An expert consultation on enhancing phytosanitary procedures for germplasm exchange in Africa

22 November 2024

On 7 and 8 November 2024, IITA - CGIAR hosted the "Expert consultation workshop on addressing p hytosanitary b ottlenecks to i mprove g ermplasm e xchange in Africa" at its headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria. The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including Heads of Quarantine Agencies from nine African nations (Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe), representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Africa (FAORAF), CABI , and the African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) .

The primary aim was to address critical challenges, explore opportunities, and outline actionable steps for harmonizing protocols for germplasm exchange to enhance agricultural productivity across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Dr Kenton Dashiell , IITA Deputy Director General for Partnerships for Delivery, opened the workshop, emphasizing the significance of international collaboration between CGIAR and national partners. He highlighted how access to germplasm is fundamental for research and called for stronger ties between national plant protection organizations and academia to facilitate safe transboundary germplasm movement.

The IITA Plant Health Program Lead, Dr Lava Kumar , explained the crucial role of CGIAR's genebanks and breeding programs in global agricultural research. He detailed rigorous phytosanitary measures used by CGIAR Germplasm Health Units (GHUs) to ensure compliance with international standards and mitigate pest risks during germplasm distribution. With CGIAR facilitating approximately 1,000 annual international exchanges involving over 100 countries, Dr Kumar stressed the need to address delays caused by phytosanitary challenges, which can result in missed planting seasons and other repercussions.

Dr David Chikoye , IITA R4D Director for Resilient Agri-Food Systems, raised urgent concerns about informal germplasm exchange through porous borders. He identified this as a significant pathway for pest spread and underscored the immediate need to tackle emerging pests and diseases that threaten food security. Dr Chikoye further advocated for integrated approaches, including genetic solutions, which rely on access to germplasm.

Introducing the Plant Health Strategy for Africa (PHSA), Dr Saliou Niassy, AU-IAPSC Coordinator said this is critical to harmonize phytosanitary capacities across member states. He highlighted the importance of germplasm accessibility and improved crop varieties in building resilient agricultural systems, achieving zero hunger, and addressing climate change challenges in line with the Malabo Declaration. He conveyed the unwavering commitment of AU-IAPSC to addressing bottlenecks for safe germplasm exchange and trade on the continent.

Dr Akindele Ogunfunmilayo, Head of the Plant Quarantine Directorate of Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) , speaking during the workshop said it was a timely approach towards improving germplasm distribution, and lauded IITA and CGIAR 's contributions to national and regional biosecurity and agricultural development.

The workshop sessions featured expert presentations on the opportunities and challenges associated with germplasm exchange. Participants, including quarantine regulators and plant breeders, shared insights on developing harmonized procedures for SSA.

Key highlights included:

• Breeding Programs and Genebank Management: Dr John Derera (CGIAR) and Dr Mushoriwa Hapson (IITA) underscored the global impact of CGIAR's breeding programs and international nurseries, emphasizing the need for streamlined procedures to accelerate germplasm delivery.

• Germplasm S eed and M icrobial Germplasm Exchange: Dr Olaniyi Oyatomi , the Manager of the IITA Seed Bank, and Dr Marie-Noelle Ndjiondjop, Head of the AfricaRice genebank , discussed genebank seed flow management, while Dr Alejandro Ortega-Beltran highlighted the role of microbial germplasm in biocontrol programs like AflaSafe.

• FAO Genebanks Standards : Jean Baptist Bahama from FORAF highlighted the scope of a harmonized framework in the FAO Genebanks Standards. The seed system specialists, Dr Delphine Amah and Prof. Morufat Balogun , stressed the importance of flexible procedures for the regional exchange of clonal plant propagation materials.

• Quarantine Practices and Challenges: Representatives from national quarantine agencies shared existing protocols for germplasm import and export, identifying gaps such as outdated pest lists, inadequate seed health testing capacity, and funding shortages. They also noted regionally harmonized efforts, including the East African Community (EAC) supported by KEPHIS and Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiatives. Dr Benoit Gnonlonfin from CABI shared the experience of harmonizing SPS measures in the ECOWAS region.

• Systems Approach: Representatives from AfricaRice, Geoffrey Onaga; ILRI, Dawit Woubit , and IITA, Lava Kumar, shared systems approaches used in CGIAR GHUs to produce, conserve , and distribute clean germplasm in collaboration with the national plant production organizations.

The discussions converged on the pressing need for a harmonized framework to facilitate safe germplasm exchange in SSA. Expert recommendations included:

1. Identifying Priority Crops for Harmonization: Partners established priority crops for developing harmonized germplasm exchange protocols.
2. Capacity Building: T argeted training and technical support for officials in plant quarantine regulatory agencies.
3. Raising Awareness: Information to stakeholders on the risks of informal exchanges, best procedures used during formal exchange of germplasm seed and the benefits of standardized procedures to improve agrifood systems.
4. Facility Accreditation: A system for accrediting germplasm health facilities by the national plant protection organizations as per the ISPM-45.

During breakout sessions, participants developed a roadmap for implementing harmonized procedures, focusing on:

• Coordinating efforts among regional and national organizations.

• Addressing capacity gaps in plant quarantine organizations.

• Promoting mutual recognition of phytosanitary measures among African nations.

Dr Kumar outlined a way-forward plan to implement the harmonized exchange procedures for priority crops while addressing capacity-building needs. The workshop underscored the critical importance of regional collaboration in improving germplasm exchange systems. By aligning efforts across sub-Saharan Africa ( SSA ) , stakeholders aim to create resilient agricultural systems capable of meeting the challenges of food security, climate change, and sustainable farming. Enhanced phytosanitary measures and streamlined procedures will ensure that germplasm 's safe and efficient movement drives innovation and productivity in African agriculture.

Contributed by Anita Akinyomade and Lava Kumar

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