Regional Cooperation for Building a Resilient Seed System in the Philippines

Seeds are the foundation for agriculture and access to quality seeds of crop varieties that are adapted to the needs and production systems of farmers is an essential feature of a sustainable food system. Seed systems ensure that farmers have timely access to affordable quality seeds and planting materials of the most suitable crop varieties. Farmers – especially small-scale farmers in developing countries – often lack or have limited access to affordable quality seeds and planting materials of crop varieties that are adapted to their production systems and growing conditions. This is due to both a lack of supply as well as inefficient distribution, inadequate quality assurance systems, and bottlenecks caused by a lack of enabling seed policies.

High-quality seeds and seed systems are also now more important than ever to help farmers adapt and maintain productivity in the face of climate change. Countries have pursued one key adaptation mechanism by changing the breeding objective of their research organizations to develop climate smart varieties with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Some countries have come together to form a regional seed cooperation so that field trial data of public sector varieties conducted in one-member country can be shared with other member countries for faster release in other member countries.

These issues and many others will be covered by the expert panel assembled to discuss “Regional Cooperation for Building a Resilient Seed System in the Philippines.”