Cultivating Change #6 Abdul Razak SEEDS Malaysia

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In this episode of Cultivating Change, Nova and I had the privilege of speaking to Abdul Razak Abdul Aziz, founder of Social Eco Enterprise Development for Sustainability (SEEDS) Malaysia, a social enterprise championing regenerative farming, reforestation, and sustainability education. We were eagerly looking forward to this conversation and he is a leader in the permaculture movement in Malaysia and has an infectious adventurous 'let's-get-this-done' spirit. The conversation with him was fascinating, especially the perspective he has gained from the time he spends with the Orang Asli, or indigenous peoples of Malaysia.

#6: From Designer to Regenerative Farming Advocate

Abdul Razak takes us on a journey from his early career as a designer to becoming a player in Malaysia’s sustainable and natural farming movement, influenced by his late father’s dream of owning a farm.

He shares the multifaceted challenges he faced, from the steep learning curve of livestock farming to balancing financial sustainability with environmental goals. Central to his story is how permaculture principles and Miyawaki’s food forest method transformed his approach, bringing the focus on soil health, biodiversity, and eco-friendly practices.

A significant part of the discussion focuses on Abdul Razak’s deep involvement with Malaysia’s indigenous Orang Asli communities. He speaks passionately about the projects he runs with them, from creating sustainable food systems to empowering these communities through education on natural farming and seed-saving techniques. Abdul highlights their rich, yet undervalued, traditional knowledge, particularly in areas like food foraging, regenerative farming, working with nature and the preservation of indigenous plant species.

Throughout the episode, Abdul Razak touches on the wide range of nature-based solutions he has implemented, including reforestation projects, eco-services, and creating training centers for sustainable practices. His work seamlessly bridges farming, environmental stewardship, and community development, offering listeners insight into how grassroots efforts can restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and build resilient communities.

Show notes

[00:00:00] Introduction Nova introduces Abdul Razak, the founder of SEEDS Malaysia, and his work in regenerative farming and sustainability. Abdul Razak’s background as a designer and his transition into farming sets the tone for the episode.

[00:03:00] From Designer to Farmer Abdul Razak shares his unique journey from working as a designer to starting a farm, inspired by his late father’s dream. He discusses the challenges of taking up goat farming with no previous experience.

[00:10:00] Challenges of Livestock Farming and Sustainability Abdul Razak reflects on the environmental impact of goat farming and how he came to realise its contribution to climate change. This discovery led him to explore permaculture and regenerative farming to lessen the environmental impact.

[00:15:00] Permaculture and Early Success in Farming He details how permaculture principles revolutionised his approach to farming. Despite initial resistance from friends and family, Abdul Razak managed to achieve an ROI in 3.5 years, far ahead of the projected 7 years.

[00:20:00] Family Support and Emotional Challenges Abdul Razak reflects on the emotional journey of involving his family in farming, recounting how his son initially struggled but later embraced the farming lifestyle.

[00:28:00] Working with Orang Asli: Building Trust and Sustainable Practices Abdul Razak discusses his deep involvement with Malaysia’s indigenous Orang Asli communities. He shares how trust-building is essential when working with these communities and highlights the valuable knowledge they hold about traditional regenerative farming practices. He also discusses the socio-economic challenges Orang Asli face as they are pushed out of their traditional lands.

[00:35:00] Reforestation and Indigenous Seed Preservation Abdul Razak explains his work on reforestation and the creation of a living gene bank. He also touches on how he adapted food forest principles to fit the Malaysian context, using indigenous plant species for sustainability and resilience.

[00:42:00] Creating SEEDS Malaysia as a Training Centre SEEDS Malaysia has grown into a full-fledged training centre where people can learn about natural farming, composting, permaculture, and sustainability. Abdul Razak speaks about the importance of education in connecting people to food systems and the environment.

[00:50:00] The Plight of Orang Asli and the Effects of Modernisation Abdul Razak returns to the topic of the Orang Asli and the significant impact that modernisation has had on their way of life. He discusses their traditional farming and foraging methods, emphasising the importance of respecting and preserving their knowledge.

[00:55:00] Innovative Farming Solutions: Floating Gardens (Chinampas) Abdul Razak introduces the floating gardens project developed in collaboration with Orang Asli communities to address the problem of crops being trampled by elephants. This innovative solution blends traditional farming techniques with modern adaptations.

[01:03:00] Scaling Sustainable Projects with Orang Asli Abdul Razak outlines current projects that involve empowering the Orang Asli through eco-tourism, local artisanal products, and small-scale farming initiatives. He shares success stories of communities coming together for reforestation and eco-services projects.

[01:10:00] Reforestation and Tree Planting: A Community Effort Abdul Razak talks about large-scale tree planting initiatives carried out with the help of local communities and the Orang Asli. He describes these efforts as critical for both environmental regeneration and community livelihood, linking them to broader reforestation goals.

[01:15:00] Education and the Role of Children in Sustainability Abdul Razak discusses the importance of reintroducing children to nature through school gardens and hands-on learning. He reflects on how education can help younger generations reconnect with food systems and develop a deeper understanding of sustainability.

[01:18:00] Discussion on Skills: From Farming to Leadership Abdul Razak highlights the critical skills he believes are essential for a sustainable future. He emphasises the importance of being connected to nature, producing food, and being accountable to the community and the earth. He also speaks about the role of leadership in inspiring others to embrace these values and skills.

[01:20:00] Climate Change and Food Security The conversation shifts towards Malaysia’s vulnerability to climate change, with Abdul Razak expressing concerns over food security and the aging farming population. He stresses the need for innovative approaches and stronger community connections to tackle these pressing issues.

[01:25:00] Final Thoughts: Creating Models for Sustainable Communities Abdul Razak concludes with a call to action, encouraging communities to embrace permaculture, plant trees, and support sustainable food systems. He emphasises that building resilient communities starts with grassroots action and local solutions.

*TRCRC mentioned around 54-minute marks stands for the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre.

*Hutan means forest in Malay

Additional Resources

1. Connect with Abdul Razak and SEEDS on Facebook here.
2. To learn more about how Abdul Razak and his wife Intan transformed their piece of land into a food forest : read this article.
3. This is a short overview of Abdul Razak’s philosophy on ground-up initiatives and his work with People for Peat and project Wild, Wild Pigs.
4. TRCRC mentioned around 54-minute mark stands for the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre based in Malaysia. Learn more about them here.

Special thanks to Abdul Razak for sharing his work in regenerative agriculture, reforestation, and sustainable development, and for his efforts to reconnect communities with nature and local food systems.

Senior producer and host: Nova Nelson.
Executive Producer and researcher: Tamanna Patel.
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About Cultivating Change

Cultivating Change is a podcast about people and communities shaping local regenerative food and agricultural systems in Southeast Asia.

We speak to farmers, smallholders and urban growers, food producers, researchers, environmentalists, entrepreneurs and various individuals that are re-imagining, designing and creating healthier more sustainable food futures and landscapes from the ground up.

Our mission? To explore questions and find answers about the vital aspects of our food system, why it matters to your well-being, and the seismic impact it has on the environment in Southeast Asia. It's not just a podcast; it's a recipe for change.