“Without seeds, there is no food”: Seed banks foster agriculture in Puerto Rico

Tribal nations across the U.S., supported by the Intertribal Buffalo Council and adaptive federal grants, have rebuilt bison herds totaling roughly 25,000 animals on tribal lands—restoring a critical food source, with programs distributing tens of thousands of pounds of buffalo meat annually to tribal communities.

Gatgyeda Haayk's community garden tackles food access challenges in Metlakatla by patiently building rich soil over many years, enabling diverse crops to flourish despite Alaska's difficult growing conditions. This effort not only provides fresh food but also revitalizes cultural heritage by cultivating traditional plants like "Indian potatoes" and fostering community sharing.

Between 2019 and 2020, Nature Kenya's EU-funded REBUILD project supplied certified, salinity-tolerant rice seeds to farmers in Ozi, Kenya, who leveraged natural tidal irrigation to nearly double farmer participation and increase processed rice production from 51,284 kg to 79,625 kg.

The InterTribal Buffalo Council coordinated the transfer of more than 1,500 buffalo to over 20 tribal nations in 2025, growing a tribally managed herd network that has moved more than 25,000 animals across 22 states and enabled cultural revitalization, food sovereignty, and ecological restoration in Native communities.

Over 3,000 tribal farmers in Odisha are using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)—an organic method that uses 92% less seed, no standing water, and traditional formulations—to double their rice yields, increase incomes, eliminate dependence on expensive chemicals and moneylenders, and revive 70+ indigenous rice varieties while improving soil health.

Prescribed burn associations in South Dakota bring together ranchers to conduct controlled fires that have successfully cleared nearly 9,500 acres of invasive Eastern red cedar trees, restoring native grasslands while doubling the economic value of treated ranch land.

In Dandabazar, a community-wide shift to commercial cauliflower farming was supported by local government seed distribution and subsidies for modern tools. This transformed a food-insecure hill village into a recognized vegetable-producing hub, enabling individual farmers to grow their businesses.

Indigenous communities in Nepal use traditional earthen storage bins called dehari—made from locally available clay, husk, and dung—that naturally regulate temperature and moisture to protect grains and seeds from extreme heat, pests, and floods without electricity. The success of this food-preservation method has increased local food security and seed diversity across smallholder farming communities.

A community-based wildlife ecotourism initiative in Thailand's Huai Kha Khaeng buffer zone has enrolled over 320 residents from 19 villages in banteng-watching tours (and related activities)—transforming wildlife from a source of conflict into a primary livelihood for participants, as well as facilitating the recovery of an endangered species.

GPS collars create virtual fences, allowing Wyoming ranchers to remove miles of barbed wire and enabling wildlife migration. This reduces fence maintenance costs and improves ecosystem management through flexible grazing patterns, though the technology faces challenges including high upfront costs, connectivity issues, and cultural resistance.