Search

In sub-Saharan Africa, public sector breeding programs depend on local seed companies to deliver new maize varieties to farmers. Such varieties are needed to adapt cropping systems to climate change. While dozens of small and medium seed companies have emerged in the last two decades, the maize seed market in Kenya remains dominated by the parastatal seed company Kenya Seed Company, with multinational seed companies making major inroads. We assess whether parastatal and multinational seed companies have captured Kenya's seed laws to the detriment of local small and medium seed companies ('regulatory capture'), negatively effecting competition and the capacity of local companies to introduce new varieties in the hybrid maize seed market. We conducted in-depth interviews based on legal clauses with maize seed companies active in Kenya, as well as interviews with regulators and stakeholders. Results show that local companies do not feel disadvantaged compared to their multinational counterparts or the parastatal. However, all of them are wary of the entry of new actors. Moreover, through excessive procedures, the Kenyan government keeps a sovereign grasp over the seed sector. Despite frustrations with some of these excessive procedures, seed companies felt comfortable in the protective environment of the Kenyan seed market and were generally happy with the technical aspects of Kenya's seed laws, which are based on international norms. We suggest some improvements to make Kenyan seed laws more conducive to varietal turnover, in line with seed companies' suggestions and taking into account the political sensitivities of the Kenyan government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Legitimacy in breeding and commercial crop production depends on optimised protocols to ensure purity of crosses and correct field planting of material. In oil palm, the presence of three fruit forms permits these assumptions to be tested, although only after field planting. The presence of incorrect fruit forms in a cross is a clear sign of illegitimacy. Given that tenera forms produce 30% more oil for the same weight of fruit as dura, the presence of low levels of dura contamination can have major effect during the economic lifespan of an oil palm, which is around 25 years. We evaluated two methods for legitimacy test 1) The use of SHELL markers to the gene that determines the shell-thickness trait 2) The use of SNP markers, to determine the legitimacy of the cross. Results Our results indicate that the SHELL markers can theoretically reduce the major losses due to dura contamination of tenera planting material. However, these markers cannot distinguish illegitimate tenera, which reduces the value of having bred elite tenera for commercial planting and in the breeding programme, where fruit form is of limited utility, and incorrect identity could lead to significant problems. We propose an optimised approach using SNPs for routine quality control. Conclusions Both dura and tenera contamination can be identified and removed at or before the nursery stage. An optimised legitimacy assay using SNP markers coupled with a suitable sampling scheme is now ready to be deployed as a standard control for seed production and breeding in oil palm. The same approach will also be an effective solution for other perennial crops, such as coconut and date palm.

In spite of many initiatives to set up community or farmer-group-based seed production, there is little empirical evidence about the group functioning in producing and marketing quality seed. This article therefore aims to contribute to better understanding of the process and practice of seed potato cooperatives' formation and operation in Chencha, Ethiopia. Our study specifically focused on why and how farmer groups organize, produce and market quality seed potato. We collected primary data from two seed potato cooperatives in three phases through interviews, focus group discussions, and field assessment and store inventories on bacterial wilt incidence. We found that the support to the establishing of the two seed potato cooperatives focused more on improving the members' seed potato production capacity and less on building good governance in the seed chain. The experiences showed the tensions between prescriptive rules, collective action and individual interests which made it very hard to maintain quality seed standards and friendship at the same time. In general, the root of having weak seed cooperatives may not be the lack of intent towards building durable farmer groups. Rather, development practitioners did not take the set-up of strong farmer groups as an evolving process, which continually engages in diagnosis and responds to the emerging social as well as material challenges. The set-up of farmer-group-based seed production, therefore, needs to shift from 'standard production models' to an evolving model: an open and flexible model guided by trials, challenges and existing socio-technical and institutional realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, there has been a growing appreciation of crop varieties developed by local farmers, commonly referred to as farmers’ varieties. These varieties often have attractive characteristics for both producers and consumers, such as adaptability to harsh environmental conditions and high nutritional values. Yet they are usually not sold in formal markets, and tend to be limited to farmers’ seed systems. This is partially due to national seed laws that, in an effort to guarantee good quality seed of uniform and stable varieties, create obstacles for farmers’ varieties to reach the market. This article describes the experiences of four countries—Bolivia, Laos, Nepal and Zimbabwe—that are developing alternative variety registration systems for farmers’ varieties. Most of these cases have never been documented before. The cases present the main drivers behind and approaches to the registration of farmers’ varieties in different legal contexts and at different stages of development. We conclude that farmers’ variety registration systems can generate benefits including faster and cheaper variety releases, improved farmer incomes, and a larger diversity of well-adapted varieties in the market—but some important issues are still to be resolved.

