Project 1377/24 - Women Netting for Seed Treasure Revival – NEST (2024-2026)

Call: Public call for citizen science research projects, the Center for the Promotion of Science, the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia

Coordinator: Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Belgrade, Serbia

Participating institutions/association: Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje, Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia; Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade, Serbia and Serbian Association of Plant Breeders and Seed Producers

Project leader: Dr Marijenka Tabaković

Project participants: Dr Vojka Babić, Dr Natalija Kravić, Dr Vesna Perić, Dr Violeta Oro, Dr Rade Stanisavljević, Serbian Association of Plant Breeders and Seed Producers

Web site: https://www.dsss.org.rs/nest/index.php

The NEST project addresses the loss of agro-biodiversity by using a participatory citizen science approach to promote the sustainable cultivation and conservation of indigenous seed varieties. It places a strong emphasis on empowering women in agriculture through culturally relevant practices, drawing on indigenous knowledge and agricultural heritage. The core concept of the NEST initiative reflects a commitment to transdisciplinary practices by fostering collaborative networks among scientists, citizen volunteers, and farmers. Together, they work to inventory and document indigenous varieties cultivated on local farms, collect and conserve seeds, share knowledge about agro-biodiversity and sustainable practices, and establish a network for the exchange of seeds and knowledge through effective communication channels.

This comprehensive strategy encourages direct participation from farmers in training and knowledge exchange, engages citizen scientists in data and seed collection, and provides expert guidance throughout the collaborative process. Acknowledging the crucial role that women play as custodians of traditional seeds and agricultural practices, the project also supports women's economic independence by promoting entrepreneurship linked to the cultivation of indigenous varieties and their market integration.

NEST reinforces the importance of local actions in a global context and creates valuable data resources, aligned with vital sustainability goals—zero hunger (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15)—thus affirming its holistic approach to sustainability.

Projekat NEST se bavi tematikom očuvanja agro-biodiverziteta korišćenjem pristupa učešća građana u naučnim istraživanjima u vezi sa za promovisanjem održivog gajenja i očuvanja semena autohtonih biljnih vrsta. Oslanjajući se na tradicionalno znanje i poljoprivredno nasleđe, inicijativa naglašava potrebu za osnaživanjem žena u poljoprivredi. Osnovni koncept NEST-a odražava posvećenost transdisciplinarnim praksama, negovanjem kolaborativnih mreža među naučnicima, građanima volonterima i poljoprivrednicima na inventarisanju autohtonih biljnih vrsta koje se uzgajaju na lokalnim farmama, sakupljanju i čuvanju semena, širenju znanja o značaju agro-biodiverziteta i održivim praksama, kao i uspostavljanju mreža za razmenu semena i znanja putem efikasnih sistema komunikacije.

Sveobuhvatna strategija NEST projekta podstiče direktno učešće farmera u obuci i razmeni znanja, angažuje građane naučnike u prikupljanju podataka i semena i pruža stručne smernice tokom procesa saradnje. Prepoznajući ključnu ulogu žena kao čuvara tradicionalnog semena i poljoprivrednih praksi, projekat istovremeno podržava ekonomsku nezavisnost žena promovišući preduzetništvo u vezi sa gajenjem starih sorti i njihovom integracijom na tržište.

NEST jača značaj lokalnih aktivnosti u kontekstu globalnog i generiše dragocene resurse podataka, usklađene sa vitalnim globalnim ciljevima održivosti, čime potvrđuje svoj holistički pristup održivosti.