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SeedTracker: Digital tool for Strengthening Seed Governance and Certification Systems

Build an efficient seed system!

The platform enables producers to register seed fields and seed lots, request inspections, and access certification results digitally. Businesses can monitor production progress, manage inventory in real time, and use the platform to connect with clients looking for specific varieties. SeedTracker works offline and protects user data with secure logins, making it suitable for rural business operations.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 7/9

5,000 USD

Minimum cost

-

Not yet estimated

IP

No formal IP rights

Problem

  • Complex and slow certification processes: Businesses lose time and opportunities due to manual paperwork and delays.
  • Poor market visibility: It’s difficult for seed entrepreneurs to showcase their certified products or connect directly with buyers.
  • Inventory mismanagement: Lack of reliable tracking can lead to stock losses or oversupply.
  • Low customer confidence: Buyers often lack assurance about seed quality and origin.

Solution

  • Digital certification workflow: Streamlines the process from field registration to final certification, reducing time and paperwork.
  • Inventory tracking and alerts: Helps producers know what stock is available and where it is needed.
  • Marketplace linkage: Producers can promote their seed and connect with buyers looking for certified varieties.
  • Traceability and quality assurance: Buyers can verify seed quality and origin directly through the platform, building trust in the brand.

Key points to design your business plan

The Cassava SeedTracker technology offers seed companies a clear pathway to improve business operations and generate revenue by ensuring the traceability and authenticity of their seeds, a critical factor in building trust and improving seed quality.

To integrate the Cassava SeedTracker technology into their business, seed companies can follow these key steps:

  • Adopt Technology Infrastructure: Invest in the necessary hardware (QR codes, mobile devices for tracking) and software (platform to manage seed data and tracking) to implement the technology effectively. Ensure staff training for seamless use of the SeedTracker system.
  • Update Seed Production Processes: Integrate the tracking technology into the seed production process, ensuring that each batch of seeds is tagged with unique identifiers for traceability. Monitor and record the production, packaging, and distribution stages of seeds to ensure transparency and maintain accurate records.
  • Enhance Customer Engagement: Provide farmers with a direct channel to access information about the seed’s origin, quality, and expected performance, increasing confidence in the product.
  • Market Differentiation and Promotion: Leverage the technology as a marketing tool by promoting the traceability and high-quality assurance of the seeds to attract customers who are willing to pay more for verified, quality-assured products. Showcase the technology's benefits through advertising campaigns and partnerships with agricultural organizations.
  • Partnerships and Collaborations: Build partnerships with technology providers, government agencies, NGOs, and agricultural bodies to gain support and validation for the use of the Cassava SeedTracker. Collaborate with other industry players such as agro-dealers and extension services to expand the reach of traceable seeds in the market.
  • Create Data-driven Insights: Use the data generated from the technology to gain insights into seed performance, customer behavior, and market trends, which can inform future seed production and marketing strategies. Analyze the data to refine the seed offerings, improve quality control, and optimize the supply chain.

By integrating the Cassava SeedTracker technology, seed companies will improve seed quality assurance, enhance customer trust, open new revenue channels, and strengthen their position in the competitive agricultural market.

 

 

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

For youth, Seed Tracker can open up job opportunities, such as becoming trained facilitators, trainers, or technicians, furthering rural economic growth.

The poor: Positive medium

It could potentially improve their seed management practices.

Women: Positive high

Its provides women with better access to high-quality seeds, helping them increase their productivity and income

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Since it is a digital tool, it is adoptable in all zones

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

It improves farmer knowledge on access to climate resilient varieties and where to access.

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

As a digital tool, it reduces the dependency on paper use and the need for travel to access fields for certification and other purposes. However, proper assessment is due.

Tested & adopted
Adopted
Tested
Testing ongoing
Egypt Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burundi Burkina Faso Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Côte d’Ivoire Eritrea Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Cameroon Kenya Libya Liberia Madagascar Mali Malawi Morocco Mauritania Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Republic of the Congo Rwanda Zambia Senegal Sierra Leone Zimbabwe Somalia South Sudan Sudan South Africa Eswatini Tanzania Togo Tunisia Chad Uganda Western Sahara Central African Republic Lesotho
Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country Testing ongoing Tested Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo – –
Ghana – –
Kenya – –
Nigeria – –
Tanzania – –

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ Subtropic - warm Subtropic - cool Tropic - warm Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger
Goal 2: zero hunger

Enhances food security by scaling access to high-quality seed.
Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality
Goal 5: gender equality

Empowers women and youth to participate in the seed value chain.
Sustainable Development Goal 13: climate action
Goal 13: climate action

Supports climate adaptation through better planning and resilient varieties.
Sustainable Development Goal 17: partnerships for the goals
Goal 17: partnerships for the goals

Fosters collaboration between public and private actors using a common digital platform.

  1. Register: Seed producers and inspectors create secure user accounts on the platform (web or mobile).
  2. Add Seed Fields: Producers register their seed fields, crop variety, and planting date.
  3. Schedule Inspections: Field inspectors use the app to schedule visits and record inspection data.
  4. Monitor Progress: Users can track seed development, quality inspections, and certification status in real time.
  5. Ensure Traceability: Seed lots are traced from planting to distribution using the platform's georeferenced data.
  6. Access Data Offline: Users can operate the tool without internet and sync data when reconnected.
  7. Use Dashboard: Regulators, producers, and buyers can view maps, trends, and seed inventories via a centralized dashboard.
  8. Promote and Connect: Certified seed producers can showcase their inventory and connect with buyers directly through the platform.

Downloads

Last updated on 24 April 2025

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
 Lava Kumar
Commodities
All Crops
Sustainable Development Goals Details ›
Sustainable Development Goal 2: zero hunger
Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality
Sustainable Development Goal 13: climate action
Sustainable Development Goal 17: partnerships for the goals
+ 1 more
Category
Digital applications
Subcategory
Supply chain management Advisory and information service Market linkage Crop management Traceability
Value chain step
Pre-production
Tested/adopted in Details ›
Tested & adopted
Adopted
Tested
Testing ongoing
Where it can be used Details ›

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

Target groups
Breeders Seed companies Researcher center Advisory and Extension Services
QR code

SeedTracker: Digital tool for Strengthening Seed Governance and Certification Systems

https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/com/technologies/seedtracker-digital-tool-for-strengthening-seed-governance-and-certification-systems

Last updated on 24 April 2025, printed on 9 May 2025

Enquiries e-catalogs@taat.africa