In response to COVID-19, seed security interventions are being planned to help bolster fragile livelihoods. After 25 years of research during emergencies, there are many lessons to build on, including that seed systems, especially informal markets, prove fairly resilient and often function even in high stress contexts. As a wise first step, given the possible volatility in supply, farmers’ seed saving should be supported actively and at scale. Rigorous remote assessments will have to become the new norm for gauging seed security, with reviews recognizing that different crops might be affected in different ways by specific seed channel stress or breakdown. Well-known short-term seed security responses, for example, Direct Seed Distribution, will need to be tailored to the new COVID-19 reality, particularly in terms of altering logistics. More fundamentally, three new factors might herald a transformation in response: 1) Choice for farmers has to be the operative principle (especially as markets may fluctuate quickly); 2) Remote two-way ‘state of the art’ communication has to be built rapidly; and 3) Seed quality options might need to be liberalized, especially given the scale of possible seed security intervention. Covid-19 effects will likely linger several years or potentially six to nine seasons (depending on agricultural calendar). Now might be the time to move from stop-gap responses (and repetitive ones) to more sustainable and powerful market-led support, with particular emphasis on responses that leverage and strengthen the informal sector markets.

中文翻译：

---

COVID-19 期间的种子安全响应：以证据为基础，面向未来

为了应对 COVID-19，正在计划采取种子安全干预措施，以帮助支持脆弱的生计。在紧急情况下进行了 25 年的研究之后，有许多经验教训可以借鉴，包括种子系统，尤其是非正规市场，被证明具有相当的弹性，并且即使在高压力环境下也经常发挥作用。作为明智的第一步，鉴于供应可能出现波动，应积极大规模地支持农民的种子储蓄。严格的远程评估将不得不成为衡量种子安全的新规范，审查认识到不同的作物可能会以不同的方式受到特定种子通道压力或故障的影响。众所周知的短期种子安全响应，例如直接种子分发，将需要根据新的 COVID-19 现实进行调整，特别是在改变物流方面。更根本的是，三个新因素可能预示着应对措施的转变： 1) 农民的选择必须是经营原则（尤其是在市场可能快速波动的情况下）；2) 必须快速建立远程双向“最先进”通信；3) 种子质量选择可能需要放开，特别是考虑到可能的种子安全干预规模。Covid-19 的影响可能会持续数年或可能持续六到九个季节（取决于农历）。现在可能是从权宜之计（和重复性的）响应转向更可持续和更强大的市场主导支持的时候了，特别强调利用和加强非正规部门市场的响应。1) 农民的选择必须是经营原则（尤其是在市场可能快速波动的情况下）；2) 必须快速建立远程双向“最先进”通信；3) 种子质量选择可能需要放开，特别是考虑到可能的种子安全干预规模。Covid-19 的影响可能会持续数年或可能持续六到九个季节（取决于农历）。现在可能是从权宜之计（和重复性的）响应转向更可持续和更强大的市场主导支持的时候了，特别强调利用和加强非正规部门市场的响应。1) 农民的选择必须是经营原则（尤其是在市场可能快速波动的情况下）；2) 必须快速建立远程双向“最先进”通信；3) 种子质量选择可能需要放开，特别是考虑到可能的种子安全干预规模。Covid-19 的影响可能会持续数年或可能持续六到九个季节（取决于农历）。现在可能是从权宜之计（和重复性的）响应转向更可持续和更强大的市场主导支持的时候了，特别强调利用和加强非正规部门市场的响应。特别是考虑到可能的种子安全干预规模。Covid-19 的影响可能会持续数年或可能持续六到九个季节（取决于农历）。现在可能是从权宜之计（和重复性的）响应转向更可持续和更强大的市场主导支持的时候了，特别强调利用和加强非正规部门市场的响应。特别是考虑到可能的种子安全干预规模。Covid-19 的影响可能会持续数年或可能持续六到九个季节（取决于农历）。现在可能是从权宜之计（和重复性的）响应转向更可持续和更强大的市场主导支持的时候了，特别强调利用和加强非正规部门市场的响应。