Seeds of change: polyfunctionality, governance, and the sustainability pathways and challenges of community seed banks in Kenya

Community Seed Banks (CBs) are central to seed sovereignty, climate resilience, and agrobiodiversity conservation. Yet, an in-depth assessment of their long-term sustainability remains limited in Kenya. This study evaluated the governance, financial mechanisms, agroecological practices, and structural challenges of 18 CSBs across 11 counties. Using a participatory action learning approach that integrated literature review, stakeholder interviews, and field-based focus group discussions, the study revealed that governance structures are volunteer-driven and culturally embedded, with the composition and size of management committees shaped by local socio-cultural and institutional contexts. Community ownership emerged as a key pillar of sustainability, sustained through voluntary contributions of labour, leadership, seeds, and capital. Membership in CSBs increased by 148%, from 901 to 2,231, with women accounting for over 80%. CSBs have helped farmers reintroduce traditional and neglected crop varieties into their farming systems. More than 80% of CSBs have transitioned into agroenterprises, producing value-added products, such as composite flours, cooking oils, crisps, bio-inputs, and nutraceutical powders from Moringa, Mucuna, and Hibiscus, contributing to sustainable rural development. However, CSBs face systemic barriers, such as high product certification costs, legal contradictions in seed policy, and under-characterization of conserved crops, limiting market integration. Sustainability of the CSBs, therefore, can be accelerated through a supportive policy environment, adequate financial support, and coordinated collaboration at both national and county levels.