Strengthening the seed sector through public-private partnerships

Varanasi, India, 28 November 2024 – Leading experts and stakeholders from the public and private sectors gathered for a pivotal plenary session at NSC 2024, titled “Strengthening the Seed Sector through Public-Private Partnerships.” This session explored collaborative strategies to improve seed quality and accessibility.

Moderated by Dr. Jauhar Ali, Principal Scientist at IRRI, the session featured distinguished panelists, including Dr. A.K. Singh, Former Director of ICAR-IARI; Dr. Rajendra Barwale, Chairman of Mahyco; Dr. Raghavan Sampathkumar, Executive Director of FSII; Mr. Yogesh Kumbhejkar, IAS, Managing Director of Maharashtra State Seed Co. Ltd.; Dr. Venkatesh Hubli, Director of Research at Savannah Seeds; and Dr. Sangeetha Dawar, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science. Together, they discussed the challenges and significant opportunities involved in strengthening India’s seed sector through strategic public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The session covered several critical themes, starting with distrust, unequal benefits, and limited adoption of innovative technologies. Panelists emphasized the importance of leveraging public research and private resources to overcome these barriers and ensure a more effective and inclusive seed sector.

One core topic was the equitable sharing of intellectual property rights (IPR). The panel discussed the need for mechanisms that ensure the benefits of seed innovations are fairly distributed, which would help sustain long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships between public and private entities.

A significant focus was placed on scaling innovation and delivery. Panelists agreed that public-private collaborations are essential for accelerating the development of improved plant genetics and for ensuring that these innovations reach farmers more efficiently. They also explored robust measures to address seed piracy, including implementing traceability systems, educational campaigns, and stronger enforcement to prevent the spread of counterfeit seeds.

The role of…