Navigating toward resilient and inclusive seed systems

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Food Security
• Plant Breeding

Background:

• Climate and socioecological challenges necessitate diverse plant varieties for food systems.
• Existing seed systems require institutional innovations to effectively deliver new traits to farmers.

Approach:

• This perspective synthesizes literature on formal and informal seed systems used by smallholder farmers.
• Analysis is structured around three functions: variety development/management, seed production, and dissemination.
• Contextual factors of seed governance and food system drivers are also examined.

Key Points:

• Reviews contributions and limitations of various actors and institutions within seed systems.
• Highlights strengths and weaknesses across the entire chain of seed system functions.
• Documents a shift towards recognizing formal and farmer seed systems as complementary.

Conclusions:

• Multiple pathways are essential for farmer seed security due to varying needs across crops, farmers, and contexts.
• Developing resilient and inclusive seed systems requires guiding principles rather than a single roadmap.