African Union hosts inaugural Africa Seed Summit in Eswatini to boost seed investment, improve regulation and strengthen food security across Africa….reports Africa Daily News Desk
The African Union Commission will convene an Extraordinary Session on African Seed Systems in Ezulwini, the Kingdom of Eswatini, from October 5 to 7, as African countries seek to strengthen seed systems and improve agricultural productivity across the continent.
The inaugural Africa Seed Summit will bring together heads of state and government, agriculture ministers, national seed agencies, farmer organisations, private-sector companies and other stakeholders involved in seed production and agricultural technology.
The summit will support implementation of the Kampala Declaration and Action Plan under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), as well as the Africa Seed and Biotechnology Platform.
A key focus will be mobilising political commitment for sustained public investment in Africa’s seed sector and encouraging private-sector participation in country-led seed systems.
The African Union also aims to promote stronger legal and regulatory frameworks that can support investment in seed production, technology and related industries.
Why is Africa focusing on seed systems?
Access to high-quality seeds suited to local conditions is considered an important factor in improving agricultural production and food security.
The African Union says poor-quality or unsuitable seed can limit crop yields and reduce the productivity of farmers’ labour. While seed quality is a major factor in crop establishment and development, outcomes also depend on rainfall, soil fertility, farming practices and pest management.
The use of improved crop varieties varies significantly across African countries and crops. For maize and vegetables, more than 70 per cent of farmers in some countries use improved certified seed, while certified seed or planting materials are used by fewer than 5 per cent of farmers for many crops, particularly legumes and root and tuber crops.
At the same time, more than 500 improved varieties for key crops were released across Africa between 2022 and 2024, according to the summit organisers.
These varieties include traits such as higher yields, early maturity, increased oil content, greater nutrient density and tolerance to pests and diseases.
What will the Africa Seed Summit discuss?
The three-day meeting will cover seed policy and regulatory systems, public and private investment, inclusive seed-sector development and the use of technology to accelerate agricultural development.
Discussions will also examine how the Africa Seed and Biotechnology Programme can be aligned with the second 10-year implementation plan of Agenda 2063 and the Kampala CAADP Declaration for 2027-2033.
The summit is expected to seek commitments to improve the policy and regulatory environment for the seed industry while encouraging greater investment.
Participants will also discuss ways to make seed systems more inclusive and improve access to appropriate technologies for farmers.
What will happen during the three-day summit?
The first day, October 5, will include a ministerial session involving agriculture ministers, alongside technical plenary sessions, side events and exhibitions.
On October 6, ministers of agriculture and foreign affairs will participate in executive committee and technical sessions, with further plenaries, side events and exhibitions.
The Heads of State Summit will take place on October 7.
The summit is expected to conclude with a declaration outlining commitments and endorsements by African Union heads of state and government, alongside a roadmap for implementing agreed priorities.
Other expected outcomes include commitments to improve policy and regulatory frameworks, a revised 10-year Action Plan for the Africa Seed and Biotechnology Programme and the launch of the Seed Sector Performance Index (SSPI) 2025 Status Report for Africa.
The event will also provide opportunities for networking, technical discussions and exhibitions where seed companies and other businesses can showcase technologies and products.
