Fair Planet Seeds
Fair Planet is an Israeli non-profit founded in 2012 that brokers high-quality vegetable seeds from global seed companies to smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda, delivering on-farm training and extension services through a 600-trainer local network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersRehovot, Israel
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fair Planet Seeds does
Fair Planet is an Israeli-registered international non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Dr. Shoshan Haran, headquartered at the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the Hebrew University in Rehovot. Its mission is to provide smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa with access to high-quality vegetable seeds and the agronomic training required to use them productively. The organization operates a structured five-phase intervention model (Regional Needs Assessment, Partnership Development, Ag-Tech Research and Adaptation, Customized Training Curriculum Development, and On-Farm Training) and runs field programs across three East African countries: Ethiopia (120 villages since 2012), Tanzania (15 villages since 2019), and Rwanda (6 villages since 2022).
Fair Planet's core offering is not a commercial product but an integrated service bundle: it brokers seed varieties from leading global seed companies (Limagrain, Hazera, Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta, BASF, Bejo Zaden, Enza Zaden, Sakata, East-West Seed, Takii) for testing in local agro-climatic conditions — 319 varieties across 14+ crops have been evaluated — then delivers adoption support through weekly on-farm visits, a 600-person local trainer network, 65 practical training tools, and localized production manuals with image-based pest and disease identification guides. A mobile application for agricultural knowledge delivery to local guides has been announced but not yet launched.
Fair Planet's business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating; it does not charge smallholder farmers and operates under Israeli non-profit governance. Funding comes from public and private donors including the Pears Foundation, Croda Foundation, Livelihood Impact Fund, KKL-JNF, MASHAV (Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation), and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), with in-kind contributions from seed companies, universities (Sokoine, Haramaya, Wageningen), and host-country government agricultural bureaus (MINAGRI, RAB, Dire Dawa Administration). The organization reports serving >100,000 on-farm training engagements, with reported outcomes including a 300% average yield increase, 75,000 farmer households exited from poverty, and a $13.4 social return on investment.
Fair Planet Seeds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fair Planet Seeds
- Legal name
- Fair Planet
- Website
- https://fairplanet.ngo
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fair Planet is an Israeli non-profit founded in 2012 that brokers high-quality vegetable seeds from global seed companies to smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda, delivering on-farm training and extension services through a 600-trainer local network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fair Planet Seeds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Development Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Crop Scouting & Field Monitoring Services (AFACABAD)
Keywords
Where Fair Planet Seeds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rehovot
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fair Planet Seeds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Fair Planet operates as an international non-profit organization funded by public and private donors, foundations, and government development agencies. They receive support from organizations like Pears Foundation, Croda Foundation, Livelihood Impact Fund, and government partners including Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), MASHAV (Israel), and KKL-JNF.
- Partnership Contributions: Seed companies provide high-quality seed varieties for testing and adaptation; partner organizations contribute expertise, research facilities, and agricultural extension services
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fair Planet Seeds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fair Planet is an international non-profit that provides smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa with access to high-quality vegetable seed varieties sourced from leading global seed companies, paired with a multi-phase training program including on-farm extension visits, practical training manuals, and pests/diseases identification guides. It operates through a cross-sectoral partnership model linking seed companies, universities, and government agricultural bureaus with farming communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Product overview
Fair Planet is an international non-profit organization that operates a cross-sectoral partnership model to make modern agtech solutions accessible to smallholder farmers in Africa. The organization provides high-quality vegetable seeds suitable to local conditions, paired with extensive training programs including on-farm visits and practical tools. Its product portfolio consists of Crop Production Guidelines (training manuals for onion, cabbage, tomato and hot pepper), Pests & Diseases Identification Guides (including a Plant Protection Chemicals Guide), and an upcoming Fair Planet App for mobile-based agricultural knowledge sharing. The organization has active operations in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda, testing vegetable varieties across 14+ crops in multiple agro-climatic zones.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crop Production Guidelines Practical training manuals covering crop production guidelines for onion, cabbage, and tomato & hot pepper, designed to help smallholder farmers adopt best agricultural practices. Materials include images and illustrations to bridge language barriers.
- Pests & Diseases Identification Guides Identification guides and management cards for plant pests and diseases, along with a Plant Protection Chemicals Guide, helping farmers recognize and address crop threats.
- Fair Planet App An upcoming mobile application designed to transform how agricultural knowledge is shared and accessed, enabling local guides to support thousands of farmers with quality, independent guidance.
- On-Farm Training Program Multi-phase training program delivering weekly on-farm visits to smallholder farmers throughout the growing season, combined with customized training curricula and hands-on agricultural best practices education.
- Crop Variety Testing and Adaptation Testing of vegetable varieties from local and global seed suppliers across multiple agro-climatic zones over several production seasons to identify suitable varieties for local conditions, covering tomato, pepper, cabbage, onion, cauliflower, watermelon, squash, broccoli, butternut, beetroot, potato, and carrot.