Background: Legitimacy in breeding and commercial crop production depends on optimised protocols to ensure purity of crosses and correct field planting of material. In oil palm, the presence of three fruit forms permits these assumptions to be tested, although only after field planting. The presence of incorrect fruit forms in a cross is a clear sign of illegitimacy. Given that tenera forms produce 30% more oil for the same weight of fruit as dura, the presence of low levels of dura contamination can have major effect during the economic lifespan of an oil palm, which is around 25 years. We evaluated two methods for legitimacy test 1) The use of SHELL markers to the gene that determines the shell-thickness trait 2) The use of SNP markers, to determine the legitimacy of the cross. Results: Our results indicate that the SHELL markers can theoretically reduce the major losses due to dura contamination of tenera planting material. However, these markers cannot distinguish illegitimate tenera, which reduces the value of having bred elite tenera for commercial planting and in the breeding programme, where fruit form is of limited utility, and incorrect identity could lead to significant problems. We propose an optimised approach using SNPs for routine quality control. Conclusions: Both dura and tenera contamination can be identified and removed at or before the nursery stage. An optimised legitimacy assay using SNP markers coupled with a suitable sampling scheme is now ready to be deployed as a standard control for seed production and breeding in oil palm. The same approach will also be an effective solution for other perennial crops, such as coconut and date palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the SVIS® (Seed Vigor Imaging System) to determine squash seed vigor evaluated at different stages of maturation. 'Jabras' hybrid seeds, resulting from a cross between Cucurbita maxima (female parent) and Cucurbita moschata (male parent), were used in this study. Seeds extracted from fruit at different maturation stages (harvested at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after anthesis and stored or not for 20 days after each harvest) were subjected to the following determinations: 100 seed weight, germination, saturated salt accelerated aging, and SVIS®. This computerized system provided data on indexes of seedling vigor and uniformity of seedling development and on seedling growth. Results from SVIS® were similar to information from the other vigor tests performed in this study, detecting significant differences in performance among seeds during the maturation process. This indicates that SVIS® is a reliable alternative for obtaining consistent information on the physiological potential of squash seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avec les progrès de la science et des technologies, nombre de produits marchands qui étaient considérés jusqu’ici comme peu élaborés, incorporent aujourd’hui dans leur valeur une part sans cesse croissante due à l’ingéniosité humaine et aux inventions : c’est en particulier le cas des variétés végétales. Par ailleurs, le formidable développement des échanges d’idées et de marchandises ainsi que de la circulation des personnes, que nous connaissons sous le terme de mondialisation, a posé le problème de la protection de la propriété intellectuelle au niveau mondial. De ce constat est né l’accord ADPIC1, préparé durant le cycle 1986-1994 de négociation de l’OMC, connu sous le nom de « Uruguay round », signé à Marrakech en 1994 et entré en vigueur le 1er janvier 1995. Cet accord fait obligation à tous ses membres signataires de mettre en place un système global de protection de la propriété intellectuelle. Dans le cas particulier des variétés végétales, il prévoit : Article 27.3. « […] Les Membres pourront aussi exclure de la brevetabilité : […] b) Les végétaux et les animaux autres que les micro-organismes, et les procédés essentiellement biologiques d’obtention de végétaux ou d’animaux, autres que les procédés non biologiques et microbiologiques. Toutefois, les membres prévoiront la protection des variétés végétales par brevets, par un système sui generis efficace, ou par une combinaison de ces deux moyens. Les dispositions du présent alinéa seront réexaminées quatre ans après la date d’entrée en vigueur de l’Accord sur l’OMC. » Applicable un an