Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in the domain of Seed Systems
On 18 May 2021 an Independent Dialogue was convened. An event that particularly focussed on the potential of multi-stakeholder collaboration as one of the key ‘game-changing solutions’ in achieving sustainable food systems. The event served as a means to provide input for the UN 2021 Food Systems Summit.
This Independent Dialogue was convened by Netherlands Food Partnership, Rabobank, Wageningen University & Research, the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), Oxfam Novib, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Why do we share this on the SeedNL website? Well, one of the round table discussions organised during the event focussed on multi-stakeholder platforms in the domain of seed systems. Both Oxfam Novib’s Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security Programme and SeedNL presented cases for inspiration on multi-stakeholder collaboration. This was followed by an engaged discussion with the participants on the topic.
During the discussion participants identified several challenges that collaborative efforts can address:
Empowerment of smallholder farmers to access and use quality seed to improve their harvest and business
The need for inclusivity and having everybody on board
Lack of or only partial evidence informing the design of (seed-related) policies
The discussion also provided several recommendations:
Need for a long-term vision on the development of the seed sector in countries.
Importance of starting with identification of needs, before solving the problem.
Need for recognition of farmer breeding and seed systems
The above-mentioned challenges and recommendations are just a few of the highlights and important outcomes from the discussion. We, therefore, invite you to view the full overview of the discussion, identified challenges and recommendations from the seed systems table discussion in the official feedback report and short version of the official report that are now published by Netherlands Food Partnership and added to the UN Food Systems Summit Dialogues Gateway.
Picture Reference: RijkZwaan - Tanzania
