Building food security through farmer-led seed supply systems

Dr. Sarah Dalle USC Canada

McGill Global Food Security Conference, October 2011

USC Canada

One of Canada’s oldest international development NGOs, founded by Dr. Lotta Hitschmanova

1945: humanitarian aid to WWII refugees 1960s-1980s: relief/development in Asia, Africa

Following droughts, famines in Northern Ethiopia in the mid-1980s Seed recovery initiative to help farmers rebuild Supported by CIDA

Seeds of Survival program: 1989

Short–term response: seed recovery

Collection: farmers & gene bank Multiplication & enhancement in farmers’ fields

Seed distribution to affected families

Collaboration between farmers & scientists

Diversity: key to local food security

Small farmers rely on a diversity of crops and crop varieties

Diverse agroclimatic conditions Diverse uses: food, income, fuel, forage, medicine, cultural/spiritual

Diversity: key to global food security

Crop diversity managed in farmers’ fields: Supply of germplasm to crop

breeders, researchers and other end users

Sources of resistance to diseases, pests and other biophysical stresses

Disease resistance from Ethiopian barley saved Canadian crop

Long-term approach: resilience

Strengthen farmers’ ability to respond and adapt to changing conditions (climatic, economic, cultural, etc.)

Increase productivity of small farming systems while maintaining diversity

Contribute to in-situ conservation of global plant genetic resources

Spread: Training & small projects

USC program countries 2010-2015

USC 2010-2015 Program (CIDA)

Seed security

Sufficient quantity and diversity of adaptable seeds to meet seasonal planting needs Challenges: Germination/crop failure (drought, pests &

diseases, illness)

Inadequate seed sources (emergency aid or markets providing inadaptable seeds)

Knowledge loss (seed saving, pest management, etc)

Community Seed Banks

Farmer–run, backup to household seed supply

Reserve of all seeds adapted to the region (existing & new) Loans available to complement household stocks

Farmer-scientist innovation

Evaluation and selection of existing & new varieties (PVS)

Farmer-led development of new varieties (PPB)

Cropping practices, pest management, soil & water conservation

Knowledge and seed exchanges

Seed fairs & networking: exchange of seeds between communities and across climatic zones

Knowledge exchange between farmers, extension, policy makers, development workers

Outcomes: Southern Wollo

Seasonal variability: Farmer adaptation strategies strengthened

Long-maturing sorghum

Short-maturing sorghum

Teff Chickpea

Strengthened seed supply systems facilitate quick adadptation

Outcomes: Southern Wollo

Seasonal variability: Farmer innovation strengthened

Pearl millet Finger millet

Experimentation with alternative drought resistant crops

Short-maturing sorghum

Nutritional and cultural values restored

Outcomes: East Shewa

Re-introduction of durum wheat varieties

Renewal of culturally important foods

Improved human & animal nutrition

Outcomes

Farmer leadership, sense of ownership and pride

Challenges

Scaling up & Institutionalization Initiatives in

many countries but still localized

Support for small scale agriculture and seed systems needed

Thank you!