Novalliance Group

Developing improved varieties of global crops and breeding programme for specific traits
The company has its own breeding programme in Cameroon, Senegal and Burkina Faso and develops hybrid varieties and open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) of vegetables suitable for smallholder farmers in the region. Its breeding programme includes developing traits that are particularly important for smallholder farmers, such as those catering to local tastes and cultural preferences as well as early maturing varieties. The company also focuses on incorporating resistance/tolerance to regionally important pests and diseases for smallholder farmers, such as Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).

Developing improved varieties of local crops
The company has an extensive own breeding programme for developing improved varieties of local crops suitable for smallholder farmers in the index region. These include amaranth, brede mafane, celosia, spider plant, jew’s mallow, African eggplant and hairy nightshade. These crops are bred with such traits as longer shelf life and resistance to biotic stress.

Seed production activities in index region
Novalliance has seed production activities in Cameroon, Senegal and Burkina Faso, where it involves local players. The company has its own seed production facilities and carries out production through networks of farmers. These are supervised by technicians who specialise in seed production.

Quality management in seed production in index countries
To ensure quality, the company has an internal management system that covers all of its seed production in index countries. The technicians in charge of monitoring seed production are trained to ensure quality production, from plant to harvest, passing through the various stages of control in the field. After harvest, further quality controls are also carried out by SeedLab, the quality control laboratory of Novalliance.

Diverse portfolio
Novalliance offers a diverse portfolio with four or more varieties for the majority of crops in the majority of index countries where it has sales. It also offers both hybrids and OPVs for the majority of crops in its regional portfolio.

Quality assurance and after-sales
The company adheres to ISTA standards to ensure germination, vigour and seed health. Novalliance monitors its distribution network through audits of its stores’ seed storage conditions. To ensure that seeds are not sold beyond their shelf life, the company conducts stock checks and removes seeds about to expire. Novalliance provides after-sales support through addressing grievances filed by smallholder farmers.

Extension services
The company offers extension services in the majority of index countries it is active in. Through these, it provides training on good cultivation practices, such as ensuring a gain in yield and a reduction of inputs. These services are provided through the company’s active presence in the field and through communication media such as Facebook posts, crop guides, intermediary development teams and business partners.

Next-generation farmers
Through its distribution companies in the index countries, the company carries out training and awareness-raising activities in agriculture to reach young people. For example, group member Semagri in Cameroon carries out activities by organising training workshops in agricultural training schools and agricultural universities. It also sets up “Field Schools” through academic internships granted to pupils and students at agricultural schools. In Burkina Faso, group member Nankosem encourages young people during training to practice market gardening, while group member Tropicasem collaborates with gardening schools and agricultural schools in Senegal. Novalliance could consider tracking the number of next-generation farmers reached.

Information and communications technology (ICT)
Since March 2021, Novalliance has offered the Technisem mobile application to its customers. Available on Android, in both French and in English, this toolkit offers customers several possibilities, which include information on varieties sold by the company and the location of points of sale in the country. Through SeedLab, Novalliance also offers smallholder farmers a mobile application for managing and interpreting the results of soil analysis kits.

Access to seeds for smallholder farmers and governance and accountability
Novalliance Group has a marketing and sales target of expanding its distribution network to at least 200 stores and agro-dealers by 2025 in order to reach more smallholder farmers. Its Agroexcellence Committee is responsible for implementing its distribution strategy with the oversight of the company’s CEO, however, the company could consider linking its highest governance body’s remuneration policy to its access to seeds objectives.

Stakeholder engagement
The company undertakes stakeholder engagement activities with such organisations as the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and the Association of Trade in Seeds in Cameroon. However, it does not disclose an overview of issues raised through these activities as well as how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders.

Conservation of genetic resources
Novalliance conserves its own genetic material in company genebanks. However, it could provide greater clarity on how it promotes agrobiodiversity and the preservation of genetic resources in the region through its collaborations with international genebanks such as Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche (CIRAD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The company does not disclose whether it provides access to its own genetic resources for the benefit of smallholder farmers in the region.

Local participation in breeding/variety development
Novalliance’s development teams visit all of the index countries where it is present, and they work in close collaboration with the company’s research department to meet the demands of producers and consumers. However, the company could provide greater disclosure on the specific measures it has in place to ensure the active participation of local consumers, traders and smallholder farmers in breeding/variety development, including how it incorporates feedback from women farmers.

Social and labour rights in seed production
The company indicates that its production contracts include a section stating that child labour is prohibited, and it discloses having standards in place regarding forced labour. It further provides personal protective equipment to employees, who are trained on how to use agricultural inputs to ensure their health and safety. However, the company has the opportunity to disclose evidence of a coordinated and consistent monitoring system for these issues 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.

Demonstration and promotion strategies
The company has demonstration and promotion programs in the majority of index countries where it has sales, including field days, Facebook advertisements and magazine publications. However, it has an opportunity to design demonstration and promotion strategies that specifically target women smallholder farmers in the region.

Programmes for women farmers
The company does not disclose evidence of programmes that are targeted towards building the capacity of women farmers.

Onion
Pepper
Tomato

Maize
Potato

Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cucumber
Eggplant
Gourd
Green bean
Lettuce
Melon
Okra
Onion
Pepper (hot)
Pepper (sweet)
Pumpkin
Squash
Tomato
Watermelon

Ethiopian nightshade
African eggplant
Amaranth
Brede mafane
Celosia
Hairy nightshade
Jew’s mallow
Spider plant
Yardlong bean

Download the portfolios of all companies in the 2021 index for Western and Central Africa here.

