Strengthening Farmer-Led Seed Systems
Insights from the Eleventh Session of the Governing Body in Lima, Peru
Last month, IFOAM – Organics International, represented by Ambassador Roberto Ugas, and other members, actively contributed to discussions on farmer-led seed systems during the Eleventh Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). Held in Lima, Peru, from 24–27 November 2025, the session brought together governments, researchers, civil society, and farmers’ organisations to advance global governance of plant genetic resources.
A highlight of the week was IFOAM’s participation in two side events facilitated and presented by the McKnight Foundation, a close partner in advancing farmer-centred and agrobiodiversity-rich seed systems.
Presenting agrobiodiversity-focused Communities of Practice | 25 November
With around 55 participants, this event created space for sharing knowledge on community seed banks and farmer-managed seed systems—their challenges, opportunities and contributions to resilient food systems. Facilitated by Manuel Ruiz Muller (Seeds for All, consultant for McKnight Foundation), the session featured three poster presentations:
- Nyarie Chisango and Riccardo Bocci: Convening global expertise on community seed banks and enabling policy environments for farmer-managed seed systems.
- Roberto Ugas: A long-standing knowledge exchange initiative connecting farmer-centred research partnerships for food system solutions.
- Stef de Haan and Hedwig de Coo: Scaling up innovations through collaboration within and beyond the Benefit-sharing Fund, including outcomes from the “Agrobiodiversity Knowledge Lab”.
The event closed with collective reflections on lessons learned and areas for future collaboration.
Exploring Policies to Promote and Strengthen Farmer-managed Seed Systems | 26 November
This session examined how policies can better recognise and support farmers as innovators, developers and custodians of agrobiodiversity. Participants explored case studies of farmer-managed seed systems from the Philippines, Peru, Zimbabwe and Italy, followed by a panel discussion that centred on two guiding questions:
- How can policies support farmers as innovators within FMSS and broader seed-sector development?
- How do current economic, trade and agriculture issues affect farmer-managed seed systems?
The panel brought together diverse perspectives from:
- Beatrice Egulu, African Union
- Francisca Acevedo, National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity
- Dr. Mary Teddy Asio, Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
- Israel Navarette, International Potato Centre
- Representative of the ITPGRFA Secretariat
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Collaboration
Insights from both events reaffirm McKnight Foundation’s interest in deepening collaboration with IFOAM – Organics International. Potential areas include:
- Strengthened communication efforts, working with the IFOAM network to amplify evidence, narratives and policy debates on farmer-managed seed systems.
- Joint evidence-gathering initiatives, documenting on-the-ground effectiveness of approaches identified in past research and projects.
Together, IFOAM – Organics International and the McKnight Foundation aim to advance farmer-led seed systems that protect agrobiodiversity, reinforce local innovation, and support resilient, equitable food systems worldwide.
