By: Benjamin Abugri, Knowledge Management Specialist, FARA
Nairobi, 11 April 2025 – At the recently concluded CGIAR Science Week side event titled “Breeding for Tomorrow: Inclusive Delivery,” Ms Beatrice Egulu from the African Union Commission (AUC) delivered a compelling address, advocating for deeper continental integration and innovation in seed systems to ensure equitable access and regional impact. The high-level panel session, held at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, brought together prominent voices from the African agricultural sector under the theme of “Inclusive Delivery”, a strategic framework aimed at transforming breeding programmes for greater reach, uptake, and farmer impact.
Unlocking the Potential of Regional Harmonisation
Ms Egulu highlighted the disparity between promising regional frameworks—such as the COMESA Variety Catalogue, ECOWAS seed regulations and SADC’s Harmonised Seed Regulatory System – and their actual implementation. Despite protocols for mutual recognition, numerous African countries continue to impose redundant variety testing, outdated national laws, and limited regulatory capacity, thereby hindering access to improved varieties.
To address these challenges, the AUC proposes:
- A Continental Mutual Recognition Accord under the AfCFTA (https://au-afcfta.org/) to accelerate varietal release and certification.
- Collaborative investment in digital infrastructure for the real-time sharing of diverse data and certification information.
- Establishing a trust-based harmonisation mechanism, coordinated with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and development partners.
“Harmonisation must not remain a mere promise on paper,” Ms Egulu emphasised. “It must serve as an engine for integration, innovation, and empowering farmers.”
South-South Cooperation: A Strategic Pathway to Scale
Discussing the significance of South–South Cooperation, Ms Egulu described it as a cornerstone for democratizing agricultural innovation in Africa. She noted that SSC facilitates the exchange of technologies and institutional best practices—from East African seed traceability systems inspired by Asia to participatory breeding models adapted across African regions.
To institutionalise these gains, she called for:
- Integrating the SSC into the African Seed and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP) and the framework of the CAADP-Kampala Declaration.
- Utilising triangular cooperation to mobilise financial and technical support.
- Mainstreaming SSC within broader frameworks such as STISA-2024 and the African Agribusiness Strategy.
“SSC is not just a tool,” she stated. “It is a pathway to shared sovereignty and resilience in seed systems.”
The Way Forward: Systems for Delivery, Not Just Science
Ms Egulu concluded by emphasising that impactful breeding goes beyond developing superior varieties—it relies on the systems that deliver them. Bridging policy gaps, empowering NARES, fostering digital interoperability, and scaling partnerships through SSC are essential if African farmers are to reap the benefits of scientific innovation.
Her address echoed the session’s core vision of “Inclusive Delivery,” aligning with CGIAR’s mission to ensure that agricultural innovations are scalable, equitable, and regionally integrated.
About Ms Beatrice Egulu
Ms. Beatrice Egulu is a Policy Officer at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC). With extensive experience in agricultural policy, seed system development, and regional integration frameworks, she plays a crucial role in advancing the AUC’s strategic agenda for food systems transformation. Ms. Egulu promotes the alignment of science, governance, and partnerships, particularly through the African Seed and Biotechnology Programme and the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
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