Key takeaways from the contribution of seed to sustainable food systems in Africa workshop.

Earlier this year in January, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Schemes held a policy workshop on the contribution of seed to sustainable food systems in Africa. This workshop brought together participants from all over the world to deliberate on the central role of seeds in fostering food security across Africa. With a wide range of actors from the seed sector, including international organisations, seed associations, companies and government officials from multiple continents, as well as and both regional and national seed organisations from Africa, the discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration among public and private entities to address the triple challenge facing agricultural systems: food security, livelihoods, and sustainability. Seed World Europe spoke with Csaba Gaspar, Head of Section of the OECD Codes and Schemes (which includes the OECD Seed Schemes) to get his perspective on the workshop and its main takeaways.

The Triple Challenge of Sustainable Agricultural Systems 

Seed is one of the most important input products to any food system, Africa’s included, and thus plays a key role in promoting food security and nutrition, supporting livelihoods and building a sustainable agriculture and food system. 

To achieve the maximum benefits from seed, however, requires intensive planning, especially in a seed system that consists primarily of smallholder farmers. That work is underway, at least in part thanks to the efforts of the African Union (AU), a group of 55 member states formed in 2001 to promote economic and social well-being across Africa.

“One of the key participants of the workshop was from the African Union who outlined a comprehensive 50-year plan to achieve food security across the continent,” explains Gaspar. 

Central to the AU’s initiative is the promotion of seed sector development and the adoption of quality seeds by farmers, an effort supported by multiple others. “Regional economic cooperation frameworks, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and South African Development Community (SADC), have been instrumental in aligning seed certification systems in Africa with international standards, notably the OECD Seed Schemes,” he adds. 

For Gaspar, positive advancements are evident in Africa, particularly in East Africa, especially in regard to the fostering of cooperation and establishment of regulatory frameworks in alignment with international standards. These efforts encompass various harmonization areas such as variety release, seed certification, phytosanitary measures, and procedures for seed importation, and together contribute to the substantial growth of the seed sector across the continent. 

Gaspar says that the workshop identified key recommendations to move Africa’s seed system forward.

Lesson Learned from the Workshop and Actions 

Gaspar says the workshop offered great presentations and excellent discussions. 

“As a result of the many discussions we had, we were able to formulate several lessons learned. In addition, we also wrote down action plans,” says Gaspar. The lessons learned include:

➢ Cooperation on the international level is crucial. The World Seed Partnership (WSP; www.worldseedpartnership.org) plays a key role in supporting the development of the seed sector in countries around the world, including across Africa. The OECD Seed Schemes also works with African organisations, particularly with the African Union, to identify and work on issues that can help seed sector development in African countries. These international initiatives can deliver value to African countries, but it is also crucial to build capacity within African countries: 

• As international organisations can facilitate the development of the seed sector in African countries it is important for African countries to regularly and actively participate in the work of international organisations. 
• As cooperation between countries is key, the OECD Seed Schemes can act as a level playing field to facilitate collaboration amongst governments, as well as between the public and private sector. 
• As public-private partnerships within countries are also essential, cooperation between the seed authorities and the representatives of the national seed sector should be further encouraged.  

➢ It is vital to encourage African countries to participate in the OECD Seed Schemes, which can help African countries reach their national seed sector development goals.

➢ Capacitybuilding is a high priority as many African countries recognise the importance of access to quality seed for farmers, and those countries’ governments wish to develop their national seed sectors. With its robust capacity-building programme, the OECD Seed Schemes can help in this area.  

➢ Formal and informal seed systems can work as complementary systems and do not necessarily conflict with each other. 

➢ Localisation of seed production can be risky, whereas internationally connected seed systems can be more resistant to stress. 

➢ Digitalisation is beneficial to increase the robustness of the seed supply chain, to ensure business continuity in the event of crisis, and to combat fraud. The OECD Seed Schemes has in fact already started an important project on the digitalisation of its certification system.  

➢ The integration and harmonisation of the different existing regulatory systems would be beneficial.

The OECD Seed Schemes as a Support of Sustainable and Resilient Food and Seed Systems 

Gaspar adds that membership in the OECD Seed Schemes can bring many advantages to African countries. “It can help them to improve their national seed sectors in reaching national food security goals and a sustainable and resilient food system in line with national strategies. The Seed Schemes can contribute to self-sufficiency of certified seed, boosting yield, [improved] access to quality seed and choice of seed for farmers, and [enhanced] access to markets. But it can also attract investments and boost business, allow countries to be competitive at the international level, create a level playing field, and allow for the participation in the international standard-setting procedure.”

Actions for the OECD Seed Schemes

While much of the work to support Africa’s involvement in the OECD Seed Schemes must be undertaken by African countries themselves, there is also opportunity for OECD to adjust its efforts to better accommodate Africa. Gaspar explains that members of OECD Seed Schemes also looked at the organization itself and discussed what it could take on as action items. 

“We came to the following list: explore and strengthen cooperation with other international organisations, strengthen international regulatory cooperation, provide technical support for capacity building initiatives in African countries and promote digitalisation and explore the possibilities for integration of different digital systems. But there were also other action items such as: better promote the OECD Seed Schemes as a certification system that allows certification of seed of varieties regardless of their breeding methods and as such adapted to new plant breeding techniques, review rules and guidelines related to multiplication abroad agreements, and encourage the sharing of best practices amongst countries (OECD level playing field, peer review),” he explains.

Specific Actions Suggested for African Countries

The workshop allowed delegates to discuss challenges with thought leaders from all over the world. “We were able to zoom in on several action items that were targeted to African countries,” says Gaspar. “Africa is encouraged to develop an African Free Trade Zone, to manage risks to attract private investments in the seed sector, and to ensure the protection of varieties (intellectual property). Furthermore, it would be great if the countries could harmonize varietal registration practices and strengthen the African Union’s role in supporting dialogue between regional seed systems,” he adds.

More information on the OECD Seed Schemes and the outcomes of the policy the Contribution of Seed to Sustainable Food Systems in Africa workshop can be found on the official website of the Schemes:https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/seeds.html.

Challenges and Actions identified by the Workshop

• The threat of climate change poses significant concern. Increasing the diversity of crops would help improve seed production for climate-smart crops/varieties. 
• Capacity for plant breeding should be increased. Africa has a great capacity for breeding and releasing varieties which are climate adapted and drought tolerant. An enabling regulatory environment is instrumental in fostering investment in plant breeding innovations (key role of UPOV). 
• Cross-border seed movement could be improved as no country is completely independent in seed supply. Many countries still use national seed legislation when handling cross-border matters. 
• Harmonizing seed systems between African regional organisations (such as COMESA, SADC, ECOWAS) and harmonizing national best practices within the African countries is crucial.
• Africa needs pragmatic, cost-effective, and predictable seed certification systems. There needs to be sufficient capacity and resources for regulatory implementation in order to develop functioning seed certification systems. 
• The OECD seed certification system could be further developed, notably in relation to agreements regarding multiplication abroad. 
• The OECD Seed Schemes is ready to accommodate and certify seed of varieties regardless to their breeding methods and thus also those that are developed by new plant breeding techniques. This advantage of the OECD seed certification system should be better promoted in African countries.  
• Developing seed system that are inclusive is key to ensuring the sustainability of food systems on the continent. 
• Farmers’ education is essential, notably to ensure best practices in crop production and appropriate use of varieties.  

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