Zayaan Khan: Cultivating Food Justice Through Seeds and Art
Artist and activist Zayaan Khan uses seed libraries to challenge restrictive South African food laws.
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1Seed Library as Activism
Zayaan Khan, a 42-year-old researcher and artist, founded the Seed Biblioteek in Cape Town in 2015. Located at Bertha House, this initiative serves as a community hub for seed exchange and education. Khan integrates her background in agrarian reform with creative practices to highlight systemic inequalities within South Africa's food systems.
2Roots in Agrarian Reform
Khan’s activism began during her tenure at the Surplus People Project between 2011 and 2016. As an in-field horticulturist, she supported small-scale farmers through agroecological training. This experience exposed her to the reality of widespread hunger, even among food producers, fueling her commitment to challenging the current land and food distribution systems.
3Challenging Restrictive Seed Laws
Khan argues that South Africa’s current seed laws are draconian and lack necessary public consultation. She believes these regulations marginalize indigenous and traditional farming practices, which she views as vital for food sovereignty. By maintaining seed libraries, she aims to keep genetic resources accessible and preserve the cultural heritage embedded in traditional agriculture.
4Community and Collaborative Networks
Between 2013 and 2016, Khan co-ordinated the Slow Food Youth Network South Africa. This role allowed her to participate in the international Terra Madre Salone del Gusto festival in Italy. These experiences reinforced her belief that food movements should be spaces for collective engagement, connecting diverse people through shared struggles and solutions.
5Artistic Exploration of Polycrisis
Beyond agriculture, Khan uses sculpture, print, and illustration to explore themes of life, death, and grief. Her recent work addresses global crises through the lens of food. In October 2026, she created an edible Pan-African graveyard installation for the Maputo Fast Forward Festival to address xenophobia and honor victims of violence.
6Expanding the Library Network
The success of the original Seed Biblioteek led to the opening of a second location at the Muizenberg Commons in 2025. These spaces host workshops, film screenings, and zine-making events. By facilitating the exchange of seeds, compost, and knowledge, the libraries foster a community-led approach to food security and cultural preservation.
7Indigenous Knowledge and Ecology
Khan advocates for the recognition of black ecology and indigenous farming practices as the standard rather than the exception. She asserts that these diverse methods carry significant identity and knowledge that the current standardized system ignores. Her work seeks to elevate these practices, celebrating the spiritual and ecological heritage of the land.
8Food as Collective Engagement
Khan’s multifaceted approach underscores the necessity of viewing food as a fundamental right rather than a commodity. By merging art with political advocacy, she highlights the systemic nature of hunger in South Africa. Her work serves as a call to reclaim food systems through community connection, traditional knowledge, and active resistance.
Original article: Daily Maverick — Zayaan Khan: Cultivating Food Justice Through Seeds and Art