14 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM Delegates at the exhibition booths during the AFSTA congress in Cairo, Egypt. In order to ensure consistency and quality, AFSTA has established two effective steering committees to spearhead the activities of each of the Special Interest Groups. Upon formation, each group elected a steering committee to spearhead activities of common interest presented by members, and report back to members in the annual meetings held during the AFSTA con- gresses. Issues of common interest to the Field Crops Group have over the years been on management of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in East Africa, addressing climate change and its impacts on the seed industry, biotechnology concerns in Maize, Cotton, Soya Beans, etc., and phytosanitary concerns in seed movement have also tended to shape discussions of this group. The Multilateral System (MLS) and the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) on access and benefit shar- ing (ABS), under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), have also been a key concern for this group. Add to it low adoption of seeds of improved varieties, market attraction of sorghum and millet plus slow variety release processes in various countries, then you have an almost full plate of issues to tackle. Time and again, the group has raised concerns regard- ing plant variety protection with international bodies such as ARIPO, OAPI and UPOV. The work of Africa regional trade blocs, especially in facilitating seed trade, has been at the core of this group’s menu. There is discomfort raised over the slow imple- mentation of regional harmonized seed trade regulations. Last but not least, challenges on achievement of improved varieties’ potential by farmers is still in the conversation of the SIGFC. Like their counterparts in the field crops, the SIGV is out to slay issues around inadequate quality seed availability and production issues both biotic and abiotic. The vegetable seed sector in Africa is in its infancy but growing, and the growth requires fast tracking to meet the high demand for vegetables on the continent. Postharvest management and marketing form a pair of problems to be addressed urgently as well as trade ethics and arbitrations. Further headache comes from hazardous contaminants and food preparation methods. Africa vegetable seed market analysis in terms of value and trend also is criti- cal to the industry. Stakeholders’ involvement and interests are close to the heart of the SIGV membership. The group seeks to collaborate with all relevant vegetable stakeholders to come up with the appropriate regulatory framework that allows for safe and efficient vegetable seed trade in Africa. RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE Last year, AFSTA and representatives of the International Seed Federation (ISF), joined a global forum to present its members’ views on the future direction of the ITPGRFA. This Seventh Session of the Governing Body of the ITPGRFA was hosted by Rwanda in Kigali, from 30 October - 3 November 2017, and brought together 144 member countries, observer nations, farm- ers’ groups, NGOs, experts, and other international organizations. All countries in Africa are already contracting parties to the Treaty except South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, South Sudan and Somalia. Countries are also required to take meas- ures which will protect and promote “Farmers Rights” on tradi- tional knowledge associated with plant genetics resources and will need to promote farmers to participate in decisions directly related to genetic resources. These “farmers’ rights” also intend to ensure that farmers are the beneficiaries from the conserva- tion and sustainable use of genetic resources. OTHER MILESTONES The fact that we have continuously undertaken to execute stra- tegic plans in the past is a clear indication that we know what we want to achieve in a planned manner. Take the case of our 2017- 2020 strategic plan. In this document, we focus on: • Advocacy on removing seed trade barriers; • Enhancing the harmonized seed regulations in the Regional Economic Communities (COMESA, SADC, ECOWAS and EAC); • Strengthening partnerships with national seed trade asso- ciations, global seed industry players such as the International Seed Federation (ISF), the Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA), the European Seed Association (ESA) and regional institutions. • Intellectual Property Rights • Plant Breeding Innovation NEXT STEPS According to AFSTA President, Riadh Gabsi of Tunisia, for the association to scale the heights of success, there needs to be contin- uous advocacy for the harmonized seed regulations in the Regional Economic Communities of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the East African Community (EAC). In the coming months, AFSTA hopes to take a lead role in vouching for plant breeding innovation in Africa. Other issues include helping to escalate our partnerships with key organisations such as CropLife International (CLI), WorldVeg, etc. even as we advocate for a better trading envi- ronment for our membership. As already demonstrated, enhancing the activities of SIGs, which address issues on these two crop groups, remains our key agenda at AFSTA. Finally, we are open to future collaborations and partner- ships which seek to improve the fortunes of seed trade in Africa and beyond because we believe in the African saying that if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to far, go together. Editor’s Note: Aghan Daniel is Communication Officer at the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and can be reached at daghan@afsta.org. This story has been condensed for print. To read the full version, go to european-seed.com