Developing improved varieties of global crops and breeding programme for specific traits
The company has its own breeding programme in Madagascar and develops hybrid varieties and OPVs of vegetable crops suitable for smallholder farmers in the region. The company’s breeding programme includes developing traits that are particularly important for smallholder farmers, such as resistance to abiotic stress and early maturing varieties. The company also focuses on incorporating resistance/tolerance to regionally important pests and diseases, such as Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV).

Developing improved varieties of local crops
The company has an extensive own breeding programme for developing improved varieties of local crops suitable for smallholder farmers in the index region. These include amaranth, brede mafane, celosia, spider plant, jew’s mallow, African eggplant and hairy nightshade. These crops are bred with traits including longer shelf life and resistance to biotic stress.

Engaging smallholder farmers in seed production
Smallholders in Madagascar carry out the majority of seed production for the company. Novalliance offers them formal contracts, but it does not require intermediaries to do so. The contracts include arrangements on prices, which are renegotiated at the end of each season to guarantee the fairest remuneration for production establishments and their network of farmers.

Quality management in seed production in index countries
To ensure quality, the company has an internal management system that covers all of its seed production in index countries. It discloses that technicians in charge of monitoring seed production are trained to ensure quality production, from plant to harvest, passing through the various stages of control in the field. After harvest, further quality controls are also carried out by SeedLab, the quality control laboratory of Novalliance.

Diverse portfolio
Novalliance offers a diverse portfolio with four or more varieties for the majority of crops in the majority of index countries where it has sales. The company also offers both hybrids and OPVs for the majority of crops in its regional portfolio.

Quality assurance and after-sales
The company adheres to International Seed Testing Association standards to ensure germination, vigour and seed health. Novalliance monitors its distribution network through audits of its stores’ seed storage conditions. To ensure that seeds are not sold beyond their shelf life, the company conducts stock checks and removes seeds about to expire. Novalliance provides after-sales support through addressing grievances filed by smallholder farmers.

Extension services
The company offers extension services in Angola, Kenya, Madagascar and Mozambique. Through these, it provides training on good cultivation practices, such as ensuring a gain in yield and a reduction in input. These are provided through the company’s active presence in the field and through communication media such as Facebook posts, crop guides, intermediary development teams and business partners. Nevertheless, the company has the opportunity to track the specific number of smallholders reached in the region.

Information and communications technology (ICT)
Since March 2021, Novalliance has offered the Technisem mobile application to its customers. Available on Android, in French and in English, this toolkit offers customers several possibilities, which include information on varieties sold by the company to the location of points of sale in the country. Through SeedLab, Novalliance also has a mobile application for managing and interpreting the results of soil analysis kits.

Access to seeds for smallholder farmers and governance and accountability
While Novalliance Group has a marketing and sales target for increasing its distribution network, the company could expand its strategy to encompass more aspects of ensuring access to seeds for smallholder farmers. Its Agroexcellence Committee is responsible for implementing its distribution strategy with the oversight of the company’s CEO, however, the company could consider linking its highest governance body’s remuneration policy to its access to seeds objectives.

Stakeholder engagement
The company undertakes stakeholder engagement activities with such organisations as the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA). However, it has an opportunity to disclose an overview of issues raised through these activities as well as how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders.

Conservation of genetic resources
Novalliance conserves its own genetic material in company genebanks. However, it could provide greater clarity on how it promotes agrobiodiversity and the preservation of genetic resources in the region through its collaborations with international genebanks such as the French Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Centre de coopération internationale en recherche (CIRAD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The company does not disclose whether it provides access to its own genetic resources for the benefit of smallholder farmers in the region.

Local participation in breeding/variety development
The company’s development teams visit all of the index countries where it is present in the region, and they work in close collaboration with the research department to meet the demands of producers and consumers. However, the company could provide greater disclosure on the specific measures it has in place to inform its breeding programmes with feedback from local consumers, traders and smallholder farmers, including how it incorporates feedback from women farmers.

Seed production activities in index countries
Novalliance has seed production activities in Madagascar, where it involves local players. The company has a network of farmers that are supervised by technicians who specialise in seed production, and it has certain networks of farmers that rely directly on agricultural cooperatives, particularly in Madagascar. Nevertheless, it has the opportunity to extend its seed production to other countries in the region.

Social and labour rights in seed production
The company indicates that its production contracts include a section stating that child labour is prohibited, and it discloses having standards in place regarding forced labour. It further provides personal protective equipment to employees, who are also trained in how to use agricultural inputs to ensure their health and safety. However, the company has the opportunity to disclose evidence on how it monitors compliance in accordance with these social standards.

Other agricultural inputs
The company provides other agricultural inputs through its brand Jardinova, including fertilisers, insecticides and fungicides, in appropriate quantities for smallholder farmers. However, the company can disclose more information about how it promotes the sustainable use of those inputs through instructions on product labels.

Programmes for women farmers
The company does not disclose evidence of programmes that are targeted towards building the capacity of women farmers.

Next-generation farmers
Through its distribution companies in the index countries, the company carries out discovery, training and awareness-raising activities in agriculture to reach young people. For example, Mozasem in Mozambique provides demonstration and training activities in agronomy universities. Novalliance has the opportunity to improve its performance, however, by tracking the number of next-generation farmers reached in the region.

Maize
Potato

Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cucumber
Eggplant
Gourd
Green bean
Lettuce
Melon
Okra
Onion
Pepper (hot)
Pepper (sweet)
Pumpkin
Squash
Tomato
Watermelon

African eggplant
Amaranth
Brede mafane
Celosia
Spider plant
Jew’s mallow
Hairy nightshade
Yardlong bean

Lettuce
Watermelon
Pepper

Download the portfolios of all companies in the 2021 index for Eastern and
Southern Africa here.