Alaine's Global Seed Savers Page

“ Through my involvement as a farmer with Global Seed Savers and BASS, I have learned the deep importance of seed saving to my organic farming practice. I am honored to be a part of this organization and share this knowledge with my children, this work has changed my life.” - Organic Farmer Cesar Galvey and Vice-President of Global Seed Savers Philippines

Farmers are disproportionately impacted by the realities of climate change.
The Philippines is one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world, containing over 7,000 islands of diverse eco-systems ranging from coastal landscapes to dense tropical forested mountainsides. Rural and peri-urban communities continue to see the largest impacts of the changing global climate.
As weather patterns become more unpredictable, growing conditions dramatically change. Farmers need to regain growing flexibility and crop diversity in order to adjust. Filipino farmers lack access to high-quality technical training programs about local seed production and access to a wide diversity of locally produced, regionally adapted seeds. Lacking access to better options, Filipino farmers spend their limited resources on unsustainable inputs and farming practices.

Our Solutions Ensures Farmers Success
We offer strategies that allow farmers to end their dependence on unsustainable practices and build economic sustainability.

In the last three years we have accomplished the following:

1. Trained over 550 farmers in seed saving and sustainable farming practices.
2. Conducted over 1000 hours of technical training programs for farmers
3. Doubled the membership of the local Co-op of committed farmers known as Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS)
4. Opened the first of its kind Seed Library in Tublay, Benguet Province in the Northern Philippines, stocked with over 30 different varieties of locally produced non-chemical seeds.

As a result of these efforts, Our farmers save over 50% of their annual family income through local seed access and production. The money saved is re-invested in their children’s education, household improvements, and continued sustainable farm development.

Long-Term Impact
Our model is working and gaining traction throughout the Philippines. With your support we will meet the growing demand to offer our signature technical training programs to new partner communities throughout the Philippines and support increased seed production and sales from the Benguet Association of Seed Savers (BASS).

Funds raised during this campaign will support the following strategic initiatives of Global Seed Savers in the coming year:

• Host three additional Seed Schools in new communities of the Philippines.
• Open one new seed library in a new partner community of the Philippines. Ensuring a community of at least 40,000 people have access to locally produced seeds that have not been chemically treated.
• Create a network of seed savers throughout the Philippines and support sharing and safety back-up of seeds. Ensuring the long-term safety of seeds in the face of climate change.
• Scale the production, marketing, monitoring, and evaluating of BASS member seed production and sales. Funds will support hiring a new team member to manage and monitor this program and support the sales and marketing of larger scale production and varieties of local seeds.

Working to build a robust and farmer-led agricultural economy is one of the most important ways we can ensure a sustainable future. Thank you for supporting our growing movement!