Empowering smallholders with better seeds for stronger harvests 

Access to high-quality seeds is one of the most powerful tools to increase agricultural productivity and improve rural livelihoods. Yet, millions of smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia continue to rely on low-performing or outdated varieties, leading to low yields and limited resilience to climate shocks. Addressing this gap requires robust seed systems that connect public research, private enterprises, and farmers — ensuring that improved, affordable, and market-relevant seed varieties reach those who need them most. 

SAF’s (formerly SFSA) seed systems work is led by our flagship program, Seeds2B (Seeds-to-Business), launched in 2012. The program supported the development and commercialization of improved crop varieties by catalyzing partnerships, building local capacity, and promoting enabling policies. It operates across multiple countries in Africa and Asia, and focuses on a broad range of crops including cereals, legumes, vegetables, roots, and tubers.

Our Approach: Seeds2B 

Seeds2B takes a market-oriented and inclusive approach to strengthen seed systems and accelerate varietal adoption. Key pillars of the program include: 

• Public-private partnerships for variety commercialization
• Capacity building of national research systems, seed companies, and farmer groups
• Product advancement and trialing of new varieties through structured processes
• Seed policy support, including variety registration, licensing, and plant variety protection
• Demand-led breeding and value chain engagement to match varieties with farmer and market needs

We support our partners through tailored toolkits, digital applications, and investment in early generation seed (EGS) systems. 

Disclaimer: This write-up was created by the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA), now rebranded as the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF).