Board of Directors

Clive is a distinguished leader in the African seed industry, currently serving as Vice President of AFSTA and a Board Member representing the Tanzania Seed Trade Association (TASTA). He is the Group Operations Director for SeedCo Group Africa, where he oversees strategic business operations for commercial crop seed processing and marketing across East and West Africa, including specialized vegetable seed markets.

With over 30 years of experience spanning the agricultural and FMCG sectors, Clive brings deep operational and commercial expertise to seed processing and trade across the continent. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and previously served as Managing Director of Seed Co Tanzania, where he played a key role in expanding the reach of climate-smart seed solutions.

In his role as AFSTA Vice President, Clive draws on his experience as former Chairman of the Communication and Advocacy Committee to advance AFSTA’s strategic mandate and strengthen engagement with stakeholders across the seed sector.

Sylvia Horemans is a Zambian entrepreneur, agribusiness leader, and co-founder of Kamano Seeds Ltd, established in 2004. With over 25 years of management experience across parastatal and private sector institutions, she has built a strong reputation in the seed industry, driving innovation and agricultural transformation.

Under her leadership, Kamano Seeds has achieved significant milestones, including winning first prize for marketing and selling the highest volume of orange maize seed under the HarvestPlus/AgResults initiative, highlighting her commitment to nutrition-sensitive agriculture and inclusive market development. In 2019, she was recognized by CIMMYT for her outstanding contribution to the seed business industry in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Sylvia serves as a Committee Member of the Zambia Seed Traders Association and as a Board Trustee of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), where she contributes to strengthening seed systems and advancing the growth of Africa’s seed sector.

Mr. David Kiplagat is a seasoned business leader in the African seed industry. With over 20 years of experience, he brings extensive expertise in business administration, driven by a strong passion for growth, knowledge, and advancement within the seed sector.

??He currently heads Simlaw Seeds in Kenya, having previously served in a similar capacity at Kibo Seeds in Tanzania. Earlier in his career, he served as a Director at Kenya Seed Company and as Vice Chairperson of the Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK). He continues to contribute to the industry as a Board Member of STAK and as a signatory to the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA).

Motivated by the goal of alleviating hunger and driving economic transformation, Mr. Kiplagat firmly believes that while agriculture is a key economic driver for nations, it is seed that forms the foundation of agriculture.

Namuhoranye is an AFSTA Board Member and Chairman of the National Seed Association of Rwanda (NSAR), which he co-founded in 2015. He has led the association’s transformation into a fully independent, private sector–driven body, strengthening its influence within Rwanda’s seed industry and positioning it as an active contributor to regional and global seed platforms. NSAR has been a member of AFSTA since 2016 and joined the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) in 2024.

He has consistently engaged in AFSTA activities, participating in Congresses since 2014 and Board Meetings since 2023, contributing to regional collaboration and advancement of the seed sector.

In Rwanda, he has played a pivotal role in shaping seed policies and regulatory frameworks, working with both government and industry to promote quality assurance, transparency, and private sector growth.

He is the Founder and CEO of Agriseeds Ltd, a leading supplier of vegetable seeds and climate-smart hybrid maize varieties in Rwanda and the region. He holds an MBA from the United Kingdom and brings extensive experience in seed industry development across Africa.

An experienced agribusiness leader with over 15 years in the agriculture industry, he specializes in high-value vegetable seeds, fresh produce, and processing within multinational environments. He currently serves as Regional Sales Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at Enza Zaden, where he leads the company’s expansion across African markets while overseeing operations of its South African subsidiary.

He plays an active role in industry leadership, serving as Chairperson of SANSOR and Chair of its Vegetables and Ornamentals Committee. He is also a member of the IFPA Southern Africa Country Council, contributing to the advancement of the horticulture and seed sectors in the region.

With strong analytical and strategic capabilities, he is skilled in developing long-term growth strategies, identifying market opportunities, and building effective partnerships across diverse stakeholders. His expertise includes negotiation, market development, and strengthening value chains within the seed industry.

Nathalie Issorat est Directrice du Réseau de Distribution chez Novalliance, où elle pilote la stratégie globale et le développement des sociétés de distribution. Forte de près de 30 ans d’expérience dans le secteur agricole, elle a débuté dans la finance avant de se spécialiser dans le management, la gestion de réseaux et la promotion de semences adaptées aux marchés africains.

