Gabon

Last updated: April 2019
  • Region Western and Central Africa
  • UPOV membership status UPOV member through the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)
  • Participation in OECD Seed Schemes No
  • ISTA-accredited member laboratories No
  • GM crop approval for cultivation No
  • Law on Plant Variety Protection Annex X of the 1999 agreement revising the Bangui Agreement on the creation of the OAPI
Seed sector in Gabon

The seed sector in Gabon is relatively underdeveloped, as the bulk of companies active in the country are mostly involved in marketing and selling seeds. The availability of quality and certified seeds for Gabonese farmers is low. The seed capital of the country mainly comes from producers themselves, as well as agro-industrial companies and public development projects, such as those through the International Fund for Agricultural Development, a UN financial institution. The country’s seed patrimony largely consists of uncertified seeds, regular seeds from producers’ personal reserves and seeds purchased from local markets

Observations

Five index companies operate in Gabon, but Technisem, with testing and extension activities in the country, is only one that does more than sales.

According to the regional landscaping study, Gabon is one of the few countries in the region where no seed-producing cooperatives could be identified, though some national seed companies are active in the country.

 

Index company activities identified in Gabon
Company Crops in portfolio Company activities in country
Companies selected for
the Access to Seeds Index
Field
crops
Vegetables Breeding
location
Testing
location
Seed
production
Processing
location
Sales Extension
services
East-West Seed
Pop Vriend Seeds
Sakata
Syngenta  ***
Technisem
  • *** Based on company data, sales activities include seeds and/or crop protection products.

Other companies identified in the regional landscaping study and their activities.

Company Crops in portfolio Company activities in country
Field
crops
Vegetable
crops
Breeding
location
Seed
production
Sales
Gabonaise de Chimie (GCIAE)
Horta Gabon
Agrigab (Technisem)