2026 a Stone Village farmer it works with presented community agrobiodiversity results to UN Secretary-General Guterres in Kunming.
Its programmes include Community Seed Banks, 'Little Beans, Big Health' and community-based marine conservation (horseshoe crabs, Sanniang Bay). It publishes a Bioculture report series ('Terraces, Seeds, and Stories', 'Where Millet Began', 'The Naxi Mountain Villages Coalition') and plans to present on farmers' seed systems and access and benefit-sharing at CBD COP17.
What they need
Can you help? We'll take it to them.
- International seed network exchange
- Visibility for farmer seed systems
- Partners on access and benefit-sharing
What they offer
Ask us to connect you.
- Community seed bank know-how
- Participatory plant breeding experience
- Bioculture report series