Farmer-managed seed systems’ essential role for food security and agrobiodiversity in Africa

Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) are communitybased seed systems where farmers have control and rights over their seeds, using mainly local varieties, indigenous knowledge practices, and rules developed according to their customs as they adapt to their changing environment.

In essence, FMSS serves as the foundational seed system for the majority of African farmers, especially smallholders, ensuring access to adapted seeds, preserving crucial biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and contributing significantly to food and nutrition security and resilience, often despite limited official recognition and support. FMSS perform various crucial roles to ensure food and nutrition security (FNS) in Africa. This includes its contribution to seed security, food security, enhancement of genetic diversity of crop populations and in situ crop genetic resources conservation, and enhancement of communities’ social networks. 

This knowledge brief further describes the roles, strengths and weaknesses of FMSS in Africa, and provides recommendations to strengthen FMSS.