Seed Laws Toolbox

The Seed Laws Toolbox: a modality to address seed regulatory bottlenecks

A conducive seed regulatory framework is a prerequisite for a vibrant seed sector. Yet, in many low- and middle-income countries it is still one of the key bottlenecks for seed sector development. There may be problems, e.g. with laws and regulations not being in line with regional standards, or issues around specific topics like variety release, quality assurance, seed business licensing and seed trade. A transparent and enabling business environment will benefit all seed sector stakeholders, including local seed businesses, domestic enterprises and international seed companies. Farmers will benefit by improving their access to quality seed of improved and locally adapted varieties.

In 2022, SeedNL launched the first pilot of the Seed Laws Toolbox by providing funding to four projects in Benin, Iraq, Mozambique and Tanzania. The projects have been implemented between September and December 2022. Click here to learn more about these projects.

In 2023, SeedNL continued the Seed Laws Toolbox and provided funding to three projects in Benin and Uganda. The projects were implemented between May and December 2023. Here you can learn more about the 2023 projects.


Seed Laws Toolbox 2024

Following an evaluation of the 2022 and 2023 Seed Laws Toolbox process and outcomes, this year SeedNL will work together with promising applicants to attain funding from existing Dutch funds. 

Call for ideas

SeedNL invites organisations in collaboration with in-country partners to submit their ideas for contributing to solving seed regulatory bottlenecks. This call for ideas is open to partners from the public sector, private sector, civil society and knowledge institutes. SeedNL will support successful applicants in seeking funding opportunities from existing Dutch instruments. Please note that this funding is not guaranteed.

Applications will be evaluated by an independent expert panel. The application deadline is 27 September 2024. Find more information, including the project criteria below.

Download the application form here

The application can be submitted by email to: info@seednl.nl

Types of projects and funding

Seed Laws Toolbox projects are limited in budget and time span. Project budgets should be between 30,000 and 50,000 Euro (including VAT), and projects need to be concluded within six months from the moment project implementation commences.

All Seed Laws Toolbox project results should concern: 

  • Seed regulatory problem defined and/or issue addressed; 

  • Local implementation capacity strengthened; 

  • Partnerships or network developed; and 

  • Follow-up activities formulated. 

The type of activities that are eligible include: assessments, studies and advice on specific issues; workshops, training and coaching; and exchange visits. A project may not completely solve a regulatory bottleneck, but provide a good basis for concrete and actionable follow-up steps. 

Costs that will be considered for the SLT concern staff costs, travel costs, training/workshop and other material costs. Please note that costs covered may differ according to relevant funding instruments. 


Focus areas

Areas that are eligible for the Seed Laws Toolbox are: (i) laws and regulations; (ii) institutional reform; (iii) variety release; (iv) seed quality assurance; (v) seed business licensing; and (vi) seed trade. Challenges related to Plant Variety Protection and phytosanitary issues are excluded since they are addressed through other modalities and Dutch funding instruments. Find in the table below examples of potential projects in each area; find here a further explanation of the project examples. 

[1] Examples are taken from the Scoping Study for a Seed Laws Toolbox; see Van Den Broek et al., 2020: https://edepot.wur.nl/516963


Focus countries

The SLT focus lies on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but please note that focus countries may differ according to relevant funding instruments.

Facility management and project partners

Eligible projects are to be implemented by a lead partner from the public sector, private sector, civil society organisation or knowledge institute. The consortium needs to involve at least one Dutch partner. It is encouraged that projects align with Dutch branch organisations Plantum or NAO (Dutch potato organisation). Seed companies may join a consortium but cannot serve as the lead organisation; private sector consultants are eligible as project lead. Because of the importance of knowledge on the local context, collaboration with stakeholders in the target country is encouraged. Project teams need to combine process and context expertise. It is required that the proposal is endorsed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.


Project criteria

The project criteria can be summarised as follows: 

  • Projects focus on seed regulatory bottlenecks in LMICs

  • Activities take place in LMICs

  • Projects assess and build upon the local context

  • Projects are finalised within 6 months from the moment project implementation commences

  • When relevant, international standards and different seed indexes are taken into consideration; however, it is realised that there is no ‘one size fits all’

  • In case crop group/crop-specific issues are addressed, the focus will be on crops important for food and nutrition security; ornamentals are excluded

  • Project application and implementation is open to public sector, private sector, NGOs and knowledge institutes; at least one of the project partners is a Dutch entity

  • The consortium has a proven track record of seed sector development projects

  • Projects involve relevant stakeholders in the target country/region

  • Project activities do not benefit a single company only, but contribute to the pre-competitive domain

  • It is required that the proposal is endorsed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Projects preferably: 

  • Are public-private partnerships

  • Link to or build on ongoing Dutch or local seed sector development initiatives in-country

  • Contain innovative elements that can be piloted through the Seed Laws Toolbox

  • Consider how project outcomes may affect both the formal and informal sector

Proposal assessment

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent committee of experts. The committee will rank the proposals according to the following criteria: 

  • Problem definition and contribution to an improved enabling environment in the target country/region

  • Project approach, proposed activities and outputs 

  • Quality of the consortia; involving the partners in the target country/region and the right Dutch/international partners

  • Project budget 

Criteria 1 and 2 can each earn up to 20 points and criteria 3 and 4 can each earn up to 10 points. ‘Bonus’ points can be awarded for applications that:

  • Are public-private partnerships

  • Link to or build on ongoing Dutch or local seed sector development initiatives in-country

  • Contain innovative elements that that can be piloted through the Seed Laws Toolbox

  • Consider how project outcomes may affect both the formal and informal sector

  • Have a unique geographical focus compared to other applications

Projects will be ranked and of the projects considered eligible the highest-scoring proposals will be taken up by SeedNL to collaboratively work to attain funding from existing Dutch instruments.


Publication of proposals and project results

Approved project proposals and final project results should be published through briefs at the SeedNL website. In case of sensitivities, in agreement with the SeedNL secretariat, specific information may be kept confidential.