The
importance of the seed industry in African agriculture, as well as
trade & industry, was evident from the participation of major
international bodies in the 2002 Congress of the African Seed Trade
Association (AFSTA). Such bodies included the Union for the
Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV), Organization for Economic
Co-operation & Development (OECD) Seed Schemes, the plant genetic
resources division of the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO),
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and International Seed
Trade Federation (ISF). Several regional bodies, amongst others, the
African Union (AU) and representatives of national government
departments were also present.AFSTA reported a membership of 57
during the period under review of whom 10 were from outside Africa.
Its acceptability as spokes body for the African Seed Industry was
also evident by way of invitations to participate in meetings of the
European Union (EU), AU, ISF, and FAO during this period.
The harmonization of seed legislation in the region was one of
the most contentious issues dealt with by AFSTA during the period
under review. Africa is in the process of regional trade
development, which, of course, requires the harmonization of
relevant legislation. Improved availability of, as well as trade in
improved seed could only be realized if national trade barriers were
overcome through regional harmonization of appropriate legislation.
Progress reports from several regions were discussed in this regard.
East Africa displayed most progress, which included the reduction of
phytosanitary requirements from 33 to three quarantine diseases.
Similar initiatives, supported by FAO, were underway in West and
Southern Africa.
Other contentious issues included intellectual property rights on
plant varieties. South Africa and Kenya were reported to be members
of UPOV, whilst Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and OAPI were in
the process of acceding to the Convention. In West Africa the
Accord de Bangui, which provided for protection similar to UPOV,
was expected to be ratified soon by its 14 member states. It was
stressed that provision for intellectual property rights was
required to be in position before 2006 in order to comply with the
agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
[Article 27.3(b)] under the auspices of the World Trade Organization
(WTO).
The fact that Africa had limited indigenous plant resources was
reiterated in the light of the harmonization of provisions in terms
of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This
would facilitate the exchange of germplasm in an orderly,
multilateral system. Africa was to gain much from beneficiation of
its plant genetic resources and intellectual property rights would
assist in securing the need for benefit sharing in accordance with
these international instruments.
AFSTA adopted a position statement on modern biotechnology as an
efficient tool in enhancing food production and agricultural
development. This was an important motion for Africa to gain from
new unique traits in crop plants in order to reduce the losses
caused by insects, pests, diseases and weeds.
In this manner AFSTA encouraged relevant research and the
responsible application of agricultural biotechnology to improve
productivity. This subsequently lead to the recommendation that
appropriate policies and programmes be developed, as well as
adequate regulations and protocols be set up as a priority to
assess, on a scientific basis, potential health and environmental
risks. This, of course, would also be necessary in order to comply
with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
