Seed of Life

What Seed of Life does

Graine de Vie (operating as Seed of Life) is a Belgian non-profit NGO (a.s.b.l.) founded in 2009 by Frédéric Debouche, headquartered in Le Roeulx, Belgium, and registered under BCE number 0811.750.042. The organization specializes in reforestation through direct seeding techniques, operating across 9 African countries (Madagascar, Togo, Benin, DRC, Cameroon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Burundi) via a network of 355 community nurseries, 896 reforestation sites, and 11 national parks or protected areas. Since inception it has planted over 73 million trees across 144 species, created 1,235 jobs in Africa, and engaged 35 active volunteers in Europe; its principal operational hub is a central nursery in Antananarivo producing more than 500,000 trees annually.

The organization's core offerings span individual donations (€10/20 trees to €75/150 trees with monthly options), a tiered EcoPartner corporate partnership program (Standard €500–5,000/year, Advanced €5,000–10,000/year, Distinctive >€10,000/year), a lifetime Personal Forest subscription (€20/month or €250/year for 12 years, planting 5,760 trees to offset 800 tonnes CO2), and a community fundraising platform with Facebook integration. Its technology stack is operational rather than software-based, anchored on a direct seeding planting technique (seeds selected, treated, and planted directly in soil at the start of the rainy season), community nurseries each producing 10,000 seedlings annually, a public online carbon footprint calculator, and certified carbon credit projects developed in partnership with ALLCOT for 10,000 hectares of degraded land in the Congo Basin.

The business model is donation-funded with no equity funding rounds, no parent company, and 100% of donations stated to flow to reforestation and community support; corporate visibility and tax deductibility (30% on Belgian donations ≥€40) are part of the value proposition. Notable enterprise partners include Liège Airport, NGroup (NRJ, Nostalgie, Chérie FM), Ixina, Century Box Mainetti, Nexxt Immo, WAKO S.A., the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Arendt & Medernach. Revenue figures are not disclosed and annual operating scale can be triangulated only indirectly via 355 nurseries × 10,000 trees/year at a €0.50/tree unit economics and named corporate commitments ranging into six figures per year.

Name

Seed of Life

Legal name

Graine de Vie a.s.b.l.

Website

https://grainedevie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Graine de Vie (Seed of Life) is a Belgian non-profit founded in 2009 that runs direct-seeding reforestation programs across 9 African countries, operating 355 community nurseries and serving individual donors, corporate EcoPartners, and African communities seeking carbon offset and biodiversity restoration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reforestation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Timberland Carbon & Natural Capital Project Development (Offsets/REDD+) (AFAMAKAH), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD)

Keywords

• Reforestation services
• Carbon offset programs
• Community tree nurseries
• Direct seeding reforestation
• NGO environmental restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Roeulx

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting reforestation projects. 100% of donations used for tree planting and supporting local communities. Tax deductible in Europe (Belgian donations from €40 are 30% tax deductible).
2. Corporate EcoPartner Program: Annual donations from businesses at three tiers: Standard (€500-5,000), Advanced (€5,000-10,000), and Distinctive (>€10,000). Includes visibility benefits and customizable reforestation projects aligned with CSR objectives.
3. Carbon Credit Sales: Sale of certified carbon credits generated from reforestation projects. In partnership with ALLCOT for 10,000 hectares in Congo Basin, providing additional revenue streams for the NGO and local communities.
4. Personal Forest Subscriptions: Personalized lifetime carbon offset program where individuals pay €20/month for 12 years or €250/year to plant 5,760 trees, offsetting their average lifetime carbon footprint of 800 tonnes CO2.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Graine de Vie (Seed of Life) is a Belgian nonprofit NGO that runs large-scale reforestation in Africa through direct seeding and a network of 355 community nurseries across 9 countries. It funds these operations via individual donations and subscriptions, corporate EcoPartner programs, and certified carbon credit sales, offering programs such as A Forest for My Life, fixed-amount tree donations, corporate carbon offset partnerships, and community fundraising tools.

