On 18 and 19 September 2026, Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network (ZiLAN) participated in the Good Seed and Food Festival held at the Harare Botanical Gardens. The event was organised by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) and Bio Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ) and brought together farmers, seed custodians, researchers, policymakers and civil society organisations from across Africa. ZiLAN supported six women farmers from Chinyika Nutritional Garden who exhibited a variety of products at the ZiLAN stall. The festival provided a platform to celebrate indigenous seeds, promote food diversity and strengthen networks for sustainable agriculture.

The Good Seed and Food Festival created meaningful opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, learning and seed exchange. It pointed out that seeds are more than the foundation of food systems as they carry heritage, indigenous knowledge, culture, resilience and sovereignty. Seeds connect generations, sustain livelihoods, strengthen communities and hold the promise of a more food‑secure future. The festival inspired participants by showcasing the incredible work women are doing to preserve indigenous seeds, protect traditional knowledge, sustain biodiversity and feed the nation. The conversations, connections and commitment to protect seed diversity and strengthen women’s role in seed systems must continue.