Agriterra is organizing a Seeds Debate in The Hague on April 5, 2016 entitled “Better vegetable seeds for smallholder farmers”.

The demand for food is increasing. Many Dutch agri-food companies invest in agriculture in developing countries. Cooperation with small-scale farmers and their organisations presents opportunities for the companies and for the farmers. Opportunities to improve the delivery reliability and the quality of the agricultural products and, at the same time, to accelerate the development of agriculture.

More intensive collaboration provides the Dutch agri-food sector, the Dutch government and knowledge institutions the opportunity to contribute to healthy economic development in developing countries, resulting in less hunger and poverty. This is an important step in achieving the United Nations’ new sustainable development objectives.

The ‘Small farmers, big deal’ initiative calls on agri-food companies, the Dutch government and knowledge institutions to give farmers’ organisations and cooperatives in developing countries a larger role in Dutch trade, assistance and investment policy.

Please download the full programme of the Seeds Debate.

Background information

• What role for Dutch seed companies? – Better vegetable seeds for smallholder farmers (PDF)
• The “Small farmers, big deal” initiative website
• Meet the campaign team of “Small farmers, big deal” (PDF)
• The Access to seeds Index website