A network of 20 seed libraries was set up across Moldova, thanks to the partnership between Grădina Moldovei NGO together with the Czech initiative Semínkovna. Also, one thousand seeds were distributed to the newly-created libraries. The partnership was possible thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Czech Republic, offered through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative was implemented during 2022-2023.

“I am glad that the Czech Republic can share its experience in such an important field in the development of the Republic of Moldova as agriculture, and especially ecological agriculture, through the implementation of various innovation transfer projects such as the ‘United by Seeds’ project, supported under the Czech Challenge Fund, as well as other cooperation projects financed by the Czech Development Agency,” mentioned Stanislav Kázecký, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Moldova. 

Seed libraries have been successfully operating in the Czech Republic for many years. Anyone from local farmers, and agricultural enthusiasts to urban residents, civic organizations, and youth can come to their local seed library and borrow various species of seeds that can be grown into food but also used to produce a new generation of seeds next season and donated back to the library for preservation. 

The Czech partners have also offered training to about 60 Moldovan farmers, local residents and food gardeners on managing the seed libraries. The managers serve as “seeds safeguards”, whose mission is to preserve various seeds from extinction. 

“This initiative is centred on creating solutions tailored to the specific conditions of the local community. This aligns with the UNDP and partners' dedication to promote initiatives that originate locally and address the unique needs of the communities they serve,” mentioned Maria Țarigradean, Programme Analyst at UNDP Moldova. 

In future, the seed libraries could be digitized, contributing to intelligent organisation and management of data on local agrobiodiversity, and strengthening food security both at local and national level. 

”Farmers varieties and seeds, selected and preserved year by year have been for a very long time invisible to the public in general, but also in the context of modernised and uniform food production systems which rely upon uniform commercial varieties or hybrids. The project showed us how as a social innovation seed libraries can become a place and a way to revive agrobiodiversity locally while also identifying possibilities for the development of agriculture which is both environmentally and economically sustainable. Investing in local and farmers’ seeds, means investing in food, but also in green economy and nature,” says Ana Coutinho, Executive Director, Grădina Moldovei NGO.

The UNDP-Czech Republic partnership supports the transfer of innovative solutions from the Czech Republic’s private sector, non-governmental organizations, universities, state institutions, research centers, and individuals. Czech Challenge Fund projects focus on solving specific development challenges in six partner countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Zambia). In Moldova, the Czech Challenge Fund has already supported 20 projects.