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AFSTA Congress 2025 to attract 300 high level delegates from 48 countries around the world on the theme: “25 years strong: Innovating Quality Seed for Africa’s Sustainable Agriculture”
KIGALI, Sunday March 2, 2025 – Nearly 300 delegates representing the global seed sector will attend the 25th African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) Annual Congress, which will officially be opened at 9am on Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Kigali Serena Hotelby Eric Rwigamba, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources.
The congress ends on March 6, 2025, after a special policy dialogue meeting on Plant Breeding Innovation and Biotechnology between the seed industry players and the policymakers including the top government officials from more than 10 countries and the representatives of the African Union.
The AFSTA annual congress, the only one of its kind in Africa, brings together leading seed traders and producers, traditionally covering a broad range of topics in the seed value chain. This year’s Congress, apart from celebrating AFSTA’s 25 years of existence, will focus on discussions around future trends and vision for transforming Africa into a dynamic seed trade hub for sustainable growth in the agricultural sector and enhanced food security. It will also dwell on strategies of scaling up technologies and innovations in the seed system and how public-private partnerships can unlock opportunities for seed SMEs. Besides, views will be tabled on state and future of plant breeding innovation in Africa; state of plant variety protection systems in Africa, as well as how to better position the continent in the global seed industry.
“The 2025 Annual General Meeting of AFSTA represents a pivotal transition, where we will adopt a new strategic plan under the leadership of our newly appointed Secretary General, Dr Yacouba Diallo,” says Mr Amadou Sarr, President of AFSTA.
He added that the new strategic plan will be a vital tool for promoting market access and trade, fostering industry innovation, developing partnerships, and advocating for supportive policies and regulations.
“Furthermore, the plan aims to enhance the services we provide to our members and ensure the sustainability of our Association,” Mr Sarrsaid.
The AFSTA’s Secretary General Dr Yacouba Diallo has said that the congress in Kigali provides a great opportunity to discuss and agree on how best to drive the dynamic seed sector that Africa’s seed industry is known for amidst the background of a fascinating mix of challenges and opportunities.
“Like many other industries, the seed business in Africa has changed over time. These changes stem from climate change, new farming techniques and technologies, seed market demands, finance, investments and human skills matters, agricultural policies and regulations” he says.
For seed industry players in Rwanda, the 2025 AFSTA Congress in Kigali is an opportunity to reflect on collective and national steps in advancing and fostering growth in the seed sector while also integrating technical and institutional collaborations and innovations.
Innocent Namuhoranye, the Chairperson of National Seed Association of Rwanda has said that it is good the AFSTA Congress 2025 comes to Kigali at a time the Rwandan Government’s efforts are geared towards shifting from being a market actor in the seed sector to a market enabler, emphasizing the private sector’s role in the seed industry.
“Through Public private partnerships and collaborations with the National Seed Association of Rwanda (NSAR), efforts are focused on improving seed quality and accessibility,” Mr Namuhoranye says.
In readiness for the event, the National Organising Committee (NOC)Chairperson for the planned Congress, Kate Ojungo, appreciated the continued stakeholder engagement noting the Congress brings yet another opportunity to reflect on collective and national strides in advancing and fostering growth in the Seed Sector through meaningful engagements, open dialogue and forward-thinking discussions.
The Kigali Congress by AFSTA is therefore a magnificent forum to explore more seed businesses and strengthen the network among seed stakeholders.
Several representatives of regional and international organisations have confirmed their participation in the congress. They include the International Seed Federation (ISF), the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV), The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), West and Central African Council For Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) through its project on Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), the African Union, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), Euroseeds, The African Agricultural Technology Foundation, and World Vegetable Centre.
