Seed Savers Foundation

Founded in 1986 by Michel and Jude Fanton in Byron Bay, the Seed Savers' Network pioneered decentralized, community-based seed conservation on the premise that seeds are best kept alive in the gardens and cultures that grew them rather than locked away in cold storage. Since completing its decentralization in 2008, it has linked over 100 affiliated Local Seed Networks across Australia and supported seed-saving groups in dozens of countries. The Fantons' Seed Savers' Handbook, with tens of thousands of copies sold, remains a foundational guide for backyard and community seed conservation worldwide.