après son entrée en vigueur, l’accord prévoyait pour les pays en développement une période supplémentaire de quatre ans (soit jusqu’au 1er janvier 2000), voire dix ans pour les pays les moins avancés, pour la mise en place d’un système de protection, ainsi qu’un réexamen de ces dispositions à l’aube du xxie siècle. Force est de constater que, si la révision de la partie de cet accord qui devait intervenir à partir de 1999 a bien été engagée, on est encore très loin de l’entrée en vigueur d’un système de protection des variétés végétales dans la plupart des pays du Sud. Cependant, les démarches sont très avancées pour nombre d’entre eux2, soutenues par des associations régionales ou sous-régionales de semenciers telles que l’APSA (Asia and Pacific Seed Association) ou l’AFSTA (African Seed Trade Association). Le mouvement est donc lancé et il est intéressant de se poser les questions suivantes à propos des pays dont les économies sont les moins avancées. La mise en place de ces droits est-elle prioritaire ? Quel en sera l’impact ? Suffira-t-elle à redynamiser la production agricole de ces pays ou faut-il l’accompagner par des dispositions complémentaires ? Comment la mettre en oeuvre ? Nous essaierons de proposer quelques éléments de réponse à ces différentes questions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, public sector breeding programs depend on local seed companies to deliver new maize varieties to farmers. Such varieties are needed to adapt cropping systems to climate change. While dozens of small and medium seed companies have emerged in the last two decades, the maize seed market in Kenya remains dominated by the parastatal seed company Kenya Seed Company, with multinational seed companies making major inroads. We assess whether parastatal and multinational seed companies have captured Kenya's seed laws to the detriment of local small and medium seed companies ('regulatory capture'), negatively effecting competition and the capacity of local companies to introduce new varieties in the hybrid maize seed market. We conducted in-depth interviews based on legal clauses with maize seed companies active in Kenya, as well as interviews with regulators and stakeholders. Results show that local companies do not feel disadvantaged compared to their multinational counterparts or the parastatal. However, all of them are wary of the entry of new actors. Moreover, through excessive procedures, the Kenyan government keeps a sovereign grasp over the seed sector. Despite frustrations with some of these excessive procedures, seed companies felt comfortable in the protective environment of the Kenyan seed market and were generally happy with the technical aspects of Kenya's seed laws, which are based on international norms. We suggest some improvements to make Kenyan seed laws more conducive to varietal turnover, in line with seed companies' suggestions and taking into account the political sensitivities of the Kenyan government., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest., (© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

The basic factor determining the yield of industrial hemp is the use of high-quality sowing material. Obtaining good sowing material requires extensive knowledge and rich experience on the part of the seed producers. The rules regarding the production of sowing material for industrial hemp are regulated by the relevant act of Polish Parliament. The farmers and the organizations involved in seed processing, storage and state control should obey those rules. First of all attention should be paid to genetic stability, the presence of male plants in seed plantations and the obligation to remove them. Furthermore the appropriate distance between seed plantations should be observed, considering the allogamy (wind pollination) of this species. The state services conduct relevant control during the vegetation period and carry out laboratory assessment of seed. The positive results of tests provide producers with a qualification certificate, which is the base for the further distribution of the sowing material. The disqualified seed, i.e., having low germination power, low weight of 1,000 seeds or high moisture can be used for technical purposes in the industry, e.g., for the production of oil for pharmaceutical and costmetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]