African Cereal and Legume Breeding Consortium (ACLBC)

African cereal and legume breeding programmes are essential for developing high-yielding, climate-resilient and market-responsive crop varieties. These varieties, alongside farmer access to good agricultural practices, agricultural inputs, finance and markets, help ensure food and nutritional security across Africa, a continent facing numerous agricultural challenges.

Initiatives such as the African Cereal and Legume Breeding Consortium (ACLBC) attract private sector participation and foster partnerships between governments, research institutions and private companies. These collaborations accelerate the development of high-yielding, pest-resistant and climate-adapted cereal and legume varieties.

With a strong emphasis on collaboration and investment, the consortium seeks to enhance farm-level productivity and contribute to economic growth by leveraging the strengths of both the public and private sectors.

The history of African cereal and legume breeding reflects efforts to address food shortages and malnutrition while managing ageing crop varieties that are often susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Historically, public institutions led these efforts, but private sector participation in crop improvement programmes has steadily increased.

The establishment of breeding consortia such as ACLBC represents a modern and integrated approach that builds on decades of experience in plant breeding, agronomic research and seed system development across Africa.

The Establishment and Role of ACLBC

The consortium was established by the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) through the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme.

The consortium enables the sharing of genetic resources and breeding technologies to accelerate the development of superior crop varieties.

Private sector participants invest in crop breeding research, seed multiplication and distribution channels, enabling farmers to access improved crop varieties more rapidly than through public programmes alone.

The consortium also acts as a platform for innovation in plant breeding technologies, including modern techniques such as molecular breeding.

It also creates commercial opportunities for businesses involved in agricultural inputs such as seeds, agrochemicals, farming equipment and related services.

Membership and Advantages of ACLBC

Private companies wishing to join ACLBC must already be members of AFSTA or a recognised national seed platform and must be actively involved in plant breeding activities.

Non-profit organisations such as research institutes and universities may participate only if invited by IITA and cannot hold full membership status.

Each year, consortium members may request seeds of up to three crop types including:

• Maize
• Rice
• Wheat
• Sorghum
• Millet
• Soybean
• High Iron Bean (HIB)

Seed availability and distribution depend on international movement regulations and quarantine requirements.

Members receiving seeds obtain exclusive rights to use them for two years, subject to intellectual property agreements and testing arrangements with the technology providers.

Seeds can only be requested after all export and quarantine protocols have been completed.

Private sector participation brings important benefits such as increased financial investment, management expertise, operational efficiency and faster development of improved crop varieties.

However, private sector involvement can sometimes prioritise profitability over the needs of subsistence farmers or less commercially attractive crops. Through coordination and consultation within TAAT’s network of partners, these potential risks can be mitigated.

About the Partner Organisations

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

IITA, a member of CGIAR, is a non-profit research organisation that develops agricultural innovations to address Africa’s major challenges including hunger, malnutrition, poverty and natural resource degradation.

Working with partners across Africa, IITA improves livelihoods, strengthens food and nutrition security, increases employment opportunities and protects natural resources.

African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA)

AFSTA is a not-for-profit international organisation headquartered in Kenya representing the interests of private seed companies across Africa.

Its members include seed companies and national seed trade associations who rely on AFSTA to engage with governments, regional organisations and international partners to promote initiatives that support the growth of Africa’s seed sector.

Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT)

TAAT is a flagship programme of the African Development Bank designed to reverse declining food productivity in Africa.

The programme aims to introduce modern agricultural technologies to over 40 million farmers in more than 30 African countries, with a strong focus on supporting youth and women.

TAAT operates through a regional delivery infrastructure involving research institutions, seed companies, extension services and financial institutions working together to transform African agriculture.