Hal Atienza, Philippines Executive Director, Global Seed Savers
As we step into 2025, I can’t help but reflect on the challenges we’ve faced and the strength we’ve discovered in one another. The past year was overwhelming yet motivating. Climate impacts continue to threaten our seed and food systems. But it also showed us the power of our communities, the value of our work, and the hope that grows when we stand together.
At Global Seed Savers Philippines, Seed Sovereignty remains at the core of our mission and aspiration. For us, it’s not just about saving seeds—it’s about saving lives, protecting our heritage, and building a future where farmers thrive as part of a resilient and cohesive community. It’s about ensuring that every seed we save carries the promise of seed self-sufficiency, seed security, and seed justice.
This year, we’re taking bolder steps forward. We dare to transform our seed and food system. We are scaling up our Seed Sanctuaries in Cebu and Benguet. We’re bringing our Seed School Program to the rural, upland, urban, and coastal communities. We are intensifying our organizing work for more Seed Saving Communities (SSCs) and training farmer seed technicians to become plant breeders who honor nature’s wisdom. We are establishing more household seed libraries and seed banks, creating mechanisms for Participatory Seed Certification. We are also preparing for the first-ever National Farmers Seed Sovereignty Summit. This event will amplify farmers’ voices and set the tone for the future of seed sovereignty in our country.
I’m incredibly excited about our upcoming partnerships with the academe and government institutions as we work on our Seed Catalog. It will be a valuable tool for farmers, gardeners, and advocates sharing our vision. Through this, our Seed Exchanges will lead us to discover more heirloom and traditional seed varieties. With the support of our partner local government units, our community-led Participatory Seed Governance will be working for more local policies to promote our seed heritage campaign.
To our farmers, partners, and supporters, you inspire us to dream boldly. Thank you for walking this path with us. Your trust, encouragement, and collaboration give us the strength to keep going. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, hope, and abundance—for all of us and for the generations to come.
In solidarity and gratitude,
Hal Atienza
Executive Director
Global Seed Savers Philippines