Africa’s research organisations have developed large numbers of improved and locally adapted crop varieties, yet many farmers still struggle to obtain affordable, timely and appropriate quality seed. At the same time, climate change, biodiversity loss and changing food and nutrition needs are increasing interest in a much broader diversity of crops, including indigenous, neglected and underutilised species, alongside Africa’s major staples.
From continental policy to farmers’ fields
A central theme of the Summit is therefore the gap between seed policy, research and delivery. Discussions examine how African Union and regional seed frameworks can translate into functioning national regulatory systems, stronger seed enterprises and better access for farmers.
The programme addresses the implementation of seed policy and regulatory instruments, increased public and private investment, alignment of seed-sector development with the Kampala CAADP agenda, more inclusive seed systems and the role of innovation and technology in accelerating agricultural transformation.
Importantly, the Summit does not consider the commercial seed sector in isolation. A strong strand of the discussions concerns farmer-managed seed systems (FMSS) and how they can complement formal seed systems while protecting crop diversity, farmers’ knowledge and locally adapted varieties.
Days 1 and 2 combine the official sessions with technical sessions, side events and exhibitions, while 7 October is primarily the Heads of State Summit.
- Message of H.E. Mosses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
Towards a more pluralistic African seed system
The significance of the inaugural Africa Seed Summit ultimately extends beyond seed production. Seeds sit at the intersection of agricultural research, biodiversity, climate adaptation, nutrition, markets, farmers’ rights and food sovereignty.
Africa therefore needs a pluralistic seed system in which commercial seed companies, public breeding programmes, genebanks and farmer-managed seed systems can complement one another. Improved varieties need pathways to reach millions of farmers, while the enormous diversity maintained by farming communities must remain available for future breeding, adaptation and food-system transformation.
5 October — 14:00–15:00 | Mobilizing Investment for Inclusive and Resilient Seed Delivery in Africa
Africa's seed sector has made real progress on reform, yet millions of farmers still cannot reliably get improved varieties and quality planting material. High costs, limited availability, weak distribution networks, scarce finance and too little information keep good seed out of reach. Shaping the sector's future calls for decisive action on two fronts:
- Investment: more strategic public and private investment in inclusive seed systems that reach underserved farming communities, using private-sector participation and digital innovation to deliver at scale.
- Policy: enabling policies and harmonized regulatory frameworks that speed up the movement of improved varieties from research to farmers' fields. Better seed only changes lives once it actually reaches the farmer.
5 October — 15:00–16:00 | Strengthening seed systems and improving smallholder access to quality seed
platforms, women- and youth-led seed enterprises, finance, information and markets, drawing particularly on experiences from Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), IITA, ASARECA, SACAU, African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), Eswatini Seed Association, Uganda Seed Trade Association, Seed Trade Association of Kenya, Zimbabwe Seed Association, Zambia Seed Company, CIMMYT, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, AfricaRice, CIP, FANRPAN, COMESA, SADC, East African Community and the African Union. The announcement also identifies Sylvia Horemans and Dr Nizam Kuxdorf-Alkirata
5 October — 16:00–17:00 | Turning Policy into Practice: Strengthening Inclusive Seed Systems in Africa
Co-hosted by SeedNL and Nigeria's National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), with participation from the World Vegetable Center, Oxfam Novib and Seeds for Food Coalition. LinkedIn
- Falaq Tidjani — SeedNL
- Gigi Manicad — Seeds for Food Coalition
- Sognigbe N'Danikou — World Vegetable Center
- Maya Piotrowska — Oxfam Novib
The discussion covers policy harmonisation, movement of genetic resources for conservation and use, public-private cooperation, farmer-managed seed systems and equitable partnerships.
6 October — 14:00–15:00 | What it takes for continental seed instruments to work in national regulatory practice
- Eswatini National Seed Committee
- Ministry of Agriculture, Eswatini
- rural women farmers
- farmers' union
- FANRPAN
- CANGO
A Relaunch of the National Seed Committee: The Revival of a CANGO/MoA/FANRPAN Partnership Is a Significant Moment.
On 10 August 2026, Eswatini took a major step forward for its agriculture sector: the inaugural meeting of the relaunched National Seed Committee, held in Ezulwini and convened by CANGO and the Ministry of Agriculture, with support from and the FANRPAN Regional Secretariat under the CS PILLAR Project. After several years of inactivity, the Committee is back restoring a national platform for policy guidance, coordination, stakeholder engagement and resource mobilisation across the seed sector.
6 October — 15:00–17:00 CET. Advancing Farmer-Managed Seed Systems in Africa: Strengthening Governance, Accelerating Policy Domestication, and Mobilizing Investments for Implementation
The principal convenor is the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), working with the African Union Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I) Continental Secretariat, Biovision Africa Trust, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and SWISSAID, in collaboration with the African Union.
This is primarily an implementation and investment meeting, rather than another discussion about whether farmer-managed seed systems should be recognised. Its starting point is the African Union's emerging policy framework for FMSS and the need to translate continental commitments into practical action at regional and national levels. LinkedIn
The meeting is intended to produce progress in four interconnected areas:
1. Governance and coordination — establish or strengthen a governance structure for implementation of the AU FMSS agenda and clarify the respective roles of continental, regional and national actors.
2. Policy domestication — translate the AU FMSS framework into Regional Agricultural Investment Plans (RAIPs) and National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs), as well as relevant national seed policies and regulations.
3. A 12-month action plan — agree concrete activities, responsibilities and next steps rather than leaving the strategy at the level of continental policy.
4. Financing and resource mobilisation — identify financing mechanisms, partnerships and investment opportunities capable of supporting implementation.
6 October — 14:00 | How to Implement the African Union's Strategy Framework on Farmer-Managed Seed Systems?
Convened by the International Community of Practice for Farmer-Managed Seed Systems. The session draws on practical experience concerning:
- participatory breeding and breeding for farmers' needs;
- climate resilience and crop diversity;
- community seed banks;
- seed laws and regional regulations;
- policy pathways for implementing the new AU Strategy Framework on Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS).
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