87
© The Author(s) 2019
T. S. Rosenstock et al. (eds.), The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92798-5_8
Chapter 8
Access to Early Generation Seed: Obstacles
for Delivery of Climate-Smart Varieties
Laura K. Cramer
8.1 Introduction
As anthropogenic climate change alters environments across eastern and southern
Africa (ESA), farmers will need new crop varieties to counter predicted drops in
yields and address new disease threats (Challinor et al. 2016; Spielman and Smale
2017). To help mitigate against potential declines in food security, farmers will need
access to crop varieties that perform better under water stress; are shorter-maturing
and therefore better adapted to changing rainfall patterns; and are more resistant to
new pests and diseases. For one crop—common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)—climate models predict that by the 2020s approximately 3.8 million ha of suitable area
in Africa would benefit from a bean seed with improved drought tolerance
(Buruchara et al. 2011). Research is also beginning to show that climate change is
affecting the nutritional value of crops (Myers et al. 2017), suggesting that, to combat malnutrition, farmers must have access to varieties that maintain nutrient levels
under higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Agricultural researchers and plant breeders have been producing improved seeds
in ESA for many decades, but adoption rates remain low (Table 8.1). Despite large
investments in breeding, many varieties have never been commercially disseminated (Walker and Alwang 2015). In addition, the length of the breeding, dissemination and adoption (BDA) cycle for some varieties of crops can be as long as 30 years
(Challinor et al. 2016). Given the rapid pace of climate change, this cycle is too long
to meet the needs of farmers. The process needs to be shortened so that improved
L. K. Cramer (*)
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Nairobi, Kenya
CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS),
Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: l.cramer@cgiar.org
© The Author(s) 2019
T. S. Rosenstock et al. (eds.), The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92798-5_8
Chapter 8
Access to Early Generation Seed: Obstacles
for Delivery of Climate-Smart Varieties
Laura K. Cramer
8.1 Introduction
As anthropogenic climate change alters environments across eastern and southern
Africa (ESA), farmers will need new crop varieties to counter predicted drops in
yields and address new disease threats (Challinor et al. 2016; Spielman and Smale
2017). To help mitigate against potential declines in food security, farmers will need
access to crop varieties that perform better under water stress; are shorter-maturing
and therefore better adapted to changing rainfall patterns; and are more resistant to
new pests and diseases. For one crop—common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)—climate models predict that by the 2020s approximately 3.8 million ha of suitable area
in Africa would benefit from a bean seed with improved drought tolerance
(Buruchara et al. 2011). Research is also beginning to show that climate change is
affecting the nutritional value of crops (Myers et al. 2017), suggesting that, to combat malnutrition, farmers must have access to varieties that maintain nutrient levels
under higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Agricultural researchers and plant breeders have been producing improved seeds
in ESA for many decades, but adoption rates remain low (Table 8.1). Despite large
investments in breeding, many varieties have never been commercially disseminated (Walker and Alwang 2015). In addition, the length of the breeding, dissemination and adoption (BDA) cycle for some varieties of crops can be as long as 30 years
(Challinor et al. 2016). Given the rapid pace of climate change, this cycle is too long
to meet the needs of farmers. The process needs to be shortened so that improved
L. K. Cramer (*)
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Nairobi, Kenya
CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS),
Wageningen, The Netherlands
e-mail: l.cramer@cgiar.org