#GB11 SIDE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Technical and Institutional Reflections on Catalyzing Change in PGRFA Management
- Khristine Maguddayao
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
On November 26, 2025, at the Eleventh Session of the Governing Body (GB11), SEARICE joined long-standing partners from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Asociación ANDES – Association for Nature and Sustainable Development (ANDES), Peru, Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT), Zimbabwe, the Sprouts Collective, and the Farmer Seeds Network (FSN) in the side event “Technical and Institutional Reflections on Catalyzing Change in PGRFA Management.”
Drawing from decades of work with farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and grassroots communities, the session highlighted how farmer-led conservation, participatory breeding, and seed system strengthening have shaped global approaches to PGRFA management. Speakers shared technical, policy, and institutional insights, showing how innovations born in communities can influence programs far beyond project lifespans.
The discussions emphasized:
Farmers and Indigenous Peoples remain the primary custodians of agricultural biodiversity, and strengthening their seed systems is central to sustainable PGRFA management.
Technical reflections underscored the importance of participatory plant breeding, locally adapted varieties, community seed banks, "women’s traits" in breeding indexes, and farmer-researcher partnerships that respond directly to farmers’ trait preferences and climate realities.
Policy discussions pointed to enduring gaps in operationalizing Farmers’ Rights and the need for national regulations that genuinely protect community seed systems against commercialization pressures. It was also emphasized that assessments and stakeholder consultations are crucial because they play a key role in developing supportive legal and institutional frameworks for farmer seed systems (FSS).
Institutional reflections highlighted capacity-building frameworks that link knowledge, skills, and behavior to support multi-level systemic change, enabling farmer-led enterprises, governance mechanisms, and scaling pathways. Institutional partnerships that are based on mutual trust and respect and built on gender equity and social inclusion contribute to community empowerment and sustainability.
Experiences from China showed rising demand for healthy and diverse seeds, strengthened through local networks, seed fairs, agroecology hubs, and long-term action research.
From lessons in scaling and mainstreaming to Southern leadership and viable farmer-centered enterprises, the event reaffirmed a collective commitment to protecting and nurturing seed systems that sustain life and resilience.
Together, we continue working towards a future where farmers’ and Indigenous Peoples’ roles as custodians of biodiversity are recognized, supported, and strengthened across fields, policies, and generations.
