Fondacija Alica

Foundation Alica is a non-profit organization based in Bosnia and Herzegovina dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity, the promotion of agroecological practices, and the strengthening of resilient rural communities. The Foundation works to preserve plant genetic resources, traditional varieties, local knowledge, and pollinator-friendly farming systems while supporting sustainable food production and biodiversity conservation.

Alica actively engages farmers, researchers, civil society organizations, and public institutions through participatory approaches, training activities, awareness-raising events, and stakeholder consultations. The Foundation promotes on-farm conservation, community-based seed initiatives, knowledge exchange, and the integration of biodiversity considerations into agricultural development.

The organization collaborates with national and international partners, including universities, research institutions, farmers’ associations, and biodiversity networks. As a member of regional and European initiatives focused on agricultural biodiversity and agroecology, Alica contributes to the development of innovative approaches that link biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, ecosystem services, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

By combining scientific knowledge with local experience, Foundation Alica supports the transition towards more diverse, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.

The "Alica" Foundation is part of several international networks:

BILIM Alliance https://bilim.network/about-us/ (a community of organizations active in agroecology from the region of Eastern Europe, Central and West Asia. It brings together civil movements, organizations, non-governmental organizations and other groups that organize farmers and small food producers, indigenous peoples, academics, women and youth. Members of the Bilim community practice and/or promote agroecology on the ground and/or at the policy level, with a focus on the protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage, putting the knowledge of smallholder farmers at the center of food systems. Its work is guided by our cultural diversity and the Nyeleni Declaration on Agroecology, UNDROP and UNDRIP.

Balkan Seed Network Association https://balkanseednetwork.org/

(The Balkan Seed Network was founded in 2023 and consists of seed keepers, breeders, scientists, farmers, gardeners, associations and organizations active in the Balkans.)

Let's Liberate Diversity https://liberateddiversity.org/ (European coordinating organization "Let's Unleash Diversity!" (ECLLD) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the dynamic management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The underlying belief is that the diversification of our food systems can be achieved through the joint efforts of various stakeholders involved in cultivated biodiversity.)

IFOAM Seed Platform https://seeds.ifoam.bio/listings/foundation-alica/. The IFOAM Seed Platform is a global network of individuals and organizations advancing seed and plant breeding for agroecology and organic systems. Officially approved as a self-organized structure by IFOAM - Organics International on June 1, 2015, the Seed Platform is governed by a set set of official procedures.

Agreoecology Coalition https://agroecology-coalition.org/ The Agroecology Coalition was set up in the context to provide a mechanism for countries and organizations to collaborate on food systems transformation through agroecology to address multiple crises simultaneously.