88 / SEEDWORLD.COM JANUARY 2019 STATUS EGYPT The 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference opened Nov. 18 in the seaside town of Sharm el- Sheikh, Egypt with an open- ing ceremony that included an address from President of Egypt, H.E. Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi, who emphasized the crucial importance of the meeting for Egypt, and for global efforts for sustainable development. Only two years remain in the commitment period for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. Over the next two weeks, govern- ments will be urged to ramp up their ambitions and actions to achieve action on the 20 targets they established in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. At this year’s confer- ence, national governments, regional organizations, and other key stakeholders from around the world will engage in intense discussions with the goal of making a final push to achieve agreed upon global biodiversity targets for 2020 and to start the momentum for an ambitious and achiev- able post-2020 global biodi- versity framework. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, emphasized the critical urgency for the international community to work together to preserve global biodiversity now. “If we do not act, we soon may reach tipping points that may cause irreversible destruction to nature and ultimately to humankind.” Egypt takes the helm of the convention for the next world STATUS A look at seed industry developments around the globe. UN Biodiversity Conference held in Egypt, Pakistan looks to revitalize cotton production. two years, following on the work of Mexico which held the presidency from 2016 until now. This year’s meeting of the Conference of Parties is being chaired by H.E. Yasmine Fouad, minister of environ- ment of Egypt. STATUS GHANA For Africa to realize its dream of attaining food and nutrition security, and improved liveli- hoods of its populations, the private sector must play a key role in agriculture develop- ment, especially in increasing access to seed of improved varieties, an ongoing regional convention on seeds produc- tion has concluded. The fourth 10K Seed Convening in Accra, Ghana, emphasized that seeds of improved varieties are important in raising yields and ensuring food security, proper nutrition and prosperity not only for smallholder farm- ers but also for the general population. Every two years the seed convention brings together these participants to review progress and learn from each other best approaches towards the intended mark. The 10K ambition is on seed producer entities that are already producing or have the potential to reach 10,000MT+ of improved seed production per annum. It is well established that over 50 percent of the total crop yield is determined by the genetic potential of the crop, carried in the seed with the rest apportioned to proper agronomy, use of other inputs like fertilizer and natural conditions. Despite this, only an average of about 20 per- cent of farmers in Africa use seeds of improved varieties. “Planting for Food and Jobs, the government’s flag- ship program, is a success story that has so far distrib- uted improved seeds to over 200,000 Ghanaian farmers to boost food production and has in its first year of imple- mentation produced a total crop value of GH¢1.2 billion resulting from the use of labor, improved seeds and fertiliz- ers. It has nothing to do with tractors and big ideas, just the small improved seeds have got the potential to increase yield,” said the minister. —Source: Modern Ghana STATUS UGANDA “The law on biotechnology will be passed soon and you will be able to grow geneti- cally modified crops on your farms,” says Hon. Fred Bwino, current chairperson of the Science and Technology committee of the Ugandan parliament. Hon. Bwino, who represents Kigulu North Constituency, Iganga district, Eastern Uganda, was officiat- ing at a biotechnology and biosafety education aware- ness workshop in his constitu- ency on Nov. 24. Over 70 participants took part in the workshop, including farmer leaders, cultural and religious lead- ers, extension workers and representatives of key com- munity civil society organiza- tions. While giving his opening remarks, Hon. Bwino lauded