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.
Making Cassava Seed Systems Work Better ME-CASS is a digital platform that tracks cassava seed from breeder to farmer. It improves traceability, monitors seed quality, and supports better planning and coordination across the cassava seed system.
From Advocacy to Action: Replicating Success with Lasting Investment This model promotes sustainable cassava seed systems by embedding innovations—such as SAH, nodal cuttings, and digital certification—into national policies and programs. It replaces short-term interventions with long-term strategies based on advocacy, local ownership, and coordinated partnerships. The model has influenced seed policies in over 10 African countries and enabled USD 26.6 million in seed system investments. Results include stronger entrepreneurship, better varietal access, and improved food system resilience.
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.
Build an efficient seed system! SeedTracker is a scalable, inclusive, and impact-oriented digital solution to strengthen seed systems. It enables efficient certification, traceability, and access to improved seed for smallholder farmers—supporting agricultural transformation and institutional capacity building.
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.