Meet the
SUPER-SEEDERS

MILES HILLMANN

The Super-Seeders are creating the plant genetic revolution and breeding crops that can withstand the challenges of a changing world.  From underground vaults to remote farms, the Super-Seeders are preserving biodiversity and breeding crops that can withstand the challenges of a changing world.

The People Powering a Quiet Revolution

Some are global leaders in their field. Others are smallholder farmers in remote regions, trialling new varieties in the harshest conditions. What unites them is a shared mission: to protect and adapt our crops in the face of climate change, disease, and food insecurity. This page introduces just a few of the voices and stories featured in The Super-Seeders — each one helping to bring the Seven Pillars to life.

Nikolai
Vavilov​

black and white photo of a man
Visionary Scientist​

In the 1930s, Vavilov and his team collected tens of thousands of crop varieties from around the world — many of which are still used in breeding today. During the Siege of Leningrad, his scientists chose to starve rather than eat the seeds in their vault. Vavilov’s legacy is the moral and scientific foundation of every gene bank today.

Dr. Simon Griffiths

Group Leader, Delivering Sustainable Wheat (DSW) Programme
- John Innes Centre, UK

A wheat geneticist at the John Innes Centre, Simon’s work focuses on unravelling the complexity of plant immunity and yield traits. His lab links old wheat varieties with cutting-edge genomics to breed stronger, more resilient crops — all without losing the traits that farmers depend on.

Dr. geoff Hawtin

Global Policy Leader, World Food Prize winner 2024​

A former Director General of CIAT and co-founder of the Crop Trust, Geoff has spent decades fighting to secure funding and policy frameworks for global seed sharing. His leadership helped cement the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources — making genetic diversity a shared global asset.

DIVE DEEPER

Discover in depth articles on topics relating to the people behind the story.