Farewell and Reflections from Ninja Lacey

After three years, project manager Ninja Lacey is leaving SeedNL. Although we do not want to see her go, we are happy that this move will allow her to fulfill her ambition to travel the world indefinitely – though we hope to welcome her back into the world of seeds before too long! In this interview, she shares her insights and learnings from her experience within SeedNL and its partnerships. 

How has SeedNL evolved since you joined? 

I think I joined SeedNL at quite a pivotal moment. When I started, the focus of our small team was on creating and acting on (ad hoc) opportunities to initiate new partnerships and projects. At the same time, we were developing our long-term strategy, strengthening our existing relationships within and outside of the Netherlands, and managing our day-to-day work. 

Over the last years, things have really started to crystallise: new partnerships have emerged, for example in Bangladesh, India, and Ghana; and our team has expanded with wonderful colleagues who are skilled in managing these partnerships. 

We also developed our learning agenda, not only to be a one-stop-shop for knowledge on integrated seed sector development, but also to become a safe space for stakeholders from different backgrounds to discuss more sensitive issues, such as that of farmers’ rights and plant breeders’ rights.

These new partnerships and projects both shape and are guided by our long-term strategy, which continues to evolve and was strengthened through co-creating the SeedNL Theory of Change with key members of the SeedNL family. 

Beyond this professional development, a development of just as much importance is how the SeedNL family has evolved. What started with strong multi-stakeholder partners in our board and sounding board, has grown into a real community. Our projects and partnerships are increasingly driven by our network, as more and more partners approach SeedNL with ideas, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration. Today, stakeholders from industry, civil society, government, and knowledge institutes from the Netherlands and abroad connect not just to us, but especially to each other. The (formal and informal) connections made through this network are so valuable, to SeedNL and our partners, but also to me personally.

How has your role evolved with these changes?

It’s been quite a ride. I started with no knowledge of seeds whatsoever, and I am now quite the seed nerd and a proud (and hopefully lifelong) member of the SeedNL family. 

My work became less fragmented and more focused on facilitating multi-stakeholder discussions and developing knowledge products around contested issues in the world of seeds. I think this aligned well with my enjoyment bringing people together and connecting different perspectives. 

There are many dilemmas and sensitivities in the seed sector, which has a lot to do with the balance between formal and informal sectors and their role in food and nutrition security. But as if often the case, the seed sector being no exception, open and honest discussions tend to reveal more similarities than differences. Facilitating such discussions (either in meeting rooms, but preferably over dinner) that bring people and perspectives closer together, has been the highlight of my work and where I have learnt the most.

My specific work on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources allowed me to dive into a hugely important topic. It is something I’ve become unexpectedly passionate about, and I will continue to advocate for action to stop the erosion of agrobiodiversity. Beyond its importance for global food security, I also want to safeguard my own dinner!

What have your key learnings been around partnerships for integrated seed sector development?

The SeedNL multi-stakeholder partnership model is quite unique, which I don’t think I quite realised until recently. Efforts towards integrated seed sector development, strengthening seed systems through both formal and informal sectors to ultimately work towards zero hunger, can only be effective if you have stakeholders from all parts of the system on board. In the Netherlands, thanks to many years of experience, this collaborative way of working has been internalised. But in other countries, initiatives to strengthen seed systems can be fragmented or even competing.  

Developing multi-stakeholder partnerships for integrated seed sector development takes time and patience (so much patience!). It’s so important not only to bring stakeholders from across the system together, but to keep them meaningfully engaged in the process. This requires all partners to be honest about their own biases, to set aside prejudices, and to work together to acknowledge and navigate the power dynamics that inevitably exist between them.

I really believe that trust is the foundation of this work, and cannot be rushed. If the international seed community is willing to invest the time it takes to build that trust, partnerships can make (even) greater strides towards zero hunger. 

What are your hopes for SeedNL and its partners in 5 years time?

The essence of our work should remain the same: to initiate projects and partnerships all over the world that allow partners, current and new, Dutch and international, to work towards zero hunger by providing farmers with access to quality seeds of their choice. 

I hope SeedNL can expand long-term, multi-stakeholder partnerships into more countries, further establishing itself as a model for others and catalysing greater investment in integrated seed sector development.

I also hope that SeedNL is recognised as a safe space for open discussions on contested issues, building trust and willingness to address them together. 

Do you have any final messages you'd like to convey?

On a professional level, I would have loved to stay with SeedNL and Netherlands Food Partnership for longer. I’ve learnt so much, and have had the privilege to meet so many wonderful people. 

The people in the world of seeds are incredibly knowledgeable, kind, passionate, professional, funny, and welcoming – I would recommend anyone to become part of the family. Therefore, I want to thank not only SeedNL and Netherlands Food Partnership, but also my ‘seed people’, many of whom I’m sure I will stay in touch with both personally and professionally.  

Connect on LinkedIn if you want to get in touch with Ninja before she leaves, or while she is exploring the Mongolian highlands or climbing Kilimanjaro!