FAGRI

Stakeholder engagement
The company demonstrates that it undertakes stakeholder engagement activities in its involvement with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the West Africa Food Markets Programme and the Environmental Institute for Agricultural Research in Burkina Faso. However, it could disclose an overview of issues raised through these activities as well as how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders.

The company provides limited insight into its position and activities related to genetic resources and intellectual property management. As it is important that seed companies contribute to genetic resources and intellectual property management that supports smallholder agriculture, the company could provide more insights into its activities for others to learn from.

Variety testing
The company performs variety trials in Burkina Faso on crops from both its own breeding programmes and portfolio, as well as other breeding programmes such as those of public research institutes. The company could consider extending its testing locations to other countries in the region where it is active to strengthen the local seed sector.

Seed production activities in index region
The company has seed production locations in Burkina Faso, and it involves local companies and farmers in its seed production activities. It also discloses that smallholder farmers do the majority of its seed production. The company could consider extending its seed production to other countries in the region and disclosing additional information on how it involves local players in seed production activities.

Social and labour rights in seed production
The company does not disclose a policy committing to prohibit child and forced labour nor does it disclose a commitment to respect the health and safety of workers both when seed production is carried out by the company itself or through an intermediary. Furthermore, the company does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its intermediaries to do so.

Diverse portfolio
Cote d’Ivoire is the only country where FAGRI has four or more varieties for most crops, the company could expand its portfolio to offer more varieties in other index countries. Additionally, the company offers open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids for a limited number of crops, presenting a further opportunity to diversify its portfolio.

Extension services
The company discloses that it provides extension services in Burkina Faso, indicating that it has reached 9,000 smallholders in the region. However, the company could consider disclosing additional details regarding its activities.

Information and communications technology (ICT)
FAGRI has programmes in place that aim to advance the use of ICT by smallholder farmers in index countries to provide information on farming practices, harvesting time or weather data, and are suitable for devices and cell phones used by smallholder farmers. However, the company has an opportunity to provide greater disclosure regarding such programmes.

Cowpea
Maize
Rice

Cowpea
Groundnut
Maize
Millets
Okra
Pigeon pea
Potato
Sesame
Sorghum

Okra

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