Report | Farmers’ seeds in West Africa

Seeds are much more than the starting point of a harvest.

They are a source of food, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and autonomy for farming communities. Across West Africa, farmers have spent generations saving, selecting, and sharing seeds adapted to their local environments. Yet these essential practices are increasingly threatened by climate change, the loss of agricultural biodiversity, and policies that favour commercial seeds.

Farmers’ seeds: The key to food sovereignty in West Africa was produced with COPAGEN and SeedChange. The report explores the importance of farmers’ seed systems and their role in building more resilient and equitable food systems.

Drawing on participatory assessments conducted in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Togo, the report highlights the challenges communities face in accessing, producing and conserving their seeds. It also shines a light on the essential role of rural women, whose knowledge and practices are central to protecting seed diversity, despite the barriers they face in accessing land, resources and decision-making spaces.

At the heart of this report are the solutions identified by farmers and their communities themselves. Drawing on their knowledge, experiences and priorities, the report highlights concrete ways to strengthen farmers’ seed systems, protect their rights and advance seed and food sovereignty across West Africa.