About Us
Basic Values
Based on the ancient Balinese Philosophy and Practices of Tri Hita Karana, the Vision and Mission of BENIH BALI will be accomplished through a range of Programs derived from the following Basic Values:
- Long term interests of Humanity, including present and future generations, should prevail over short term and private interests.
- The conservation of natural resources, including agro-biodiversity, should have precedence over any unsustainable practices by the present generation.
- Agro-biodiversity should be considered the fuel of Sustainable Development and the needed buffer to secure Sustainable Agriculture in an uncertain future, impacted by globalization and climate change.
- Maintaining, nurturing and using bio-diversity will keep more options open for all.
- Innovation in agriculture is a cumulative, collective and continuous process that should be used for the benefit of all.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to mediate process and coordinate Programs, acting as a bridge between the production and demand of local organic, open pollinated (OOP) seeds. The Mission is accomplished by:
- Increasing Balinese farmer awareness & appreciation of local seed varieties, including encouraging their creative inputs in the positive evolution of “local seed”.
- Empowering Balinese farmers to protect and produce their own quality organic, open pollinated (OOP) seed that thrive best in relation to the local Bali climate, conditions, including diseases and pests.
- Encouraging OOP seed re-distribution, and fostering a de-centralized approach, with availability to people of all economic backgrounds.
- Educating the general public on best practices for seed saving, including home, school and community practices.
- Increasing market demand for local seed, and local food products from these seeds by increasing the quantity & quality of home, school, community and commercial organic gardens in Bali.
- Creating stronger and truly sustainable communities by encouraging complete food cycles and supportive eco-systems.
Advisors and Partners of BENIH BALI
Board of Advisors (2014 – 2015)
Help to guide, inspire and encourage the success of the Mission and Programs of BENIH BALI.
Chairperson: Bapak I Nyoman Tjager (Komisaris Utama Bursa Efek Indonesia (Chairman of the Indonesian Stock Exchange), and Chairman & Founding Member Bali Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (BISA).
Program Coordinator: Ibu Mary Jane Edleson (Founding Member & Senior Advisor, Bali Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. Convivium Leader of Slow Food Bali.
Advisors
Prof I Made Supartha Utama, Ph.D. Director, Center for Research and Development on Horticultural Crops (CREDHOC), Udayana University. Professor in Postharvest Physiology and Technology of Horticultural Crops, Dept.of Agric. Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University.
Ibu Hayu Dyah, Founder & Chairman, Yayasan Mantasa
Bapak Ade Adreawan, Executive Director, IDEP Foundation
Ibu Catherine Wheeler, Founding Member of Slow Food Bali
Others TBA
Academic, Technical & Professional Partners (2014 – 2015)
Based on mutually agreed parameters, provides assistance and input to help propose, guide, support or implement research & field operations, where appropriate, and to help advance the Mission of BENIH BALI:
- University Udayana, Bali (UNUD)
- IDEP (Bali)
- Others TBA
Supporting Partners (2014 – 2015)
Provide local and community support for BENIH BALI programs, including encouraging uptake of local OOP seeds, and food products from these local seed production efforts. Assist in supportive communications to increase market demand for local OOP seed, and local food products from local OOP seeds.
- Slow Food Bali
- Yayasan Mantasa
- Others TBA