Companies that use Fair Planet Seeds
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fair Planet Seeds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Fair Planet Seeds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bayer Crop SciencecoreBayer and Fair Planet extended collaboration to improve access to high-quality vegetable seeds in Ethiopia; provides seed technology and expertise
- LimagraincoreLeading global vegetable seed company providing high-quality seed varieties for testing and adaptation by smallholder farmers in Fair Planet's programs
- HazeracoreGlobal seed company specializing in vegetable seeds; provides varieties for testing in African conditions
- Bejo Zaden BVcoreDutch vegetable seed company providing high-quality seed varieties for Fair Planet's programs
- SyngentacoreGlobal agribusiness company providing seed technology for smallholder farmer programs
- BASFcoreProvides agricultural solutions and seed technology for Fair Planet's programs
- Enza Zaden BVcoreDutch vegetable seed company; partner since 2018 with Bridging the Seed Gap partnership; provides varieties for testing
- SakatacoreJapanese seed company providing vegetable seed varieties for African smallholder programs
- East-West SeedcoreProvides tropical vegetable seeds suitable for African growing conditions
- Takii SeedscoreJapanese seed company providing varieties for testing in Fair Planet programs
- Indo-American SeedsminorSeed company providing varieties for Fair Planet's testing programs
- International Seed Federation (ISF)coreSigned MOU in 2023 for Seed Resilience Project focusing on vegetables, pulses, potatoes, and cereals in Rwanda; partners on global seed sector initiatives
- Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)coreTanzanian university providing research expertise, agricultural knowledge, and local context for crop adaptation
- University of HaramayacoreEthiopian university providing agricultural research and extension services for program activities
- Wageningen UniversitycoreDutch agricultural university providing research collaboration and expertise
- Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI)coreRwanda government ministry providing policy support and coordination for agricultural programs
- Rwanda Agricultural Bureau (RAB)coreGovernment agricultural body providing extension services and coordination in Rwanda
- Dire Dawa AdministrationcoreEthiopian regional administration providing support for agricultural programs in Dire Dawa area
- District of MvomerominorTanzanian district providing local coordination for agricultural programs
- OLAMminorAgribusiness company providing market access and agricultural support
- NetafimminorIsraeli irrigation company providing drip irrigation technology as demonstration
- SUGECOminorTanzanian agricultural enterprise supporting local program implementation
- Joytech FreshminorFresh produce company supporting market access for farmers
- TOV (Tikkun Olam Ventures)minorJewish Federations initiative supporting social entrepreneurship
- Seeds 4 FarmersminorDutch initiative supporting seed sector development in Africa
- SID IsraelminorIsraeli organization supporting international agricultural development
- GLOCALminorHebrew University program supporting global-local agricultural initiatives
- Be'eri PrintingminorPrinting services for training materials and educational resources
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fair Planet Seeds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA): AGRA is a large Africa-focused non-profit that works to catalyze agricultural transformation through improved seed access, soil management, and policy. It is comparable to Fair Planet at a much larger scale, operating in many of the same countries.
Emerging players
- Digital Green: Digital Green is a non-profit that uses technology (notably video and digital tools) to amplify the impact of smallholder farmers. It overlaps with Fair Planet's training mission and is highly relevant given Fair Planet's upcoming mobile app focused on knowledge dissemination.
Direct peers
- Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a global humanitarian and development non-profit that supports agriculture, food security, and livelihoods in fragile contexts. It is comparable to Fair Planet in its donor-funded smallholder agricultural development programs across East Africa.
- TechnoServe: TechnoServe is a non-profit that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. It shares Fair Planet's focus on smallholder agricultural development across Africa and Latin America, using training and market access models.
- One Acre Fund: One Acre Fund is a large non-profit social enterprise providing smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa with farm inputs, training, and market access. Like Fair Planet, it combines input access with structured farmer training to improve yields and livelihoods for resource-poor farmers.
- Heifer International: Heifer International is a non-profit that works to end hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture, providing livestock, training, and resources to smallholder farmers globally. It shares Fair Planet's training-driven model and donor-funded, in-country implementation approach.
- Farm Africa: Farm Africa is a UK-based non-profit that reduces poverty in eastern Africa by helping farmers grow more, sell more, and sell for more. It shares Fair Planet's East African geographic focus, smallholder target segment, and training-plus-input model.
- Self Help Africa: Self Help Africa is an international development non-profit working with rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve smallholder agriculture, enterprise, and resilience. It is comparable to Fair Planet in target geography, farmer base, and training-based delivery model.
Others
- East-West Seed: East-West Seed is a tropical vegetable seed company with a foundation arm (East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer) that trains smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia. It is a current Fair Planet partner and a directly adjacent actor in seed-based smallholder development.
- Wageningen University & Research (CDI): Wageningen is a leading agricultural research university with extensive smallholder-focused programs in Africa, including seed systems work. It is a current Fair Planet partner and a relevant peer/ecosystem actor in capacity building and seed adaptation for African smallholders.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fair Planet Seeds social profiles
Digital presenceFair Planet Seeds compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Fair Planet Seeds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fair Planet Seeds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fair Planet Seeds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fair Planet Seeds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fair Planet Seeds
What does Fair Planet Seeds do?
Fair Planet is an international non-profit that provides smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa with access to high-quality vegetable seed varieties sourced from leading global seed companies, paired with a multi-phase training program including on-farm extension visits, practical training manuals, and pests/diseases identification guides. It operates through a cross-sectoral partnership model linking seed companies, universities, and government agricultural bureaus with farming communities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Is Fair Planet Seeds a public or private company?
Fair Planet Seeds is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fair Planet Seeds founded?
Fair Planet Seeds was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fair Planet Seeds based?
Fair Planet Seeds is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does Fair Planet Seeds make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are partnership Contributions.
Who are Fair Planet Seeds's main competitors?
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Digital Green is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Mercy Corps, TechnoServe, One Acre Fund, Heifer International, Farm Africa and Self Help Africa. Others are East-West Seed and Wageningen University & Research (CDI).
Does Fair Planet Seeds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fair Planet Seeds.
What industry is Fair Planet Seeds in?
Fair Planet Seeds's product category is Agricultural Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAD, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative), with a secondary code of EDAOAOAO, Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices. Its NAICS code is 11511 and its SIC code is 700.