Chivasa Walter, Worku Mosisa, Teklewold Adefris, Setimela Peter, Gethi James, Magorokosho Cosmos, Davis Nicholas J, Prasanna Boddupalli M
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), ICRAF Campus, UN Avenue, Gigiri, P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya.
CIMMYT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Glob Food Sec. 2022 Mar;32:100589. doi: 10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100589.
Seed security is vital for food security. Rapid-cycle, climate-adaptive breeding programs and seed systems that deliver new, elite varieties to farmers to replace obsolete ones can greatly improve the productivity of maize-based cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the importance and benefits of accelerated varietal turnover to climate change adaptation and food security, the rate of maize varietal replacement in SSA is slow. This review outlines the major bottlenecks, drivers, risks, and benefits of active replacement of maize varieties in eastern and southern Africa (ESA) and highlights strategies that are critical to varietal turnover. Although there is an upsurge of new seed companies in ESA and introduction of new varieties with better genetics in the market, some established seed companies continue to sell old (over 15-year-old) varieties. Several recently developed maize hybrids in ESA have shown significant genetic gains under farmers' conditions. Empirical evidence also shows that timely replacement of old products results in better business success as it helps seed companies maintain or improve market share and brand relevance. Therefore, proactive management of product life cycles by seed companies benefits both the farmers and businesses alike, contributing to improved food security and adaptation to the changing climate.
种子安全对粮食安全至关重要。快速循环、适应气候的育种计划以及向农民提供新的优良品种以取代过时品种的种子系统，能够极大地提高撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）以玉米为基础的种植系统的生产力。尽管加速品种更替对适应气候变化和粮食安全具有重要意义和益处，但SSA地区玉米品种的更替速度却很缓慢。本综述概述了东非和南非（ESA）积极更换玉米品种的主要瓶颈、驱动因素、风险和益处，并强调了对品种更替至关重要的策略。尽管ESA地区新种子公司激增，市场上也引入了遗传特性更优的新品种，但一些老牌种子公司仍在销售旧品种（超过15年的品种）。ESA地区最近培育出的几个玉米杂交品种在农民的种植条件下已显示出显著的遗传增益。实证证据还表明，及时更换旧产品有助于种子公司维持或提高市场份额以及品牌相关性，从而带来更好的商业成功。因此，种子公司对产品生命周期进行积极管理对农民和企业都有益，有助于改善粮食安全并适应气候变化。
