Kōanga Grain Grow Out
Ensuring These Essential Grains Remain a Part of Our Future
We Need Your Help
Kōanga Institute safeguards a globally significant collection of heritage grains, each representing ancient agricultural traditions that have sustained communities for millennia. This diverse collection includes seeds from regions like France, Africa, India, Japan, South America, and more, all deeply tied to local food systems and regenerative farming practices.
The mid-20th century Green Revolution, with its focus on industrial agriculture and high-yield commercial seeds, threatened these ancient grains. Small-scale farmers were encouraged to abandon their traditional grains in favor of chemically dependent, large-scale varieties. This shift led to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and weakened cultural connections to the land.
Kōanga’s heritage grains offer a path to a regenerative future. These nutrient-rich grains can be grown and processed without harmful chemicals or industrial machinery, providing deep nutrition and helping restore soil health. As climate change and global health challenges grow, reviving these ancient practices becomes more urgent.
By supporting Kōanga, you’re helping preserve essential knowledge, culture, biodiversity and food for a more sustainable future.
In Order to Successfully Complete This Grain Grow Out, We Need Your Donations
The heritage grains that Kōanga preserves are far more than historical artefacts; they are the seeds of a regenerative future. These grains have the ability to restore health to our soils, provide deep nutrition to our bodies, and reconnect us with the regenerative farming practices that have been passed down through generations.
How Your Donation Will Help Kōanga Preserve These Vital Seeds
Impact of Donations
Your contributions will directly support the Grain Grow Out, ensuring the preservation of rare and valuable heritage grain seeds. These efforts will also promote regenerative farming practices, benefiting both the planet and communities worldwide.
Activities Funded
This includes retrieving 21 grain varieties from storage, planting and growing them, and returning fresh seeds to storage, while also making them available to the public once again. The process involves protecting seeds from birds, planting regenerative carbon crops to restore soil health, and covering staff costs for managing and documenting the entire process. Vital information is gathered from growing to harvesting and cooking, with documentation and media created to showcase and share the journey.
Future Vision
Success in the fundraiser will allow Kōanga to grow these grains, make them available to the public, and distribute them across New Zealand and internationally. Heritage grains will be safeguarded by families and farmers worldwide, re-integrated into local food systems, and preserved for future generations.
Donate Today
Every Little Bit Helps
Every donation, no matter the size, makes a big difference in helping us preserve these vital heritage grains. Your support directly contributes to the success of our grain grow out, ensuring that these rare and valuable seeds are cultivated, protected, and shared with future generations. We greatly appreciate every bit of help we receive, and together, we can keep these grains and traditions alive. If you’re interested in making a larger impact, we also offer corporate sponsorship opportunities—please reach out to learn more about how your organisation can get involved.