SeedNL welcomes another new team member
Get to know Martijn, the new addition to our team, in the blog below. Join us in welcoming him as project assistant!
Could you please introduce yourself to the SeedNL community?
Hey there! I’m Martijn, 25 years old and a recent graduate from Wageningen University. I studied a hybrid track there, with a bachelor's degree in Plant Sciences, majoring in plant genomics, and a master’s degree in Development and Rural Innovation. I’m enamoured by the potential plant breeding has to combat malnutrition and improve rural livelihoods, which is why starting my career at SeedNL feels like a dream come true!
During my master’s degree in development, I always kept my background in plant genomics at the forefront of my work. This resulted in, among other things, a study performed on indigenous agrobiodiversity on the Balearic Islands, and my master’s thesis, where I took a (critical) dive into WUR’s breeding and domestication research, especially focussing on work on minor and wild crops in the Global South.
As a person, I have an ever-changing and ever-expanding list of activities that I love. The common thread within those has to be my love of good food (and wine!), having worked as a chef for most of my time as a student, and my love for the arts; music, cinema and theatre taking the centre stage there.
Can you tell us what you will be working on for SeedNL?
I’ll be joining the SeedNL team as a Project Assistant, supporting the team in a diverse array of activities during this growing wave of SeedNL momentum. Central activities include working on SeedNL’s community of practice, analysing and evaluating a variety of projects undertaken in the past and presenting them there. I’ll also be joining the work on project assessments, and the planning of SeedNL’s 5th anniversary!
What elements of SeedNL’s ambition and activities speak to you most?
SeedNL’s “bigger picture” approach really appeals to me. The organisation doesn’t just look at the issues and opportunities of seed systems through a governmental, civic, private or academic lens, but instead combines these views into something greater. I really look forward to working with this holistic approach to seed systems.
What is your ambition and wish for the seed sector and its development over the next years?
Progress on SDG2, the fight against global malnutrition, has slowed down in recent years, especially with the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. I believe the further development of the global seed sector and local seed systems can play a major role in picking up rapid progress on SDG2 once again, and look forward to a future where high quality seeds can be easily accessed by those most dependent on them.
