Synopsis

Dr Richard Jones has spent most of his career working in Africa to develop and expand seed distribution logistics for farmers. 

In the first of a three-part episode about East African seed systems, Richard shares how a gap-year trip to Africa inspired him to focus his life’s work there.  We learn why farmers “improved” varieties aren’t always preferred by farmers and how foreign aid doesn’t work as hoped to support low income farmers. He also explores some of the logistical challenges of getting agricultural inputs into the hands of smallholder farmers in Africa. He shares his convictions about how a reimagined regulatory framework and private sector involvement in seed distribution helps support the region’s agricultural industry.