Baku, Azerbaijan — ISF was on the ground at the UN Climate Change 29th Conference of Parties (COP 29) to promote the role of quality seeds in helping farmers adapt to climate change, as well as mitigating agriculture’s impact on the environment.
ISF showcased the results of the “Seed Resilience” project being implemented in Rwanda by Fair Planet in coordination with the Rwandan Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), where as of August 2024, 61 crop varieties of carrot, cabbage, tomato, sweet pepper, and onion were tested, with 22 found suitable for market adoption based on superior yields and quality.
“With notable successes such as a nine-fold increase in carrot yields, the project demonstrates the potential of improved seeds to enhance both food security and nutrition. By addressing key dietary pillars—vegetables for vitamins, pulses for proteins, and cereals for carbohydrates—the project lays the groundwork for sustainable agricultural growth in vulnerable regions,” said Michael Keller, ISF Secretary General.
Validation trials are ongoing and will be shared later in the year. New potato variety trials also ongoing, with eight varieties on a 2,300 m² plot planted in April 2024. Plans are underway to expand trials to on-farm testing with 100 farmers in collaboration with RAB and the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) in upcoming seasons.
In Baku, ISF’s Ben Rivoire had the chance to sit with John Dennehy of The National News to share more about what the seed sector aims to achieve by participating in events like COP 29, but also in drawing attention to what seed companies do everyday to help ensure food and nutrition security in the face of climate change.
