ISF: Africa on right path to increase seed production, fight climate change

In the midst of various crises like climate change, African countries are facing challenges in terms of food security.

With increasing population and environmental threats such as drought and floods, there is an urgent need to increase seed production.

However, the continent has not shied away but has taken bold steps and a daring tone to address the different challenges they are facing as climate change impacts worsen.

African continent, especially Kenya, is pushing their boundaries to increase seed production, and with groundbreaking efforts, they have implemented advanced technologies in agriculture to promote sustainable farming practices.

With determination and resilience, the land has been tilled, seeds have been sown, and an abundance of crops have been yielded.

The continent's unwavering dedication to achieving food is a testament to its vision and determination.

Through these efforts, the continent continues to pave the way towards a more sustainable and secure future.

To unpack it all, the Star had a sit-down with experts from the International Seed Federation to discuss where Africa stands on seed production and efforts to mitigate climate change for food security.

ISF leaders from across the world convened in Nairobi for its annual Board meetings from February 26 to March 1, 2025.

INCREASED PRODUCTION

ISF sustainability and crop value chain manager Ben Rivoire said climate change is impacting nations, especially those in agriculture.

He said that plant breeders have been on their toes to develop new varieties of plants and new quality seeds to help in cushioning countries impacted by climate change.

“Breeders have always adapted their varieties to make sure farmers will get access to the best in terms of adaptability to changing growing conditions, when you look at the growing conditions today, they are quite different from what they were 10 to 15 years ago,” Rivoire said.

Rivoire said breeders have embraced new technology and that helps them to work efficiently and quickly to bring new varieties in the market.

The value chain manager stated that Kenya is a good example among African countries to increase seed production and mitigate climate change impacts.

“Kenya has always been active and innovative in the way that they were structuring the agricultural sector, and in particular the seed industry,” he said.

He said that innovation access is important to farmers by encouraging those who innovate to do more.

Rivoire said Kenya is making progress after joining the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) on May 13, 1999.

Kenya was the first African country to join UPOV. 

He said Kenya has established mechanisms with other national institutes to check the quality of seeds and other agricultural products.

“There is still some room for improvement both in Kenya and in Africa, that is why we are intervening because international collaboration and cooperation is key. Kenya has always been open for this kind of cooperation to help the agricultural sector,” he added.

He lauded the country for its leading role in the continent, calling on other neighbouring countries to emulate and take the same route.

“I would love to see Kenya continuing to play this leading role in the region and the continent. To build a strong economy and a resilient agricultural sector is important. Kenya, authorities, policy makers and regulators understood quite quickly how important agriculture is.”

Rivoire said indigenous species are important and some international organisations have come into play to help protect them.

He said there is a need to get access to all genetic resources, including indigenous species, to address disease resistance challenges.

According to him, indigenous species add key traits in terms of disease resistance to help farmers with challenges they face.

“We have started a pilot project called the Seed Resilience Project with local NGO where we are comparing traditional local varieties with improved varieties of quality seeds,” he said.

He said ISF is looking into duplicating the projects in various countries across the African continent to build climate resistance products.

FARMER’S CHOICE

ISF secretary general Michael Keller said Africa needs to be at the high table on discussions about seed resilience since it is the most impacted by climate change.

He said their ambition is that every African farmer has a choice on seeds because it is the starting point for food security.

“How can it be that we are living today in a world where people are starving? That means we see the opportunities in Africa to increase the seed choice. We are looking at the private sector to be a solution provider,” he said.

Keller said Kenya is an important place for seeds and the seed market because it can provide a diverse choice to the farmers.

The SG added that in many African countries, farmers do not have a choice and some have no seeds available.

He said the farmer should be able to choose between indigenous seeds, seeds from research programs and also from the private sectors, fitting their needs.

“It can mean that the indigenous seeds are far better fitting for the needs in a given crop than seeds coming from the private sector,” he said.

By investing in research and development, producing and marketing seeds, Keller said, it will help countries feed the future in a challenging environment.

Keller said the continent is growing in terms of using certified or improved seeds; however, it is low compared to other countries in the world.

“We need to increase production in Africa, which starts with the seeds, to think about the integrated agricultural system where a seed is the starting point is essential, and where seeds in their diversity can be brought to the farmers is critical,” he said.

 International Seed Federation secretary general Michael Keller speaking during an interview with The Star in Nairobi on February 26, 2025/LEAH MUKANGAI 

He called on African governments to work with the private sectors as it is investing more on research and development.

Keller said that by doing more research, farmers will be enlightened on how to deal with challenges such as pests and diseases.

“Let us think about the collaborative efforts to make this happen and to support the agricultural sector more than ever,” he said.

Keller said ISF is currently working on 80 different crops with hundreds of breeding programs.

According to the SG, for each of the breeding programs, they are using different tools of breeding.

“Genetically Modified Organism is one breeding tool within the whole toolbox we have, we have normal hybrid, we have GMO, we are also starting to integrate gene editing in our breeding program,” he said.

“What we are looking for is that we can use all the breeding tools to provide the farmers with the best solution and the best seeds. GMO is an important and helpful tool that is a complementary system.”

He, however, said that the government should put in place the right set of regulations concerning gene editing.

Keller said that gene editing is a tool that will help to mitigate climate change and improve the yields.

ALL ABOUT ISF

The International Seed Federation has about 10,000 members in more than 90 countries.

ISF President Arthur Santosh said they engage with governments, regional seeds associations, and national seed associations.

They help in policy making and bringing about change in the agriculture sector. They also ensure the movement and accessibility of quality seeds to all farmers around the world.

In May 2024, IFS and the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to address illegal seed practices. 

Illegal seed practices are counterfeit seeds, fraudulent labeling, Intellectual property infringements, and theft of proprietary material. 

The MoU supports legal practices addressing global challenges like climate change and pest resistance. 

Santosh noted that illegal seed practice is prevalent in many countries, adding that there is a need to address it.

“Mainly it is the knowledge that is important on how to tackle illegal seeds. Sometimes governments have to bring in policies that are more conducive because on one side you have farmers who need good seed and on the other side, you have illegal seed practices which harm the farmer in the end, affecting the yield and produce ability and even if it is producible, sometimes the quantity is not there. We are working on that member by member, country by country,” he said.

According to the ISF President, Kenya is on the right path in increasing seed production in the wake of climate change impacts.

He said that Kenya is among the top African countries with diversity and a portfolio of products.

“Kenya has strong intellectual property in place. You grow flowers, fresh produce, and seed production and specialised operations for cuttings. I am sure Kenya will excel in the years to come,” he said.

Santosh said that Africa is growing in terms of seed production because young people have shown interest and are pursuing agriculture.

He added that Africa has the largest arable land in the world with different climatic zones across the countries.

“It is positive and going forward the continent will be producing a lot of food for consumption and for export which is already happening. Kenya is leading the countries in that. It is good for Kenya and the entire continent going forward,” Santosh said.

International Seed Federation president Arthur Santosh speaking during an interview with The Star in Nairobi on February 26, 2025/LEAH MUKANGAI 

He, however, said that there is still a lot to be done, adding that ISF is open to working with Africa for capacity building.

Santosh said that as a continent, to survive the impacts of climate change, it must look at opportunities and getting better genetics for food security.

“If Genetically Modified Organism gives good quality food and people are fed, that is important. What we look at is in that aspect. If technology is good and is proved to be safe, why not? On one end we have the issue of people dying of hunger and on another end we sometimes think some technologies are not good due to non-scientific understanding,” he added.

“We should not do that, we should look at technologies that will help put food on the table for everyone."