UNDERSTANDING AND
ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL,
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
The SEED Consortium is a group of conservation and development experts and researchers who collaborate in scholarship and policy advising around the topics of environmental sustainability, economic and social development, marine ecosystem health, land use planning and policy and infrastructure development.
Each member of the consortium pursues his own research agenda and projects, collaborating with other members depending on the scale of particular projects or the need for varied expertise.
“...in the end, sustainable development and the integrated nature of the global environment is not a fixed state of harmony, but rather a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change are made consistent with future as well as present needs. Thus, in the final analysis, sustainable development must rest on political will.”
UN General Assembly Brundtland Report (1987)
What we do
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Assist governments and NGOs with the design and application of policies and economic development strategies aimed at boosting local prosperity and economic competitiveness while preserving and enhancing environmental assets;
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Conduct basic research at the intersection of development and sustainability
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Implementation of the SEED Center for demonstration, training and teaching - from which practically transfer applied know-how to people involved in agriculture, aquaculture, rural development, tourism, and related services, and professional education - creating also a platform which can facilitate active scientific research and teaching initiatives in the environmental sciences, marine sciences, geology, biotechnology and ecology, by local and invited institutes, scientists and researchers
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Pursue applied research and hands-on teaching activities that focus on developing solutions to environmental challenges, infrastructure development, city planning, social issues, and economic development issues that are faced by developing societies in tropical regions, with a focus on tropical island contexts;
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Use applied research projects as test-beds for international, interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to research and teaching that integrate environmental and earth sciences, the life sciences, social and urban planning, and economic development;
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Strive to optimize developing societies’ self-sufficiency and independence, in producing agriculture and marine/fisheries food products, that are necessary to support their development.​
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To assist the host island with the design and application of policies, coastal and marine zone management and economic development strategies aimed at boosting local prosperity and economic competitiveness while preserving and enhancing environmental assets;
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To pursue applied research and hands-on teaching activities that focus on developing solutions to environmental challenges, infrastructure development, city planning, social issues and economic-development issues that are faced by the island;
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To help position the host island as a model for conducting active scientific research and teaching initiatives in the environmental sciences, marine sciences, geology, microbiology, biotechnology and ecology, by the local university and invited institutes, scientists and researchers from around the world;
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To operate a test-bed for international, interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to research and teaching that integrate environmental and earth sciences, the life sciences, social and urban planning and economic development;
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To create the infrastructure so that host island can serve as a demonstration, training and teaching “field station” from which to practically conduct the transfer of applied know-how to those involved in agriculture, rural development, tourism, and related services, as well as non-academic education;
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To organize and operate an Eco-tourism research and teaching center that will support scientific research and teaching initiatives, visiting scientists, develop Eco-tourism related programs and teaching; and to assist local industry in applying them;
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To strive to optimize the host island's self-sufficiency and independence, in producing agriculture and marine/fisheries food products that are necessary to support its development.
The seed center
academic &
non-academic
programs
The SEED Center is operating through 2 sections:
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1.Know-how transfer, Training and Extension services: Is acting as a vehicle for teaching, demonstrating, training, transfer of know-how and extension support - By running seminars, workshops, hands-on training and demonstration of the most suitable methods and technologies, related to:
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Conservation, development, restoration and management of natural environmental resources;
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Watershed management and related topics;
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Erosion control and reforestation;
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Agriculture and Aquaculture production and Animal husbandry - using and considering the natural resources;
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Development of Eco-tourism programs and its supporting services and facilities;
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Integration, teaching and guidance of local population towards and during "smart" development process;
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2. Academic Section: Engaged in supporting teaching and research activities in the following fields:
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Regional and Urban development, including infrastructure;
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Marine and earth sciences;
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Agriculture and Aquaculture development;
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Economic and social development;
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Cultures of the region;
Facilitating and supporting:
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The teaching of students from the host island/country and neighboring countries – in collaboration with their local institutions;
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Students and researchers from academic institutes in USA, Europe and other countries – in their short, medium and long-term programs;
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Establishment of a platform for local pre-academic and academic education programs in the above mentioned fields;
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Interface for partnership with locally-based and regional research, government, and private enterprises.
