New technologies will be added regularly to this e-catalog.
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An economically sustainable integrated cassava seed system! Cassava is a critical food and income source for millions of smallholders in Africa. Yet most cassava farmers rely on non-certified, disease-ridden seed, leading to low yields and food insecurity. The BASICS model, supported by BMGF, IFAD, and IITA, offers a tested and replicable approach to building sustainable, inclusive, and resilient seed systems. It bridges R4D outputs and smallholder needs, while encouraging national ownership and local enterprise development. The model is now promoted by the TAAT Cassava Compact as a pathway to scaling impact and meeting SDG targets on food, jobs, and sustainability.
Virus diagnostic tool for cassava seed health certification by seed producers and seed certifiers. Cassava virus indexing uses PCR and LAMP diagnostic methods to detect and eliminate virus-infected cassava planting materials. It ensures virus-free plants for seed production, improving seed quality, crop resilience, and food security. Key costs include lab setup (USD 20,000) and sample testing (USD 3/sample). Training for staff and collaboration with research and seed certification bodies are crucial for successful implementation.
Building stronger cassava seed businesses for African seed entrepreneurs and farmers. CSAM is a systemic solution designed to strengthen the cassava seed sector by establishing formal associations of seed entrepreneurs. Through these associations, seed producers can access certification, financing, training, and policy advocacy, resulting in improved operational efficiency, enhanced seed quality, and stronger market connections. The model has already been validated in Nigeria and Tanzania and is now expanding into Rwanda and Kenya, benefiting over 2,700 seed entrepreneurs. The model provides an institutional framework that fosters collaboration, collective action, and long-term sustainability in the cassava seed value chain.
Transforming Cassava Farming Through Entrepreneurial Innovation! Cassava is a vital crop for food security and income generation across Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the region's traditional cassava seed systems have been largely informal and unsustainable, relying on farmer-to-farmer seed sharing and irregular free seed distributions from governments and NGOs. This practice has resulted in the widespread use of low-quality, disease-prone planting materials, leading to reduced crop yields and limited adoption of improved cassava varieties. The Cassava Seed Entrepreneur (CSE) Business Model offers a sustainable, market-driven solution to strengthen cassava seed systems. By transforming rural men, women, and youth into certified seed entrepreneurs, the model empowers local communities to produce and sell high-quality cassava planting materials. This initiative integrates capacity building, digital certification tools, and strategic partnerships to ensure the consistent availability of clean, certified seeds. As a result, it enhances agricultural productivity, fosters rural economic growth, and improves livelihoods, contributing to long-term food security and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
From planting to certification—seed production made simple. The Cassava Seed Field Multiplication Protocol is a standardized agricultural method that enables the field-based production of high-quality cassava planting material. It combines clean seed sources, agronomic best practices, regulatory compliance, and digital tools to support certified cassava seed production by seed companies, farmers, and institutions.
Breeder & Foundation Cassava Seeds—Always Within Reach This technology enables seed companies and certified producers to multiply and supply breeder and foundation cassava seeds directly from research centers. It follows national seed certification standards, uses both in-house and outgrower schemes, and ensures that farmers and seed entrepreneurs get access to clean, high-quality planting material. Registration with seed authorities and proper field inspection are required for participation.
Enhancing cassava productivity through healthy planting material Cassava Seed Quality Management is a scalable and inclusive approach to improving agricultural productivity. It ensures access to clean, certified planting material for smallholder farmers while reducing the spread of diseases and strengthening seed systems. It directly contributes to food security, livelihoods, and the resilience of rural communities.
Multiplying Seeds, Securing Harvests, Ensuring Food Security! Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) is an innovative, cost-effective technique for the rapid multiplication of yam using leaf nodal cuttings. It enables mass production of high-quality planting materials in a controlled environment, significantly reducing the dependency on traditional seed yam sources. SAH ensures year-round seed availability, supporting seed companies, breeders, and farmers in meeting demand. This technology is key to improving yam productivity, lowering production costs, and enhancing food security.