Africa experts push digital tech against fake seeds
African agricultural experts met in Dar es Salaam to discuss using digital technology and biotechnology to improve seed quality and food security.
African agricultural experts are advocating for increased use of digital technology to combat counterfeit seeds, which threaten farmers' productivity and food security. This proposal emerged from the Seventh Steering Group Meeting of the African Seed and Biotechnology Partnership Platform, organised by AUDA-NEPAD and held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on November 12, 2026.
Dr James Onsando, an adviser on seed sector issues, stated that digital authentication systems could help farmers identify genuine seeds from fake ones, often sold in imitative packaging. He explained that concealed verification codes on seed packages would allow farmers to confirm authenticity, protecting them from financial losses due to poor germination and harvests from counterfeit seeds.
Delegates also explored biotechnology's role in developing higher-yielding seed varieties resilient to climate change, pests, and diseases. However, expanding access requires investment in research, supportive policies, and regulatory frameworks. These discussions align with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme's 2026–2035 agenda, which aims to significantly increase agricultural production and investment across the continent.
Why it mattersFarmers in Tanzania and across Africa face financial losses from counterfeit seeds, and digital authentication systems are being proposed to help them identify genuine products.