Resilient Seed and Food Systems under Climate Change Training Course

Course Introduction

Climate change is increasingly disrupting agricultural production systems, threatening food security, reducing crop yields, altering growing seasons, and increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, pests, and diseases. Resilient seed and food systems have become essential for ensuring sustainable agricultural productivity and maintaining food availability in the face of growing environmental uncertainties. This course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of how climate change affects seed systems, food systems, and agricultural value chains, while equipping them with practical strategies for building resilience across production, distribution, and consumption systems.

Seed systems serve as the foundation of agricultural resilience because access to high-quality, climate-adapted, and genetically diverse seed varieties directly influences farmers’ ability to respond to changing climatic conditions. Strengthening seed systems requires coordinated efforts involving plant breeding institutions, seed companies, farmer organizations, policymakers, researchers, and development partners. This course examines the principles of resilient seed systems, including seed security, varietal diversity, seed governance, and climate-smart seed delivery mechanisms that support agricultural adaptation and food system sustainability.

Food systems encompass all processes involved in producing, processing, distributing, marketing, and consuming food. Climate change affects every component of these systems, creating challenges related to food availability, accessibility, affordability, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. Participants will explore integrated approaches for strengthening food systems through climate-smart agriculture, sustainable resource management, resilient supply chains, inclusive governance, and innovative technologies that enhance adaptation and long-term resilience.

Advances in agricultural science, digital technologies, climate information services, biotechnology, participatory breeding, and data-driven decision support tools are creating new opportunities to improve resilience in seed and food systems. This course introduces participants to emerging innovations that support climate adaptation, risk management, and sustainable food production while addressing issues related to equity, biodiversity conservation, and environmental stewardship.

The course emphasizes practical tools and frameworks for assessing vulnerabilities, designing resilience strategies, developing climate-responsive seed programs, and strengthening institutional capacities. Through case studies, field experiences, and applied exercises, participants will learn how governments, development organizations, private sector actors, and farming communities can collaborate to build resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding climate shocks and stresses.

By the end of the training, participants will possess the knowledge and skills needed to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that strengthen seed security and food system resilience. They will be better prepared to support climate adaptation planning, promote sustainable agricultural development, improve food security outcomes, and contribute to resilient rural livelihoods in a changing climate.

Duration

10 days

Who Should Attend

• Agricultural policymakers and planners
• Seed system specialists and managers
• Agricultural extension officers
• Climate change adaptation practitioners
• Food security and nutrition professionals
• Agronomists and crop production specialists
• Agricultural researchers and scientists
• Development project managers
• NGO and humanitarian organization staff
• Seed company managers and entrepreneurs
• Rural development professionals
• Environmental and natural resource managers
• Farmer organization leaders
• Agricultural economists and analysts
• Government agriculture officers

Course Objectives

• Develop comprehensive understanding of climate change impacts on seed systems, food systems, and agricultural resilience.
• Strengthen capacity to design resilient seed systems that support adaptation, productivity, and food security goals.
• Build expertise in climate-resilient crop varieties, seed security assessments, and seed system strengthening strategies.
• Understand approaches for integrating climate adaptation principles into food system planning and management frameworks.
• Enhance knowledge of climate-smart agriculture practices that improve resilience across food production systems.
• Learn practical tools for assessing vulnerability, exposure, and adaptive capacity within seed and food systems.
• Strengthen skills in developing policies and institutional mechanisms that support resilient agricultural systems.
• Build capacity to promote biodiversity conservation and genetic resource management for climate adaptation purposes.
• Understand emerging technologies and innovations supporting resilient seed production and food system transformation.
• Develop competencies in climate risk management, disaster preparedness, and recovery planning for agriculture.
• Strengthen capacity to monitor and evaluate resilience outcomes across seed systems and food value chains.
• Equip participants with practical frameworks for designing integrated climate-resilient agriculture and food security programs.

