Access to Seeds – why seed companies need to bridge the gap to reach smallholder farmers

In this month’s blog, Ann Tutwiler, Director General, Bioversity International, focuses on the first Access to Seeds Index, which ranks private sector seed companies on their efforts to reach smallholder farmers. The report which evaluated global and East Africa seed companies, highlights innovative practices by East African seed companies whose business models set the standard for engaging smallholder farmers.

The first Access to Seeds Index, which was launched last week, evaluated and ranked the world’s leading global field crop and vegetable seed companies in four regions on their policies and practices to improve access to quality seeds for smallholder farmers in developing countries.  Worldwide, over 2.5 billion people manage 500 million small farms and in Africa alone, smallholders produce 70% of the continent’s food supply. To increase production, improve nutritional quality and adapt to climate change, these farmers need access to appropriate and high quality seeds. Click here to read the rest of this article