Product overview

Graine de Vie (Seed of Life) operates as a reforestation NGO rather than a technology company. Its core offering comprises a portfolio of environmental programmes: the 'A Forest for My Life' individual carbon offset programme, an Online Carbon Footprint Calculator for individuals and SMEs, the EcoPartner corporate partnership programme with tiered annual donation levels, a Donation Programme with fixed tree-planting amounts, a Fundraising Platform for community-driven campaigns, Carbon Credit Projects developed with ALLCOT for the Congo Basin, and a Community Nursery Network spanning 355 locations across 9 African countries. These products collectively enable individuals and organisations to offset carbon emissions through tree planting, with supporting tools for calculating footprint, fundraising, and partner engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Forest for My Life Programme An individual carbon offset subscription that lets participants offset their lifetime carbon footprint (approximately 800 tonnes CO2) by sponsoring 5,760 trees at €20/month or €250/year. Aimed at individuals seeking a long-term, transparent personal climate commitment.
• EcoPartner Programme A tiered corporate partnership programme (Standard €500–5,000, Advanced €5,000–10,000, Distinctive >€10,000 annually) enabling businesses to offset emissions, fund CSR-aligned reforestation projects, and gain visibility on the Graine de Vie website.
• Donation Programme Fixed-amount one-time or monthly tree-planting donations in predefined bundles (€10 for 20 trees, €20 for 40 trees, €50 for 100 trees, €75 for 150 trees) with custom amounts available. Tax deductible in Belgium from €40 at 30%.
• Online Carbon Footprint Calculator A web-based carbon footprint calculator that helps individuals and SMEs estimate their annual emissions across electricity, heating, flights, transport, and food categories, with the option to convert the result into a tree-planting donation.
• Fundraising Platform A community fundraising platform that lets individuals and organisations create fundraisers for private or public events, activities, or gifts (such as weddings, birthdays, and sports challenges) to support reforestation projects.
• Carbon Credit Projects Certified carbon credit projects developed in partnership with ALLCOT covering 10,000 hectares of degraded land in the Congo Basin, enabling companies to acquire verified carbon credits tied to large-scale reforestation outcomes.
• Community Nursery Network A network of 355 community nurseries across 9 African countries producing and distributing approximately 10,000 tree seedlings per nursery annually, supporting local employment, agroforestry, and reforestation projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73+ million trees planted since 2009 in 9 African countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• La LibreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2023Belgian newspaper that covered Graine de Vie's planting of over 50 million trees in Africa, providing media visibility and credibility.
• DH NetminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2023Belgian news outlet that reported on the NGO's milestone of planting over 50 million trees in Africa.
• RTL BelgiumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 April 2022Belgian broadcaster that covered Graine de Vie planting more than 10 million trees in Africa in 2021.
• CEDV (ONG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner NGO in Benin working with Graine de Vie on community reforestation and environmental restoration projects.
• MNP (Madagascar National Parks)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for reforestation activities in national parks, restoration of ecosystems, community awareness, and establishment of nurseries in surrounding areas. Signed new cooperation agreement in December 2023.
• IxinacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKitchen furniture company with long-term commitment to help reforest Madagascar. Celebrated Graine de Vie's 15th anniversary at their 61st Belgian store opening in February 2025.
• NGroup (NRJ, Nostalgie, Chérie FM)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadcasting group that compensates CO2 emissions with Graine de Vie through reforestation projects. Published impact report available on ngroup.be.
• Century Box MainetticoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPackaging company committed to reducing environmental impact through reforestation partnerships with Graine de Vie.
• WAKO S.A.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partner sponsoring a nursery in Marovato, Andapa district, SAVA region, Madagascar. Produces 10,000 plants annually distributed free of charge.
• Tonnellerie BaronminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench cooperage sponsoring reforestation project around Ranomafana Park in partnership with Madagascar National Parks.
• Nexxt ImmominorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrasbourg-based real estate company that sponsored planting of 25,000 trees in Madagascar to offset carbon footprint.
• ALLCOTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for carbon credit projects. Will reforest 10,000 hectares of degraded land in the Congo Basin with significant impact on local community livelihoods.
• EnelecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported mangrove restoration efforts in Diego, Madagascar by providing manual labor for planting 5,000 propagules.
• Dry ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReforestation NGO partnered with Graine de Vie since 2020. Three-year partnership agreement signed October 2023 formalizing technical collaboration and support with seeds, equipment, and nursery management expertise.
• Climate LabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental initiative listed as an EcoPartner supporting reforestation activities.
• Université de KaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution listed as partner in reforestation and environmental education initiatives.
• Arendt & MedernachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxembourg law firm that supported mangrove restoration in Nosy Hara Marine Park.
• Pop MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBelgian partner that planted 4,000 clove trees and sponsors nursery with 10,000 additional trees being cultivated.
• The Barn Bio MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored nursery where 375 students from CEG Sahavoay school in Mandritsara repotted 7,000 plants as part of environmental education.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reforest'Action: French reforestation organization offering individual and corporate tree-planting subscriptions and a verified-impact platform. Highly comparable to Graine de Vie on geography (Francophone Europe donor base), per-tree subscription pricing, and corporate CSR positioning.
• One Tree Planted: Nonprofit that runs a unit-based tree donation model (1 USD = 1 tree) with corporate partnerships across global reforestation projects. Comparable to Graine de Vie on the individual and corporate donor mechanics, though it does not operate its own nurseries at the same scale.
• PUR Projet: France-based social enterprise that designs and funds agroforestry and reforestation projects with corporates, integrating carbon credit generation. Directly comparable to Graine de Vie's combination of corporate partnerships, agroforestry, and carbon credit monetization.
• Trees for the Future: US-based nonprofit focused on agroforestry in Sub-Saharan Africa, training farmers in tree planting. Highly comparable to Graine de Vie's community-nursery, agroforestry, and rural-employment approach in overlapping African geographies.
• Eden Reforestation Projects: US-headquartered NGO employing an employment-based reforestation model across multiple developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Closest comparable to Graine de Vie in mission (large-scale reforestation, community employment, low cost per tree) and donor-funded revenue model.

