Crop protocols are essential for maintaining standardized procedures and guidelines set by regulatory authorities to uphold the quality, uniformity, and distinctiveness of crop varieties. These protocols are integral part of variety registration and certification process, which are crucial steps in the development and commercialization of new crop varieties. By adhering to these protocols, growers and breeders can ensure that their crop varieties meet the necessary standards for market acceptance and consumer satisfaction. Cognizant of this EAA in collaboration with ENSP developed a draft crop testing protocol for horticultural crops (tomato, onion, pepper, potato, cassava,) and sunflower in 2023.
In line with this, the Ethiopia Netherlands Seed Partnership (ENSP) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) recently conducted a successful crop protocol validation workshop for horticultural crops and sunflower. The workshop, which took place on January 26, 2024, at Bishoftu, Pyramid Resort, provided a platform for valuable discussions and knowledge exchange in the field of crop variety testing protocol.
The main objective of the workshop was to gather valuable inputs for the enrichment and endorsement of crop protocol documents. It was an important step towards ensuring the quality and standardization of protocols for various crops. During the workshop, protocols for six crops (DUS and NPT) were presented by the task force. These protocols were developed based on the experience of wheat and barley crop protocols, with the support of GIZ/SSAP, as well as insights from UPOV, Indian, and other countries’ experiences.
It’s worth noting that these new crop protocols are expected to replace the national variety release guideline and mechanism document that has been in use for years. The aim is to align with international best practices and procedures in variety release and registration, particularly for DUS.
The workshop brought together participants from regional and federal agricultural research centres, Ethiopian Agricultural Authority, private vegetable seed companies, GIZ/SSAP, ATI, HLIs, and ENSP. The diverse representation allowed for a comprehensive review and discussion of the protocols. One of the key highlights of the workshop was the active participation of all attendees who provided valuable feedback on each document. This collaborative approach ensured that diverse perspectives were considered, leading to a more robust set of protocols.
The workshop marked a significant advancement in the improvement and standardization of testing protocols for horticultural crops and sunflower. The valuable inputs gathered during the workshop will be instrumental in further refining the documents to ensure they adhere to the highest standards and incorporate the latest developments in crop protocol validation. ENSP look forward to seeing the impact of these validated protocols in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of variety release and registration processes, ultimately contributing to the growth of the seed sector in Ethiopia.
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