Welcome to The Seed and Knowledge Initiative

The Seed and Knowledge Initiative [SKI] is a partnership created in 2013 as three South African organisations – Biowatch South Africa, the EarthLore Foundation, and the NRF Bio-economy Research Chair, at the University of Cape Town (UCT), initiated a programme that would aim to reverse the environmental degradation and human health toll caused by industrial agriculture while fostering the resilience of smallholder farming systems, especially in the context of climate change and related natural disasters. SKI developed a particular focus on strengthening community based seed systems and promoting agroecology.

SKI Community of Practice (CoP) gathering held in Zambia, in March 2025

Our Story
Who are we?

The Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) is a dynamic partnership of diverse southern African organisations committed to securing food sovereignty in the region. We work with smallholder farmers to become more seed, food and nutritionally secure through farmer-led seed systems, improved crop diversity, and the revival of local knowledge systems. 

Approach
Theory of Change

Our Theory of Change is based on our understanding of how enduring social transformation happens through an intricate and cyclical process of individual, community, and social change. It is also a response to our context, which requires a long term and fundamental paradigm shift.

News and updates:

This new series of four case studies documents and analyses some of the main approaches that SKI partners have been implementing to strengthen farmer-led seed systems in Southern Africa over the past 10 years. It gives an inspiring portrayal of SKI seed work in support of the realisation of Farmers' Rights in our region.
08
Oct

Update: Launch of the Harare CoP Report ‘From Breeding for Diversity to Seed Regulations/Laws’

The latest edition of the Right to Food and Nutrition WATCH explores the connection between financial reform and the human right to adequate food and nutrition. It examines the impact of key aspects of financial...
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17
Jul

Transforming the Global Economy to Achieve the Right to Food for All

The latest edition of the Right to Food and Nutrition WATCH explores the connection between financial reform and the human right to adequate food and nutrition. It examines the impact of key aspects of financial...
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23
Apr

Impact Stories of Our Work – The Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI)

Across Southern Africa, where climate shocks like drought and heat waves increasingly threaten food systems, the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI) is sowing seeds of resilience through agroecology. From the dry hills of Chimanimani in...
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