Peers

• WeForest: International reforestation NGO funding projects in tropical and subtropical regions, with a strong corporate partnership and 'buy verified trees' offering analogous to Graine de Vie's EcoPartner program. Direct peer in mission, donor mechanics, and tropical-Africa footprint.

Broad incumbents

• South Pole Group: Large, established climate solutions provider developing nature-based and technology-based carbon projects globally. Comparable on the carbon credit development function Graine de Vie performs with ALLCOT, but operates as a commercial entity across a much broader portfolio.
• Conservation International: Large US-based environmental NGO funding nature-based climate solutions, including forest protection and reforestation. Comparable in its use of corporate partnerships and conservation finance, though far broader in scope than Graine de Vie's reforestation focus.
• Trillion Trees (joint venture of BirdLife, WCS, WWF): Global forest restoration partnership convened by three major conservation NGOs, focused on tropical reforestation and protection. Comparable in mission and Africa/Latin America/Asia focus, but with a much larger, consortium-driven operating model.

Emerging players

• Mangrove Action Project: Specialist NGO focused on mangrove restoration, an adjacent activity that Graine de Vie also performs (e.g., mangrove restoration in Diego and Nosy Hara). Relevant as a comparator for the marine-coastal subset of Graine de Vie's tree-planting portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GRAINEDEVIE.ONG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ong-graine-de-vie
• Instagraminstagram.com/grainedevie.timetoplant
• Xx.com/Grainedeviecmr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seed of Life