b'Right: South Sudanese refugee women from the Bidibidi settlement in Uganda, working with Preserve International, learn preservation techniques to reduce post-harvest loss and extend the shelf life of fresh food.Below: Farmers in Burji, Southern Ethiopia, where SPI works with over 300 farmers and with the local government.Cultivating Change:FOOD INSECURITY ISno longer just a statistic; its a crisis that threatens millions across the globe. But amid the chaos, one powerful nonprofitSeed Programs International (SPI)HOW SEED PROGRAMSis sowing the seeds of change from its headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina. Founded in 1998 by visionary John Batcha, SPI emerged INTERNATIONALwith a bold mission: repurpose surplus seeds from companies to nourish impoverished communities around the world. Fast forward 25 years, and Batchas vision has grown into a global CULTIVATES RESILIENCEmovement. Our core mission is to improve food security and nutrition, reduce poverty, and build climate resilience through vegetable production, says Georgia Beasley, SPIs Program Director. With THROUGH SEEDS initiatives spanning over 80 countries, SPI is not just planting seeds; its revolutionizing how communities feed themselves.Through programs that empower local farmers, SPI champi-ons a self-reliant approach that dismantles the cycle of depend-Empowering communities with seeds,ency on aid and leans into the importance of education and knowledge, and support, Seed Programsawareness.International is working to combat foodBeasley says SPI is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the right to healthy foodstarting with youth.insecurity and build sustainable futures. "In many places, a garden-supported school lunch is the only By Dawn Ius healthy meal of the day," she says, acknowledging the profound impact of SPIs educational childrens gardening programs.But this is only the beginning.48/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2025'