Tiny seeds; Massive transformational impact
If you ask development professionals working in agriculture today about what is necessary to achieve SDG2: Zero Hunger in 2030, their answers often will include food system transformation. These transformations are important, as there are still 746 million people estimated to face severe and more than 1.25 billion people experiencing more moderate forms of food insecurity.
Some transforming solutions needed for achieving SDG2 seem rather “small” while its impact can be massive. This is the case with seed. Seeds often seem small in size but are one of the most crucial elements in the livelihoods of many farmers in developing countries. Seeds are also embedded in complex seed systems, the vehicles through which farmers gain access to seeds. Ensuring food security for farmers, therefore, goes hand in hand with ensuring growers are seed secure. And this is exactly where problems still exist and innovative solutions have to be identified, as in Sub-Saharan Africa agricultural productivity remains low and there is limited use of improved varieties.
With its advanced agricultural knowledge and capacity for innovation, the Netherlands can play a key role in achieving SDG2. The Netherlands, as a world leader in seed and planting material development, can contribute to building an effective seed sector and brings together a unique network of Dutch Diamond actors from government, private sector, civil society organisations and research institutions. That is exactly why the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Plantum, the Dutch branch association for plant reproduction material have initiated SeedNL. The SeedNL partnership aims to provide appropriate access to quality seeds for all farmers, to strengthen the seed sector in developing countries as well as increase the productivity and income of farmers. To achieve this SeedNL works with the following method:
Connect a unique network of stakeholders involved in seed sector development that share the ambition of SeedNL
Share knowledge to support stakeholders and develop innovative solutions to address bottlenecks in seed systems
Grow together through ensuring that stakeholders join forces to enable sustainable and inclusive seed sector transformation at scale.
Seeds itself might thus be tiny, but by bringing together relevant stakeholders, sharing knowledge and working together SeedNL believes it can make a transformative impact in developing countries to achieve SDG2 in 2030.
For more information and to keep up to date on SeedNL, its community and activities please visit the website and follow SeedNL on LinkedIN
Picture reference: Vince Veras - Unsplash
