Five years ago, Edwin Adonis Nolasco did not consider himself a farmer. He worked small jobs in rural Honduras, uncertain of how he would support his family. When he came across an opportunity to join a farmer-led research project with our local partner organization, the Foundation for Participatory Research with Honduran Farmers (FIPAH), Edwin decided to try his hand at farming.

He started with five bean varieties from FIPAH’s farmer-led plant breeding program. His favourite: an abundant producer called El Campechano. The next season, he began growing other grains and vegetables and learned to produce his own high-quality vegetable seeds.

He soon realized there was a major gap in his region: good, local seeds.