Across Africa, farmers have nurtured, selected, exchanged, and conserved seeds for generations. These farmer-managed seed systems have not only sustained livelihoods and food cultures but have also safeguarded the biodiversity that underpins resilient food systems. Today, as climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressures on agricultural systems intensify, African farmers and civil society organizations are renewing a call for seed sovereignty and the protection of farmers’ rights. This call was powerfully articulated through the N’Djamena Declaration, adopted during the 4th Pan-African Conference on Seed Governance held in Chad from 2–4 June 2026.
The conference was convened by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and brought together representatives from 24 African countries—including farmers’ organizations, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and civil society actors—the conference reaffirmed the central role of Farmer-Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) in Africa’s food future. Participants highlighted that these systems continue to provide the vast majority (90%) of seeds used by millions of smallholder farmers across the continent and remain essential for maintaining agricultural biodiversity, cultural heritage, and local knowledge.
“Africa’s seeds belong to its peoples. The future of seed governance must be rooted in sovereignty, justice, biodiversity, democracy and the rights of farmers.”
Farmers at the Heart of Seed Governance
A central message of the declaration is that farmers are not passive recipients of innovation—they are innovators and custodians of biodiversity. Participants called for the full recognition and implementation of farmers’ rights, including the right to save, exchange, breed, reproduce, and sell farm-saved seeds. Special attention was given to the critical role played by women farmers, who are often the primary custodians of seed diversity and traditional knowledge.
The declaration also reinforces the legitimization and autonomy of Farmer-Managed Seed Systems that deserve legal recognition, investment, and policy support. They are not transitional state towards commercial seeds systems.
Connecting Seed Sovereignty and Food Sovereignty
The ideas expressed in the N’Djamena Declaration align with broader food sovereignty movements emerging across the continent. AFSA’s recent publication, My Food is African: Volume 2, documents how citizens, farmers, market traders, and civil society organizations are reclaiming control over African food systems—from local markets and school gardens to national policy spaces. The publication highlights how food sovereignty depends not only on what people eat but also on who controls seeds, land, markets, and food policies.
Throughout the continent, communities are demonstrating that resilient food systems are built from the ground up. Territorial markets, agroecological production systems, community seed initiatives, and citizen-led advocacy are helping to safeguard biodiversity while improving access to nutritious and culturally relevant foods.
A Call for Action
The N’Djamena Declaration calls on governments, regional institutions, donors, and development partners to strengthen policies and investments that support farmer-managed seed systems, agroecology, and biodiversity conservation. It also urges greater protection against the privatization of genetic resources and associated knowledge, while ensuring that emerging digital technologies are governed in ways that protect community rights and benefit-sharing.
For Africa’s food systems, the stakes are high. As climate challenges continue to grow, protecting seed diversity and strengthening farmer-managed seed systems are increasingly recognized as essential pathways toward resilient, sustainable, and equitable food futures. The message emerging from N’Djamena is clear. Africa’s seeds are more than planting material—they are the foundation of food sovereignty, climate resilience, and the continent’s agricultural future.
Download the full N’Djamena Declaration in English and French, by clicking on the links below.