The Access to Seeds IndexWhy, how and what?

Washington DC, 25 April 2016

FROM MDGs TO SDGsUNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Indexen

Industry Indexes: Unravelling the role of the private sector

Average Corn Yield 1961-2011 in Africa, North America and Europe. Source: FAOStat, 2013

In USA and Europe, corn yields tripled in part thanks to high

yielding crop varieties

Smallholder farmers use a mixed bowl of seeds

Only 2% from the private seed sector

Source: CRSAverages for sub-Saharan Africa

Fair Planet Seeds Trials

Over 5 times higher yields with improved varieties

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

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 varieties

yielding 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)

Objectives of the Access to Seeds Index

• Create transparency on current policies and practices to clarify

and understand the role of the seed industry

• Provide an evidence base to the conversation where and how the

seed industry can step up its efforts

• Help identify private sector partners based on insights in

strengths, portfolio, presence

• Encourage seed companies to enlarge their role and

responsibility

Latin America

Western Africa

Eastern Africa

South and

Southeast Asia

Focus on four regions with (1) smallholder presence

(2) food security challenge (3) agricultural potential

Input for the methodology

What do we expect from seed companies?

June 2013: Ministers’ conference FAO Oct 2013: Farmers’ Round Table Addis Ababa Nov 2013: Industry Round Table Wash. DC

Farmers - Uganda Seed company - Ethiopia Government - Ghana

Smallholder farmers’ perspective on access to seeds

Six dimensions of access

Methodology of the Access to Seeds Index

• 7 measurement areas

with 73 indicators

• Companies active in breeding,

production, distribution

• Relative ranking: comparing

companies with eachother

• Companies are scaled for size and

portfolio

Main findings

1. Some global seed companies are showing leadership, exploring possibilities to

address the needs of smallholder farmers

2. The global seed industry is present in all regions with a broad portfolio, with the

exception of Western Africa: half of the countries not covered

3. Regional seed companies are filling in critical gaps largely neglected by global

peers

4. Seed companies have limited activities that specifically address the needs of

women famers

5. Many seed companies lack tailored approaches for entering emerging markets,

for instance on farm saved seed, informal seed systems, smallholder as partner

Present in all regions, with the exception of Western Africa

More private sector activity in countries with high EBA-scores

• Only top 4 companies have business activities in the regions, 5 to 7 limit themselves to CSR-projects

• Dupont Pioneer has the most extensive breedingprograms

• Syngenta leads on innovative capacity building andadoption activities

• East-West Seed leads with a smallholder focusedbusiness model

• Smaller firms like Rijk Zwaan and Bejo focus contribution on breeding

• Japanese companies are active but lacktransparency on activities

• Companies originating from the region outperformthe bigger multinationals, filling in critical gaps

• Multinationals lead on transparency andcommitment, regional companies on performance

• Many companies with specific strenghts, whichcould be interesting for partnerships

Global companies

Tangible targets are often lacking

Engagement with partners outside the seed industry is limited

Some transfer of biotechnology traits

More testing of existing varieties than breeding for the region

Broad portfolio and country coverage, primarily proprietary hybrids

Mainly project based, no structural aspect of a smallholder farmer focused business model

Only one company has commitment for advancing local seed sector

Key findings per measurement area – Global Companies

Regional companies

Smallholder farmers are main target group, board room responsibility

Limited engagement with global initiatives

Many cooperation with local seed banks, public research institutes

Breeding programs for local crops

Tailored strategies: packaging, mobile seed shops, OPV’s

Some companies with broad reach in extension and capacity building

Involving smallholder farmers in seed production

Production

Key findings per measurement area – Regional Companies

Seed companies exploring a broad approach to access to

seeds on various dimensions

AvailabilityMobile seed shops to reach localmarketsVictoria Seeds,Uganda

CapabilitySchool for next generation farmersBayer,India

AffordabilitySeed insurance againstweather risksSyngenta,Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda

SuitabilityBreeding station for localcrops and varietiesRijkZwaanTanzania

Impact so far?

1. High ranking companies approached as preferred partners

2. Employees starting up internal debates

3. Responsible investors showing interest

4. Companies higher in the value chain plan to use Index results

5. West-African governments alarmed

What is next?

Conversation on current Index

• Discuss findings with smallholder farmers in regions

• Discuss findings with individual companies

• Combine insights with research on public sector performance (EBA, TASAI)

Developing next Index

• Evaluate findings and methodology

• Include other regions

• More focus on reach, impact and quality

For pdf of report and online accessible data:www.accesstoseeds.org

Ido Verhageniverhagen@accesstoseeds.org

@idoverhagen✉