the best part about growing up in the 1980s in rural Zimbabwe is that I
1980s in rural Zimbabwe is that I
1980s in rural Zimbabwe is that I absolutely no idea that we were poor
absolutely no idea that we were poor
absolutely no idea that we were poor these are the days before Facebook
these are the days before Facebook
these are the days before Facebook before MTV Cribs and before the
before MTV Cribs and before the
before MTV Cribs and before the Kardashians
Kardashians
Kardashians as little kids our dreams and
as little kids our dreams and
as little kids our dreams and imaginations seemed to be bounded by the
imaginations seemed to be bounded by the
imaginations seemed to be bounded by the big mountains that surrounded our
big mountains that surrounded our
big mountains that surrounded our village we did not know what they did
village we did not know what they did
village we did not know what they did not have and we were very happy I am the
not have and we were very happy I am the
not have and we were very happy I am the servant of eleven children and like most
servant of eleven children and like most
servant of eleven children and like most Africans I grew up on a small farm this
Africans I grew up on a small farm this
Africans I grew up on a small farm this year is the first picture of me yes that
year is the first picture of me yes that
year is the first picture of me yes that is me on the far right looking super
is me on the far right looking super
is me on the far right looking super cute at first less lately more nourished
cute at first less lately more nourished
cute at first less lately more nourished and this here is the place that I call
and this here is the place that I call
and this here is the place that I call home this is a farm that I grew up at my
home this is a farm that I grew up at my
home this is a farm that I grew up at my parents do from this small sem 3 acre
parents do from this small sem 3 acre
parents do from this small sem 3 acre piece of land boy I have such fond
piece of land boy I have such fond
piece of land boy I have such fond memories of working in those fields and
memories of working in those fields and
memories of working in those fields and playing in those mountains with my best
playing in those mountains with my best
playing in those mountains with my best friends Thomas in wolf red fast forward
friends Thomas in wolf red fast forward
friends Thomas in wolf red fast forward 20 years I just finished my PhD in
20 years I just finished my PhD in
20 years I just finished my PhD in agriculture economics at Cornell
agriculture economics at Cornell
agriculture economics at Cornell University and they went back home to
University and they went back home to
University and they went back home to Zimbabwe in December of 2003 there’s
Zimbabwe in December of 2003 there’s
Zimbabwe in December of 2003 there’s nothing like being at home for the
nothing like being at home for the
nothing like being at home for the holiday seasons the whole village always
holiday seasons the whole village always
holiday seasons the whole village always feels like one happy family reunion so
feels like one happy family reunion so
feels like one happy family reunion so that year after cheque service at
that year after cheque service at
that year after cheque service at Christmas I headed down to the local
Christmas I headed down to the local
Christmas I headed down to the local grocery store that also doubled as a
grocery store that also doubled as a
grocery store that also doubled as a village bar over the holidays by the
village bar over the holidays by the
village bar over the holidays by the time I got there there was a really
time I got there there was a really
time I got there there was a really small crowd of young men dancing to loud
small crowd of young men dancing to loud
small crowd of young men dancing to loud music catching up on local gossip so I
music catching up on local gossip so I
music catching up on local gossip so I found a good spot to sit down in a
found a good spot to sit down in a
found a good spot to sit down in a corner with my three brothers and record
corner with my three brothers and record
corner with my three brothers and record about just enjoying some warm drinks
about just enjoying some warm drinks
about just enjoying some warm drinks after a while I’m sitting there and they
after a while I’m sitting there and they
after a while I’m sitting there and they see this all the men with slightly torn
see this all the men with slightly torn
see this all the men with slightly torn clothes worn clothes walking towards me
clothes worn clothes walking towards me
clothes worn clothes walking towards me so I got up a crazy diem and wish the
so I got up a crazy diem and wish the
so I got up a crazy diem and wish the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year just
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year just
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year just before I turned over to my brothers to
before I turned over to my brothers to
before I turned over to my brothers to continue my conversation
continue my conversation
continue my conversation this man taps me on the shoulder and
this man taps me on the shoulder and
this man taps me on the shoulder and says Edie it’s me Thomas remember me
says Edie it’s me Thomas remember me
says Edie it’s me Thomas remember me what Thomas my childhood friend Thomas
what Thomas my childhood friend Thomas
what Thomas my childhood friend Thomas from primary school I tried very hard to
from primary school I tried very hard to
from primary school I tried very hard to cover this look of shock on my face he
cover this look of shock on my face he
cover this look of shock on my face he looked much old and withered so very
looked much old and withered so very
looked much old and withered so very quickly I exchanged our own secret
quickly I exchanged our own secret
quickly I exchanged our own secret childhood handshake with him that I
childhood handshake with him that I
childhood handshake with him that I still remembered I won’t share with you
still remembered I won’t share with you
still remembered I won’t share with you because I swore to secrecy when I was 10
because I swore to secrecy when I was 10
because I swore to secrecy when I was 10 and then evaded him to sit down and
and then evaded him to sit down and
and then evaded him to sit down and catch up on this business that we call
catch up on this business that we call
catch up on this business that we call life see Thomas told me then that life
life see Thomas told me then that life
life see Thomas told me then that life had not been too kind to him he still
had not been too kind to him he still
had not been too kind to him he still lived in the nearby village and he had a
lived in the nearby village and he had a
