Emigdio Ballón is a Quechua seed keeper, agricultural scientist, and elder dedicated to the protection of seeds and the wisdom they carry. Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, he was initiated into traditional seed practices at his grandfather’s side. His studies in agriculture and plant genetics deepened this calling, specializing in quinoa and amaranth — sacred crops of the Andes.

For many years, Emigdio served as Director of the Farm Program at the Pueblo of Tesuque in New Mexico, guiding seed preservation, organic farming, and cultural revitalization. Though now retired from that role, his prayer and passion remain steadfast: to safeguard seeds as living relatives, carrying spirit, nourishment, and ancestral memory.

Emigdio’s journey continues as he blends ancestral Quechua techniques with sustainable farming, teaching communities around the world that seeds are not only food, but also sacred teachers and carriers of life.