Seed security is fundamental to both global food security and local nutritional security. A well-functioning and biodiverse seed system enables farmers to access seeds of a wide variety of crops at the right time and at an affordable cost, ensuring food and nutrition security. Seed systems are critical for increasing food production, enhancing resilience to climate change, and addressing malnutrition. In the era of climate change, strengthening seed systems becomes even more crucial, as resilient and sustainable seed systems help farmers adapt to unpredictable weather patterns while ensuring food diversity and nutritional health.

In the recent past, there has been efforts taken at state and national level to mainstream community-managed crop genetic resources and related knowledge. Although India has legal provisions guaranteeing farmers’ rights and the sharing of benefits for their managing of such invaluable resources, operationalization of such provisions in the context of farmers rights and access and benefit sharing protocols are evolving.

This National Consultation will serve as a platform for exchanging ideas, identifying challenges, and formulating strategies to strengthen seed systems to operationalising existing protocols, with a special focus on the unique agricultural landscapes and communities of Koraput. It will emphasize the importance of integrating both formal and informal systems, recognizing the value of local knowledge, measures to link legal provisions to conservers and promoting agricultural biodiversity for sustainable food systems.

The National Consultation is expected to produce:

• A comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in building resilient seed systems, particularly in the context of tribal areas and GIAHS region (Koraput).
• Practical recommendations for improving both formal and informal seed systems to ensure food and nutrition security in the era of climate change.
• Enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to develop community-driven and climate-resilient seed systems.
• Policy proposals for government and non-governmental organisations to support the sustainable development of seed systems at the national and regional levels.

For further details, please download programme brochure here

Pre-press release in English and Odia 

Full Report of the MSS100 National Consultant – BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE SEED SYSTEMS FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY – available here

Press coverage for National Consultation