Course Outline

Module 1: Climate Change and Agricultural Systems

• Understanding climate change science and implications for agriculture and food security globally
• Assessing climate risks affecting crop production, seed availability, and farming livelihoods
• Trends in climate variability and their influence on agricultural productivity outcomes
• Building awareness of adaptation and resilience concepts within agricultural development

Module 2: Foundations of Seed Systems

• Understanding formal, informal, and integrated seed systems within agricultural economies
• Roles of seed producers, institutions, regulators, and farmer organizations in seed delivery
• Seed value chains and mechanisms supporting seed availability and accessibility
• Challenges and opportunities affecting resilient seed system development globally

Module 3: Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties

• Identifying crop traits that improve resilience to drought, heat, floods, and pests
• Development and deployment of climate-resilient crop varieties for farming systems
• Participatory plant breeding approaches supporting local adaptation and resilience goals
• Evaluating performance of improved varieties under changing environmental conditions

Module 4: Seed Security Assessment and Planning

• Concepts and methodologies for conducting seed security assessments effectively
• Identifying seed-related vulnerabilities and risks affecting farming communities
• Developing response strategies that strengthen seed availability and access during crises
• Integrating seed security planning into broader resilience and adaptation frameworks

Module 5: Biodiversity and Genetic Resource Management

• Conserving crop diversity and genetic resources for long-term climate adaptation
• Community seed banks and farmer-managed conservation initiatives supporting resilience
• Managing plant genetic resources to strengthen food system sustainability outcomes
• Policies and governance mechanisms supporting agricultural biodiversity conservation

Module 6: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems

• Principles and practices of climate-smart agriculture for resilient food production
• Enhancing productivity while reducing vulnerability and environmental degradation risks
• Integrating climate adaptation measures into agricultural production systems effectively
• Scaling climate-smart innovations across diverse agricultural landscapes and contexts

Module 7: Food System Resilience Frameworks

• Understanding food systems as interconnected networks affected by climate change
• Assessing resilience across food production, processing, distribution, and consumption stages
• Building adaptive food systems capable of managing climate-related disruptions effectively
• Applying systems-thinking approaches to food security and resilience planning

Module 8: Climate Risk Management and Early Warning Systems

• Identifying and assessing climate-related risks affecting agriculture and food systems
• Utilizing climate information services and forecasting tools for agricultural planning
• Developing early warning systems supporting proactive risk management decisions
• Strengthening preparedness and response mechanisms for climate-induced emergencies

Module 9: Sustainable Seed Production and Distribution

• Climate-resilient seed multiplication and quality assurance systems development
• Strengthening local seed enterprises and decentralized seed production networks
• Improving seed distribution systems for enhanced accessibility and resilience outcomes
• Leveraging technology to improve seed delivery and market efficiency

Module 10: Nutrition and Resilient Food Systems

• Understanding links between climate resilience, nutrition, and food security outcomes
• Promoting diversified production systems that support healthy and sustainable diets
• Addressing nutritional vulnerabilities through resilient food system interventions
• Integrating nutrition-sensitive approaches into agricultural development programming

Module 11: Digital Technologies and Innovation

• Applying digital agriculture solutions to strengthen seed and food system resilience
• Utilizing mobile platforms and data systems for seed and climate information delivery
• Exploring artificial intelligence and predictive analytics for agricultural adaptation
• Emerging innovations supporting resilient agricultural and food system transformation

Module 12: Policy and Institutional Frameworks

• Developing policies that strengthen climate resilience in seed and food systems
• Institutional coordination mechanisms supporting adaptation and food security goals
• Regulatory frameworks governing seed systems and climate adaptation initiatives
• Mainstreaming resilience into agricultural planning and policy development processes

Module 13: Inclusive and Community-Based Approaches

• Strengthening participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups in resilience efforts
• Community-driven adaptation approaches supporting local resilience and ownership
• Building social capital and collective action for resilient agricultural systems
• Ensuring equitable access to resilient seeds, technologies, and food resources

Module 14: Financing Resilient Seed and Food Systems

• Understanding climate finance opportunities supporting agricultural resilience initiatives
• Investment strategies for resilient seed systems and sustainable food systems development
• Mobilizing public and private financing for climate adaptation interventions
• Evaluating economic benefits and returns from resilience-building investments

Module 15: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for Resilience

• Developing resilience indicators for seed systems and food security programs
• Measuring adaptation outcomes and resilience performance within agricultural projects
• Applying learning frameworks to improve resilience interventions continuously
• Utilizing evidence-based approaches for adaptive management and decision-making

Module 16: Capstone Project and Action Planning

• Conducting integrated resilience assessments for seed and food system interventions
• Designing climate-resilient seed system strengthening and food security programs
• Developing implementation roadmaps that support adaptation and sustainability objectives
• Presenting practical resilience strategies and action plans for organizational application

Training Approach          

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.