The management of Africa’s genetic resources
and the use of biotechnology and other scientific
applications will largely determine Africa’s ability to feed
itself. Given that the continent is predominantly dependent
on agriculture, seed security and availability of appropriate
varieties are crucial for resilience of economies and
livelihoods of farming communities. However, the seed
sector has been characterized by weak production
and distribution systems, inadequate supply of quality
seed, lack of access to improved germplasm, weak
entrepreneurial capacity of small and medium size seed
enterprises, inadequate implementation of seed policies
and international agreements and conventions. These are
some of the issues behind the consultation workshop on
the African Seed and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP)
convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) in
collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO) 19-21 February, 2008 at the
AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa. Participants included
national, regional and international agricultural research
institutions as well as United Nations organizations
(among them WFP, UNEP and UNECA).
Dr. Ahmadu Babagana, Director in the AUC
Department for Rural Economy and Agriculture, opened
the workshop. He said low crop production capabilities
are partly to blame for food insuffi ciency in Africa. In this
respect seed is a crucial element in agriculture because
quality seed determines production enhancement, pest
resistance, and tolerance to climate variability. Not enough
advantage had been taken of advances in biotechnology.
In his remarks, the FAO Representative Mr. Mafa Chipeta
highlighted the importance of the seed sector in the
attainment of the objectives of the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Although project profi les had been developed for donor
funding, African countries also need to invest their own
resources, he said. Africa needs the best, and seeds
that are adapted for its own conditions and anticipate the
adverse impacts of climate change down the line. UNEP
and the Ethiopian Institute for Biodiversity Conservation
called for synchronization of initiatives with the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety and other relevant multilateral agreements.
Among the stated objectives of the workshop
were to share information and knowledge with the aim of
reaching a common understanding on ASBP, to highlight
the main technical issues of seed and biotechnology in
Africa, and the policy and strategies for development of
the seed sector. The workshop also aimed to identify key
actors in seed and biotechnology development in Africa, to
identify and share information on the ongoing or planned
seed related projects, activities and initiatives, thereby
identifying gaps, comparative advantage and determining
priority at national, sub-regional and continental level for
the ASBP. (Addis Ababa Highligts)