Breaking the Bottlenecks to Scale up Bean Seed Systems in Africa - Syngenta Foundation/CIAT
Title: Breaking the Bottlenecks to Scale up Bean Seed Systems in Africa
Multimedia presentation, expert panel discussion, light supper
Timing: 7:30-9:00 pm, Wednesday, 14 October
Location: Des Moines Marriott,Cedar Rapids & Council Bluffs Rooms
Participants:
Introduction: Marco Ferroni, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation
Keynote: Louise Sperling, Seeds Expert, Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Expert panel discussion
Ian Barker, Head of Agricultural Partnerships, Syngenta Foundation
Louis Butare, Director General, Rwanda Agriculture Board
Margaret Catley-Carlson, Council of Advisors, World Food Prize
Joyce Malinga, Acting Director, Food Crops Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
Jean-Claude Rubyogo, Seeds Expert, CIAT
Moderator: Ruben G. Echeverría, Director General, CIAT
Background
African farmers have only limited access to quality seed of improved crop varieties, and this is among the main reasons for the region’s low agricultural productivity. Beans are a case in point. Despite substantial investments in seed systems, bottlenecks persist. But recent successes show how the bottlenecks can be broken, and the challenge now is to scale up successful approaches more rapidly. The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) are working together and with other partners to meet the challenge.
This event
This event will inspire new ways of thinking about the adoption of improved varieties. With your help, our experts will identify key requirements for scaling up innovative bean seed systems in Africa. The discussion will draw on case studies from the experience of member countries of the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). The event’s conclusions will be disseminated widely.