Smallholder farmers grow about 1/3rd of the world’s food yet a significant number of them live on less than $2 a day, according to figures by the FAO and the World Bank.
To focus on this challenge, the Access to Seeds Index (ATSI) measures the effectiveness of seed companies in enhancing the productivity of smallholders farmers by improving their access to seeds. In its latest Index for South and Southeast Asia (SSEA) published on 22 November 2021, ATSI once again ranked East-West Seed first out of 31 seed companies.
“Our entire business is an investment in the success of smallholder farmers,” says Douwe Zijp, East-West Seed CEO.
“Smallholder farmers can earn greater incomes when they grow bigger and better harvests and that starts when they use high-quality vegetable seeds. Good seeds can change the lives of millions of farmers and also the lives of millions more who eat the healthier food they grow.”
Article continues below video.
Stay Updated
Join our mailing list so that we can update you on our news, innovations and insights into global farming and nutrition.
East-West Seed, a family business that differentiates itself from its competitors by being a ‘pure-play’ vegetable seed company, focuses on local breeding for specific local factors and having a socio-economic approach to farmer training.
This approach is highlighted in the mission of the company’s Foundation, East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer, which trains 100,000 farmers directly each year and reaches millions more through digital media, radio and distributable crop guides.
This is the second time ATSI has ranked East-West Seed at #1 in the SSEA Index, the previous being in 2019, as well as also placing the company first on its Global ranking in 2019.
In the 2021 SSEA Index measurement areas, East-West Seed topped the 31 companies in the areas of governance and strategy, and research and development. ATSI also said East-West Seed’s score was driven by its capacity building programs focusing on gender equity, next-generation farmers and digital innovations.
See the SSEA Access to Seeds Index scorecard here
