Sustainability

Seed that stands up to a changing climate

Our ESG agenda is inseparable from our core business: genetics that yield under stress, delivered to farmers with the support they need to succeed, governed transparently across two listings.

Our pillars

Three pillars, one agenda

Environmental stewardship

Climate-smart breeding is our largest environmental lever.

Drought and heat tolerance selected as core traits across all eight crop programmes
Disease-resistant genetics that reduce the need for fungicide applications
Water and energy monitoring at seed processing plants
Legume varieties that fix nitrogen and cut synthetic fertiliser demand in rotation

Social | farmer livelihoods

Better seed only raises income when it comes with agronomy support.

Field days and demonstration plots in every operating country
Community seed bank programme reaching 18,000+ smallholder households
Starter packs and training for women-led and youth farming groups
School and clinic support programmes in farming communities

Governance

Dual-listed discipline across Seed Co International and Seed Co Limited.

Independent-majority boards with audit, risk and remuneration committees
Published interim and full-year results with analyst briefings
Group code of conduct, anti-bribery policy and whistle-blower channel
Seed certification compliance audited in every market we supply

Scorecard

Where we stand

Indicative group-level metrics, reported alongside our annual results.

Smallholder households in community programmes: 18,000++21% year on year
Portfolio rated 4/5 or higher for drought tolerance: 62%Target: 75% by 2030
Women in the group workforce: 31%Target: 40% by 2030
Reduction in processing water intensity: 24%Since 2019 baseline
Seed lots certified by national authorities: 100%Maintained
Research and trial sites contributing local data: 40+Expanding annually

In practice

Programmes running today

Community seed banks

Local farmer groups receive certified starter seed, storage support and season-long agronomy coaching, then multiply and share within their community.

Climate-smart breeding pipeline

Marker-assisted selection for drought and heat tolerance, evaluated in on-farm trials with participating growers before commercial release.

Farmer field schools

Practical training on plant population, moisture conservation and post-harvest handling, delivered in local languages across our markets.

Youth in agriculture

Internships and graduate placements in breeding, seed production and agronomy, building the next generation of African plant scientists.