The inaugural African Union Africa Seed Summit is set to commence in Ezulwini, Eswatini, on Monday, 5 October 2026. The three-day event, running until Wednesday, 7 October, brings together agriculture ministers, senior government officials, and seed industry players from across Africa. The summit is being held under the theme “Resilient Seed Systems for a Food Secure Africa” at the Palazzo Convention Centre. The African Union Commission is convening the gathering as an Extraordinary Session on African Seed Systems.
The summit aims to turn political commitments on seed into investment, policy reform, and coordinated action across member states. The programme for Monday begins with a ministerial session for Ministers of Agriculture, accompanied by plenary sessions, side events, and exhibitions. On Tuesday, an Executive Committee meeting will bring together Ministers of Agriculture and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, alongside technical sessions and exhibitions. Heads of State will convene on Wednesday for the final day of the summit.
High-profile speakers at the summit include Prime Minister Russell Dlamini of Eswatini and AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati. Other confirmed speakers are Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, John Dumelo, and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. The summit is expected to produce a declaration outlining commitments by African leaders on seed systems, initially proposed as the Ezulwini Declaration.
In addition to the declaration, a roadmap for implementing these commitments and a revised ten-year action plan for the Africa Seed and Biotechnology Programme are anticipated outcomes. The African Union will also launch the Seed Sector Performance Index (SSPI) 2025 Status Report for Africa during the summit. This report is expected to provide insights into the current state of seed systems across the continent.
The summit will focus on five thematic areas: implementing seed policy and regulatory instruments, mobilising public and private investment in the seed sector, aligning the seed programme with the second ten-year plan of the Kampala CAADP Declaration for 2027 to 2033, making seed sector development inclusive, and using technology to speed up agricultural development. These areas of focus are designed to address key challenges in seed systems.
According to the African Union, seed quality remains a significant obstacle to farm productivity in Africa. While over 70 percent of farmers growing maize and vegetables use improved certified seed in some countries, fewer than 5 percent of farmers use improved seed for most other crops, especially legumes, roots, and tubers. Despite over 500 improved crop varieties being released across Africa between 2022 and 2024, the gap in seed quality persists.
The summit also seeks renewed political commitment from member states to laws and regulations that encourage private sector investment in seed. For local farmers and agribusinesses, the exhibitions offer an opportunity to explore the continent’s seed sector offerings. The exhibition space is open to seed companies, manufacturers of seed processing equipment, and grain processors, among others.
Key points
- The African Union Africa Seed Summit aims to improve seed systems and food security across the continent.
- The summit will produce a declaration outlining commitments by African leaders on seed systems.
- The event brings together high-profile speakers, including Prime Minister Russell Dlamini and AU Commissioner Moses Vilakati.
