Bridging the gap between the seed industry and the smallholder farmer

FAO, 3 June 2016

FROM MDGs TO SDGsUNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Objectives of the Access to Seeds Index

• Create transparency on current activities to clarify and understandthe role of the seed industry

• Provide an evidence base to the conversation where and how theseed industry can step up its efforts

• Encourage seed companies to enlarge their role andresponsibility

• Help identify private sector partners based on insights in strengths, portfolio, presence

Smallholder farmers use a mixed bowl of seedsOnly 2% from the private seed sector

Source:CRSAverages for sub-Saharan Africa

Fair Planet Seeds TrialsOver 5 times higher yields with improved varieties

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1 9 11 31 26 7 12 14 8 17 25 2 4 30 24 3 10 19 16 27 18 15 5 21 28 22 23 13 6 29 32

Local variety in furrow irrigation

Improved varietiesyielding 5 times higher than average

Kilograms

Yield per tested variety in furrow irrigation (Kg/Ha)

Average yield tomatoes in Ethiopia 8,850 Kg / Ha (FAO STAT 2010)

Latin America

Western Africa

Eastern Africa

South andSoutheast Asia

Focus on four regions with (1) smallholder presence(2) food security challenge (3) agricultural potential

1. Demeter Seed2. DuPont Pioneer3. East African Seed4. East-West Seed5. Ethiopian Seed Enterprise6. FICA 7. Hygrotech8. Kenya Highland Seed9. Kenya Seed Company10.Monsanto11.NASECO12.Pop Vriend13.Seed Co14.Syngenta15.Technisem16.Victoria Seed17.ZAMseed

1. Bayer 2. DuPont Pioneer3. Dow AgroSciences4. Groupe Limagrain5. KWS SAAT6. Monsanto7. Syngenta

1. Bayer 2. Bejo3. East-West Seed4. Enza Zaden5. Groupe Limagrain6. Monsanto7. Rijk Zwaan8. Sakata9. Syngenta10.Takii

Company scope In total 26 leading seed companies on global and regional level

Input for the methodologyWhat do we expect from seed companies?

June 2013:Ministers’conferenceFAO Oct 2013:Farmers’RoundTable AddisAbaba Nov2013:Industry Round TableWash.DC

Farmers- Uganda Seed company- Ethiopia Government - Ghana

Smallholder farmers’ perspective on access to seedsSix dimensions of access

Methodology of the Access to Seeds Index

• 7 measurement areaswith 73 indicators

• Relative ranking: comparingcompanies with eachother

• Companies are scaled for size andportfolio

Main findings

1. Many of the global seed companies are exploring possibilities to address the needs of smallholder farmers

2. Seed companies are making a broad portfolio of seeds available to smallholders farmers

3. The global seed industry is present in all regions with the exception of Western Africa: half of the countries not covered

4. Regional seed companies are filling in critical gaps largely neglected by global peers (breeding for local crops, reaching remote villages)

5. Limited findings on some relevant stakeholder expectations • Few address the needs of women farmers• Few have a clear position on farm saved seed or informal seed systems• Many see smallholders only as end-user, not as partner in production, breeding

Limited private seed sector activity in Western Africa, highest density in Latin America and Asia

• Only top4companieshavebusinessactivities inthe regions,others limitthemselves to CSR-projects

• DupontPioneer hasthe mostextensive breedingprograms

• Syngenta leadsoninnovative capacity buildingandadoptionactivities

• East-WestSeed leadswith asmallholder focusedbusinessmodel

• Smallerfirms like RijkZwaanand Bejo focuscontribution onbreeding

• Japanese companiesareactive butlacktransparency onactivities

• Companiesoriginating from the region outperformthe bigger multinationals,filling incritical gaps

• Multinationalsleadontransparency andcommitment,regional companiesonperformance

• Many companiesalso lower onthe rankingwithspecific strenghts,interesting for partnerships

Seed companies exploring a broad approach to access to seeds on various dimensions

AvailabilityMobile seed shopsto reach localmarketsVictoriaSeeds,Uganda

CapabilitySchool for nextgeneration farmersBayer,India

AffordabilitySeed insurance againstweather risksSyngenta,Kenya,Tanzania,Rwanda

SuitabilityBreeding stationfor localcrops and varietiesRijkZwaan,East-WestSeedTanzania

What is next?

1. Discuss findings with farmers, industry, other stakeholders

2. Review methodology towards the second Index (2018)

3. Explore coordination with public sector / enabling environment monitors (World Bank, TASAI)

Forpdfofreportand onlinedata:www.accesstoseeds.org