lived in the nearby village and he had a couple of gods and he found a small
couple of gods and he found a small
couple of gods and he found a small piece of land just to get by
piece of land just to get by
piece of land just to get by Thomas already had five children and he
Thomas already had five children and he
Thomas already had five children and he was especially proud of his oldest
was especially proud of his oldest
was especially proud of his oldest daughter Naomi who he said was very
daughter Naomi who he said was very
daughter Naomi who he said was very athletic every year Thomas and his
athletic every year Thomas and his
athletic every year Thomas and his family barely harvested enough to feed
family barely harvested enough to feed
family barely harvested enough to feed themselves and he told me that every day
themselves and he told me that every day
themselves and he told me that every day he prayed for a better life for his
he prayed for a better life for his
he prayed for a better life for his children in so many ways Thomas life was
children in so many ways Thomas life was
children in so many ways Thomas life was exactly like that of his parents and
exactly like that of his parents and
exactly like that of his parents and probably like that Wendy’s grandparents
probably like that Wendy’s grandparents
probably like that Wendy’s grandparents before them nothing has changed that
before them nothing has changed that
before them nothing has changed that night as I went to bed I could not sleep
night as I went to bed I could not sleep
night as I went to bed I could not sleep I was bothered by this question of how
I was bothered by this question of how
I was bothered by this question of how our lives that turned out to be so
our lives that turned out to be so
our lives that turned out to be so different he is a guy that I literally
different he is a guy that I literally
different he is a guy that I literally sat next to in primary school and our
sat next to in primary school and our
sat next to in primary school and our lives are so different so far apart he
lives are so different so far apart he
lives are so different so far apart he died just been lucky while Thomas had
died just been lucky while Thomas had
died just been lucky while Thomas had been unlucky was all this random without
been unlucky was all this random without
been unlucky was all this random without rhyme and reason or maybe this was God’s
rhyme and reason or maybe this was God’s
rhyme and reason or maybe this was God’s will I thought to myself but well God’s
will I thought to myself but well God’s
will I thought to myself but well God’s will felt like a very comforting
will felt like a very comforting
will felt like a very comforting explanation for my circumstances it did
explanation for my circumstances it did
explanation for my circumstances it did not feel like a fairy explanation for
not feel like a fairy explanation for
not feel like a fairy explanation for Thomas in these children more
Thomas in these children more
Thomas in these children more importantly as
importantly as
importantly as development economist now with a degree
development economist now with a degree
development economist now with a degree from Cornell University I was looking
from Cornell University I was looking
from Cornell University I was looking for some kind of rational explanation to
for some kind of rational explanation to
for some kind of rational explanation to explain the lives of my classmates who
explain the lives of my classmates who
explain the lives of my classmates who were still living in the village faces
were still living in the village faces
were still living in the village faces those of us that had somehow made it out
those of us that had somehow made it out
those of us that had somehow made it out so after quite some reflection and
so after quite some reflection and
so after quite some reflection and analysis I came to the realization that
analysis I came to the realization that
analysis I came to the realization that in my village
in my village
in my village the successful families were also some
the successful families were also some
the successful families were also some of the best farmers these are farmers
of the best farmers these are farmers
of the best farmers these are farmers who had gone beyond producing just
who had gone beyond producing just
who had gone beyond producing just enough to feed the family to making the
enough to feed the family to making the
enough to feed the family to making the most out of their land with the extra
most out of their land with the extra
most out of their land with the extra products that we were able to produce on
products that we were able to produce on
products that we were able to produce on their farms they were able to sell it in
their farms they were able to sell it in
their farms they were able to sell it in nearby city markets make a little bit of
nearby city markets make a little bit of
nearby city markets make a little bit of extra money and with that income they
extra money and with that income they
extra money and with that income they were able to invest it in the children’s
were able to invest it in the children’s
were able to invest it in the children’s education this is how I made it out of
education this is how I made it out of
education this is how I made it out of my village
my village
my village now this story is not unique to me in my
now this story is not unique to me in my
now this story is not unique to me in my village this more than two billion
village this more than two billion
village this more than two billion farmers around the world who derived
farmers around the world who derived
farmers around the world who derived their livelihoods from small agriculture
their livelihoods from small agriculture
their livelihoods from small agriculture unfortunately these are also some among
unfortunately these are also some among
unfortunately these are also some among the poorest people in the world for most
the poorest people in the world for most
the poorest people in the world for most of these people agriculture is not just
of these people agriculture is not just
of these people agriculture is not just a way of life it is quite possibly the
a way of life it is quite possibly the
a way of life it is quite possibly the only pathway out of poverty if I’m to
only pathway out of poverty if I’m to
only pathway out of poverty if I’m to pick one single thing that probably
pick one single thing that probably
pick one single thing that probably triggered this transformation for my
triggered this transformation for my
triggered this transformation for my family it would be when my parents
family it would be when my parents
family it would be when my parents decided to plant hybrid may seed or a
decided to plant hybrid may seed or a
decided to plant hybrid may seed or a hybrid corn as it is known in the u.s.
