A summary Report of Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops Held at Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center, Maputo, Mozambique, 26–29 March 2007

Prepared by Africancrops.net Team

The conference was hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM). It was the third conference following those held in Entebbe Uganda (2002) and Nairobi, Kenya (2005). Over 400 scientists, seed producers and distributors, extensionists, policymakers, representatives from non-governmental organizations, farmers and students converged in Maputo, Mozambique for four days to deliberate on the improvement of African crops, seeds systems and research capacities in national research centres. Special focus was given to plant breeding, applied biotechnology and seed delivery.

A total of 217 abstracts comprising 127 oral presentations and 90 posters were presented and discussed at the meeting. These presentations focused on African food crops of interest including rice, maize, cowpea, sorghum, millet, beans, potatoes and cassava.  A total of eight thematic areas in crop improvement and seed systems were covered namely: getting seed to farmers, breeding finished products, breeding source materials, biotechnology, developing input markets, developing finished products, training the next generation and developing source materials. A complete summary of outputs from each theme will be presented in the next issue of the newsletter. The full abstracts and more information about the conference is available in the website, www.africancrops.net/rockefeller/icv3.

The conference highlighted achievements being made in the development, deployment and performance of new and improved crop varieties that are tolerant to drought and water stress, resistant to disease and pests, with higher nutrient content and those easily adaptable to local ecosystems across the continent. These outcomes are being realized with application of various research methods including conventional and participatory plant breeding, testing and selection of hybrids and open pollinated varieties, use of biotechnology and molecular markers, with activities conducted both at on-farm and on-station. Participants also discussed incidences of crop constraints in different ecological zones, farmers’ perceptions of new crop varieties and their attributes, partnerships between breeders and private seed producers, agri-business development for inputs markets and input delivery (especially germ plasm and seed delivery), post-harvest constraints,  regional training of breeders and agricultural scientists,  and the role of research networks and partnerships.  

The meeting featured three panel and roundtable discussions, and two workshops. The panel discussions were held on transfer of crop varieties from public research institutions to private seed companies and improving access to inputs. A workshop on biotechnology and another on foundation seed were conducted to exchange views and advances being made is application of new methods in crop improvement and access to seed by researchers, seed companies, community groups and farmers. Various programs supporting seed development activities moderated the discussions. The conference was also an opportunity for the seed producers to interact with breeders and identify areas for future collaboration in seed development and testing.

The event heralded a new era for agricultural development in Africa with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation together with The Rockefeller Foundation presenting the recently created ‘Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa’ (AGRA) to the African crops research community. AGRA is an alliance of the two Foundations working with African governments, other donors, NGOs, the private sector and African farmers to bring a sustainable and equitable Green Revolution to Africa. It was revealed that many of the training, breeding and seed delivery activities supported by The Rockefeller Foundation will become part of the Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS), a USD 150 million, 5-year effort by AGRA aimed at delivering improved seed and crop varieties to farmers in several African countries.

Comments on this article can be sent to africacrops@wananchi.com or to Jane Ininda of PASS, email: jininda@progra.org.