14  / SEEDWORLD.COM  INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026
AT A TIME WHEN global food systems are under pressure, 
one organization is proving that the most powerful solutions 
can start small — with a single seed.
Seed Programs International (SPI) has spent more than 25 
years working at the intersection of the seed sector and global 
food security. Since its founding in 1998, the organization has 
partnered with more than 400 organizations across 94 countries 
and helped supply seeds for millions of gardens worldwide.
Behind those numbers is measurable, human impact. SPI’s 
work has reached more than 9 million people, supporting com­
munities with the tools to grow their own food, improve nutrition 
and build more resilient livelihoods.
“The impact is very tangible,” says Robyn Love, SPI president 
and CEO. “People are getting seeds, they’re planting them and 
that’s improving the food security of their communities. It’s very 
applied, very real.”
Built for Impact, Not Overhead
That simplicity is intentional. Rather than building large in-coun­
try teams, SPI operates through a highly efficient partnership 
model. The organization connects seed companies, funding 
partners and local organizations already working on the ground, 
ensuring resources go where they are needed most.
“We work through local partners who already know their 
communities,” Love says. “They tell us what they need and we 
help connect them to seed, training and resources to make those 
programs successful.”
That approach keeps overhead low and impact high. It also 
creates a feedback loop between farmers and the seed sector, 
something Love says is critical.
Connecting Seed to the Right Hands
“At events like the ISF World Seed Congress, everyone is focused 
on moving seed globally,” she explains. “We’re focused on how to 
get the right seed into the hands of smallholder farmers and make 
sure it’s what they actually want and need to grow.”
SPI’s model is built on more than seed distribution. Programs 
also include training, technical support and capacity building to 
strengthen local food systems long term. The goal is not depend­
ency, but resilience.
In the past year alone, SPI partnered with 77 organizations 
across 21 countries and distributed more than 1.8 million pack­
ets of seed, enough to grow an estimated 50 million servings of 
vegetables.
Where the Industry Meets Global Food Demand
For the seed industry, the opportunity to engage is wide open.
SPI works closely with companies that donate seed, fund pro­
grams or contribute expertise in the field. Some support comes 
through industry initiatives, including activities at the ISF World 
Seed Congress, where proceeds from events like the Germains-
sponsored boat cruise help fund SPI’s work.
“There’s so much happening across the seed sector — breed­
ing, production, field demonstrations,” Love says. “If we can con­
nect that knowledge and those resources to the communities we 
serve, the impact multiplies.”
ISF World Seed Congress attendees may connect with SPI at 
table #182 to learn more about partnership opportunities, seed 
and financial donations and ways to get involved. Ton van der 
Velden, Stacy Davis and Vicki Miller will be available to answer 
questions and share more about SPI’s work. For more information 
visit SPI’s website at www.seedprograms.org. 
In a world facing rising food insecurity, the seed sector has a 
unique role to play. And as SPI continues to demonstrate, even 
small inputs can lead to lasting change, with the right connec­
tions. SW
SPI Connects 
Smallholder Farmers 
to the Seed Sector  
A small team, a global network and millions 
reached — Seed Programs International 
connects smallholder farmers to the seed 
sector, turning donations and partnerships 
into measurable food security impact. 
By Aimee Nielson, Seed World U.S. Editor
PHO
TOS:
 SPI

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