hybrid corn as it is known in the u.s.
hybrid corn as it is known in the u.s. once they tried this technology and saw
once they tried this technology and saw
once they tried this technology and saw his power they were simply not handing
his power they were simply not handing
his power they were simply not handing back what I am holding in my hand right
back what I am holding in my hand right
back what I am holding in my hand right now is quite possibly the most powerful
now is quite possibly the most powerful
now is quite possibly the most powerful and most innovative technology known in
and most innovative technology known in
and most innovative technology known in agriculture yes in the great spirit of
agriculture yes in the great spirit of
agriculture yes in the great spirit of unveiling amazing technologies at TEDx
unveiling amazing technologies at TEDx
unveiling amazing technologies at TEDx events this my friends let me just call
events this my friends let me just call
events this my friends let me just call it hunger Buster 2.0 this is improved
it hunger Buster 2.0 this is improved
it hunger Buster 2.0 this is improved seed ecology improves it just to
seed ecology improves it just to
seed ecology improves it just to distinguish it from regular seed that is
distinguish it from regular seed that is
distinguish it from regular seed that is recycled from year to year in this
recycled from year to year in this
recycled from year to year in this improved cydia is genetic information or
improved cydia is genetic information or
improved cydia is genetic information or software that tells the plant exactly
software that tells the plant exactly
software that tells the plant exactly what to do when it grows up so it can
what to do when it grows up so it can
what to do when it grows up so it can feed all of us it’s quite simply an
feed all of us it’s quite simply an
feed all of us it’s quite simply an amazing technology and sometimes we take
amazing technology and sometimes we take
amazing technology and sometimes we take it for granted in this seed we have the
it for granted in this seed we have the
it for granted in this seed we have the power to increase yield on the same unit
power to increase yield on the same unit
power to increase yield on the same unit of land yes there are so many other
of land yes there are so many other
of land yes there are so many other things that you can do such as
things that you can do such as
things that you can do such as irrigation and fertilizer but the upper
irrigation and fertilizer but the upper
irrigation and fertilizer but the upper limit of what you can harvest as a
limit of what you can harvest as a
limit of what you can harvest as a farmer is set by something that is
farmer is set by something that is
farmer is set by something that is inside the seed that’s maximum genetic
inside the seed that’s maximum genetic
inside the seed that’s maximum genetic potential fortunately for us plant
potential fortunately for us plant
potential fortunately for us plant breeders have done an excellent job over
breeders have done an excellent job over
breeders have done an excellent job over the last century and we’ve been able to
the last century and we’ve been able to
the last century and we’ve been able to raise that bar all the way in improve
raise that bar all the way in improve
raise that bar all the way in improve seed we can now encode the climate
seed we can now encode the climate
seed we can now encode the climate change adaptability in our crops yes
change adaptability in our crops yes
change adaptability in our crops yes there’s a whole new generation of
there’s a whole new generation of
there’s a whole new generation of climate smart varieties that are
climate smart varieties that are
climate smart varieties that are designed to withstand extreme weather
designed to withstand extreme weather
designed to withstand extreme weather such as drought flooding frost and wind
such as drought flooding frost and wind
such as drought flooding frost and wind record them climate smart varieties yes
record them climate smart varieties yes
record them climate smart varieties yes in this seed we can also allow plants to
in this seed we can also allow plants to
in this seed we can also allow plants to predict themselves again as pests and
predict themselves again as pests and
predict themselves again as pests and diseases we can just like you can with
diseases we can just like you can with
diseases we can just like you can with vaccines with improved seed you can
vaccines with improved seed you can
vaccines with improved seed you can immunize your plants and crops against
immunize your plants and crops against
immunize your plants and crops against diseases that can wipe out your entire
diseases that can wipe out your entire
diseases that can wipe out your entire harvest and lately breeders are also
harvest and lately breeders are also
harvest and lately breeders are also focusing on some of the needs that we
focusing on some of the needs that we
focusing on some of the needs that we have as consumers including higher
have as consumers including higher
have as consumers including higher nutrition and longer shelf life but the
nutrition and longer shelf life but the
nutrition and longer shelf life but the most amazing thing about CDC’s farmers
most amazing thing about CDC’s farmers
most amazing thing about CDC’s farmers do not need an additional training to
do not need an additional training to
do not need an additional training to use it yes just like that cell phone in
use it yes just like that cell phone in
use it yes just like that cell phone in your pocket you don’t need to know
