SEED Library

Evidence-based insights into eco-inclusive business models and contributions to sustainable development.

Enterprise Brief: O Viveiro

Published: 06 July 2015
O Viveiro maintains a centre for underprivileged girls, who receive training on organic farming, food processing, management and sales. The produce from the enterprise’s and local farms is harvested, processed and sold at two shops and a restaurant managed by the girls. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Peacock Seeds

Published: 06 July 2015
Peacock Seeds supplies farmers across Malawi with certified maize and legume seeds that can adapt to climate change. The seeds support food security and empower smallholder farmers by increasing their income in the long run. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: The Moringa Cooperative

Published: 06 July 2015
The Moringa Cooperative is primarily focused on donating, planting, and cultivating Moringa oleifera (Moringa), and other beneficial plants, in cooperation with rural Eco-Schools in Limpopo Province. The enterprise promotes food security and improved nutrition, provides employment for disadvantaged women and youth, and contributes to local industry through enterprise development. Read more
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How companies and NGOs can work together to tackle food security

Authors: Adva Saldinger Source: Adva Saldinger
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Sands of time

Published: 30 June 2015Authors: Helen Marquard
Today, the 30th June, is a significant date: it is exactly 8 years since I left the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to join the SEED Initiative, and it now marks a transition from my role as Executive Director of SEED, to Chairman. Read more
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Green and social entrepreneurship; a pathway to sustainable water management?

Published: 22 March 2015Authors: Amélie Heuër, Carolin Ehrensperger
This year, World Water Day* emphasises the crucial relationship between water and sustainable development. Indeed we all know that water is fundamental to our well-being and when we think of water, the first thoughts that often spring to mind are access to drinking water or water for food production. Read more
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Why the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs supported SEED since its inception in 2002

Published: 29 January 2015Authors: Amélie Heuër, Christopher Whaley
The UK has been a strong supporter of SEED since it was established in 2002. It has been a real pleasure to see SEED grow from a small biennial awards scheme, with a modest research programme, to a much broader global initiative promoting social and environmental entrepreneurship. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Women’s Off-season Vegetable Production Group

Published: 05 September 2014
The enterprise uses agricultural techniques, notably poly-tunnels and greenhouses, to grow and market organic vegetables in a climate where weather usually limits year-round production. The aim is to improve food security and nutrition while empowering marginalised women through job creation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Growing the Future

Published: 05 September 2014
Growing The Future is an entrepreneurial programme promoting organic, sustainable and innovative food production in South African households. The programme combats food insecurity, promotes dietary variety, reduces household poverty and supports economic opportunities for the unemployed. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Waste to Food

Published: 05 September 2014
Waste to Food (W2F) provides an alternative to the disposal of organic waste in landfills. A combination of two technologies offers a commercially profitable and scalable processing system for recycling food waste into high-quality compost. The franchise model fosters enterprise development. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Arusha Women Entrepreneur

Published: 05 September 2014
Waste to Food (W2F) provides an alternative to the disposal of organic waste in landfills. A combination of two technologies offers a commercially profitable and scalable processing system for recycling food waste into high-quality compost. The franchise model fosters enterprise development. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Precious Life Foundation’s Outgrower Project

Published: 05 September 2014
Vulnerable women living at Precious Life Foundation’s farm centre are taught bio-intensive agricultural techniques like sack potato production in order to become self-sufficient. The women then provide training, support, and resources to their community to increase yields and thereby food security. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Proplanet

Published: 31 August 2014
Proplanet transforms materials that are hard-to-recycle, such as long-life Tetra Pak and plastified paper, into paper fibre, sustainable construction materials, and urban furniture, thereby reducing pressure on landfills. Through biodegradable food packaging with FSC certification, it helps to substitute plastics. Read more
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From Plates that Grow Food to Certified Cocoa: UN Awards Innovative Green Enterprises at Green Economy Symposium

Published: 31 October 2013
The 34 winners of the 2013 SEED Awards were announced today. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Growing a Sustainable Future: Sustain for Life Hospital Gardens

Published: 31 August 2013
Sustain for Life demonstrates sustainable agriculture techniques to produce nutritious food for hospitals while training vulnerable and marginalised community members, mainly women. The enterprise improves livelihoods at two locations in southwest Uganda and creates new markets by selling surplus food. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Sustaintech

Published: 30 August 2013
Sustaintech distributes fuel-efficient, smokeless cookstoves to vendors of street food and to small commercial kitchens. Customers benefit from significant cost savings for firewood and improved health. At the same time, the environment benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less deforestation. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: The Dried Fish/Food Company

Published: 30 August 2013
The Dried Fish/Food Company (DFC) manages a value-added fish and food processing facility focused on solar-dried products. In partnership with a women entrepreneurs’ organisation, the enterprise provides day-to-day food for rural and urban communities, proactively managing food security and reducing the economic gender gap. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Duncan Village Secondary Recycling Cooperative

Published: 30 August 2013
The enterprise collects organic waste from low-income households and processes it into compost, which in turn provides valuable nutrients for their urban food production. By combining composting and sustainable food production the cooperative helps improve community waste management. Read more
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2012 SEED Symposium: The Green Economy in Africa: Climate Change and Energy, Agriculture and Food Security, and the Role of Grassroots Entrepreneurs

Published: 29 March 2012
On 29th March, SEED hosted a high-level symposium on the Green Economy in Pretoria, South Africa. Read more
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SEED Symposium 2012

Published: 29 March 2012
On 29th March, SEED hosted a high-level symposium on the Green Economy in Pretoria, South Africa which discussed Climate Change and Energy, Agriculture and Food Security, and the Role of Grassroots Entrepreneurs. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: FADECO Trading Co. Ltd.

Published: 29 August 2011
The initiative tackles the problem of post-harvest losses by solar drying fruit and vegetables which can subsequently be stored or sold. Drying agricultural products helps to ensure food security during the rainy seasons and creates opportunities for local farmers to access new markets. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Imai Farming Cooperative

Published: 29 August 2011
The IMAI Farming Cooperative has developed a sustainable business processing surplus vegetable crop yields into the value-added food product “achar”. This avoids wasting surplus vegetables and generates additional income. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Kenya Organic Finest Aromas Ltd (KOFA)

Published: 29 August 2011
The initiative seeks to address food insecurity and poverty among smallscale farmers in Kenya by providing them with certified organic farm inputs, training in organic farming techniques and marketing-related services to increase their profit margins and market access. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Village Cereal Aggregation Centres (VCAC)

Published: 29 August 2010
Village Cereal Aggregation Centres (VCACs) introduce post-harvest technologies and support farmers to engage in safe near-farm cereal storage, in order to increase food security and their capacity to trade competitively. Read more
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Enterprise Brief: Bosque Humedo Biodiverso

Published: 24 August 2010
“Bosque Humedo Biodiverso” is a business initiative headed by a local NGO that uses fruit and pulp as ingredients for the local cosmetics and food industries. The use of non-timber products will reduce deforestation of tropical forests and local families will benefit from collecting value-added goods. This helps develop alternative income sources and promotes the sustainable management of local biodiversity. Read more
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