Elle joue un rôle clé dans l’expansion du réseau de distribution de Novalliance, facilitant l’accès des agriculteurs à des semences de qualité via des magasins de proximité. Son approche inclusive intègre les petits producteurs et distributeurs locaux, contribuant ainsi à la sécurité alimentaire et à la durabilité des systèmes agricoles.

Titulaire d’un Master II en Management et Marketing Produit, Nathalie possède une expertise reconnue dans la structuration de réseaux performants et le développement stratégique du secteur semencier. Elle est convaincue que l’accès aux semences certifiées est un levier essentiel pour renforcer les rendements agricoles et soutenir la croissance durable des filières.

Nadine is a regulatory affairs and policy expert with over a decade of leadership across African and European seed systems. Strong track record in variety registration, regulatory science, advocacy, compliance, and multi-regional stakeholder engagement. Experienced in leading teams, shaping regulatory frameworks, and contributing to industry-wide harmonization efforts. Passionate about supporting harmonized seed systems that drive innovation, market access, and growth of Africa’s seed industry. Brings a unique blend of global regulatory expertise, African market understanding, and deep seed-sector experience aligned with AFSTA’s 2025–2027 strategic priorities.

Nicolas Perrin is the Director for International Affairs at SEMAE, the French interprofessional organization for seeds and plants, a position he has held since February 2022. He brings extensive experience from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food and its international network, having served as Agricultural Attaché in Poland and the Baltic States, and later as Agricultural Adviser at the French Embassy in Ukraine. He also served as Director of Agriculture, Rurality, and Forestry at the Paris Region.

At SEMAE, he leads international cooperation initiatives, particularly supporting seed value chain development and seed quality improvement in West Africa. He is actively engaged in global seed sector platforms, contributing to the International Seed Federation (ISF) coordination group on biodiversity and phytogenetic resources, and participating in Euroseeds’ Market Access and Biodiversity Working Groups.

Nicolas Perrin also serves as an associated member of the Boards of Directors of AFSTA (since March 2023) and APSA (since November 2023), strengthening collaboration between European and international seed sector stakeholders.

Mr. Charles Miller is Director of Strategic Alliances & Development at Solynta, where he leads global partnership development and market expansion for hybrid true potato seed technology. With over 25 years of experience in the seed industry, including more than 20 years focused on market access and development across Africa, he brings deep expertise in building sustainable seed systems and expanding the reach of agricultural innovation.

He has held leadership roles across the global food and seed industries, including Mars and several international seed companies, where he focused on developing new markets and strengthening value chains for improved crop technologies.

Raised in Texas, Mr. Miller developed an early interest in agriculture through exposure to plant breeding and global farming systems. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Miller’s work today sits at the intersection of innovation, policy, and market development, supporting the adoption of new breeding technologies to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability. He also serves as a Board Member of the African Seed Trade Association and contributes to global industry leadership through the American Seed Trade Association and the International Seed Federation.

Mr. Michael Keller represents Switzerland as an Observer Member. He has extensive experience in international seed policy, industry governance, and global agricultural frameworks. He has contributed to multiple global forums on plant breeding innovation, seed trade, and agricultural sustainability.

Amadou Sarr est un cadre financier titulaire d’un DESCOGEF (expertise comptable), avec 38 ans d’expérience dans l’industrie semencière. Ancien employé du cabinet Coopers & Lybrand, il est actuellement Directeur Général et Vice-Président du groupe Novalliance (France). Il est également Président du Conseil d’Administration de Tropicasem S.A. (Sénégal) et gérant statutaire de plusieurs sociétés semencières en Afrique de l’Ouest. Par ailleurs, il est membre de la Chambre de Commerce Européenne au Sénégal et en Côte d’Ivoire, ainsi que membre de l’Union Nationale Interprofessionnelle des Semences (U.N.I.S) au Sénégal. Il occupe actuellement la fonction de Président de l’AFSTA.

Dr. Yacouba Diallo is the Secretary General of AFSTA and represents Burkina Faso. He has extensive experience in seed policy development, regional agricultural programs, and private-sector agribusiness growth. He has contributed to ECOWAS seed harmonization, national seed strategy development, and strengthening institutional frameworks across West Africa.