VVKI Signs MoU with HURL to Build India's Integrated Seed Bank at the Art of Living International Centre
📌 Bengaluru, 📆 11 September 2026
The CSR-funded project will conserve 500+ indigenous seed accessions and establish community seed networks in Bengaluru, Karnataka
Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) for the Development of an Integrated Seed Bank for Indian Flora at the Art of Living International Centre, Bengaluru.
The project, funded through a CSR grant of from HURL, will be implemented over 19 months. It aims to conserve indigenous crop varieties, wild plant species, medicinal herbs and horticultural varieties, while supporting climate-resilient agriculture and biodiversity conservation across the country.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Art of Living International Centre. Dr. Siba Prasad Mohanty, Managing Director, HURL, along with Shri Chaman Jaggi, Vice President – HR & CSR, HURL, and Shri Rohit Sikka, Chairman, VVKI, were present at the signing ceremony.
Project Targets
- 500 indigenous seed accessions
- 150 traditional crop varieties
- 100 indigenous horticultural varieties
- 20 community seed groups
The seed bank facility will house controlled seed storage systems, seed processing and drying units, seed testing and research laboratories, cryopreservation capability, and a digital seed documentation database. A core component of the project is building farmer and community seed networks, where tribal and farming communities participate as seed custodians.
This project builds on VVKI's existing work in sustainable agriculture, including the Desi Seed Bank initiative and natural farming programmes that have trained over 30 lakh farmers across 24 states.
HURL, a Government of India enterprise operating fertilizer complexes in Gorakhpur (UP), Sindri (Jharkhand), and Barauni (Bihar), undertakes CSR projects in education, skill development, water, health, sanitation, women's empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and agriculture.