your pocket you don’t need to know
your pocket you don’t need to know anything about how it was made to enjoy
anything about how it was made to enjoy
anything about how it was made to enjoy the benefits you just put it in the soil
the benefits you just put it in the soil
the benefits you just put it in the soil and it across and it performs however
and it across and it performs however
and it across and it performs however getting new varieties just the first
getting new varieties just the first
getting new varieties just the first step these hunger busters need to find
step these hunger busters need to find
step these hunger busters need to find their ways to the farmers some of you
their ways to the farmers some of you
their ways to the farmers some of you may be wondering now I’m not talking
may be wondering now I’m not talking
may be wondering now I’m not talking about GMO actually while I did nothing
about GMO actually while I did nothing
about GMO actually while I did nothing wrong with that technology most of these
wrong with that technology most of these
wrong with that technology most of these things I’m talking about today are
things I’m talking about today are
things I’m talking about today are really from conventional varieties that
really from conventional varieties that
really from conventional varieties that have been around for so many years
have been around for so many years
have been around for so many years however this technology needs to find
however this technology needs to find
however this technology needs to find itself to farmers before we can actually
itself to farmers before we can actually
itself to farmers before we can actually enjoy the benefits if your farmer here
enjoy the benefits if your farmer here
enjoy the benefits if your farmer here in the US every year you have the chance
in the US every year you have the chance
in the US every year you have the chance to get this latest technology delivered
to get this latest technology delivered
to get this latest technology delivered right
right
right your doorstep however if you’re in
your doorstep however if you’re in
your doorstep however if you’re in Africa we are looking at a different
Africa we are looking at a different
Africa we are looking at a different story
story
story this year is a very simplified diagram
this year is a very simplified diagram
this year is a very simplified diagram of what it takes
of what it takes
of what it takes I’m not kidding at all this is a
I’m not kidding at all this is a
I’m not kidding at all this is a simplified diagram of what it takes to
simplified diagram of what it takes to
simplified diagram of what it takes to get improved Mae seed from the research
get improved Mae seed from the research
get improved Mae seed from the research institutions all the way to the small
institutions all the way to the small
institutions all the way to the small holder farmers in between there’s so
holder farmers in between there’s so
holder farmers in between there’s so many more players and it’s very
many more players and it’s very
many more players and it’s very difficult to work around the system like
difficult to work around the system like
difficult to work around the system like this and this system here is only as
this and this system here is only as
this and this system here is only as strong as its weakest link if something
strong as its weakest link if something
strong as its weakest link if something goes wrong on one of those points
goes wrong on one of those points
goes wrong on one of those points farmers do not get their seed at the end
farmers do not get their seed at the end
farmers do not get their seed at the end of the year so there’s a common thing in
of the year so there’s a common thing in
of the year so there’s a common thing in the people that work in my field that
the people that work in my field that
the people that work in my field that says it’s much easier to get a can of
says it’s much easier to get a can of
says it’s much easier to get a can of ice-cold coca-cola in an African village
ice-cold coca-cola in an African village
ice-cold coca-cola in an African village than to get a bag of improve seed yes it
than to get a bag of improve seed yes it
than to get a bag of improve seed yes it is true so what do we do about that as a
is true so what do we do about that as a
is true so what do we do about that as a result of this complexity only 30
result of this complexity only 30
result of this complexity only 30 percent of African farmers use improves
percent of African farmers use improves
percent of African farmers use improves it compared to more than 90 percent in
it compared to more than 90 percent in
it compared to more than 90 percent in the u.s. if we were to transform
the u.s. if we were to transform
the u.s. if we were to transform agriculture in Africa and allows more
agriculture in Africa and allows more
agriculture in Africa and allows more than farmers to feed themselves we have
than farmers to feed themselves we have
than farmers to feed themselves we have to find some way of fixing that system
to find some way of fixing that system
to find some way of fixing that system or identifying where the problems may be
or identifying where the problems may be
or identifying where the problems may be I currently lead a research project
I currently lead a research project
I currently lead a research project called the African seed access index and
called the African seed access index and
called the African seed access index and what we do under this research project
what we do under this research project
what we do under this research project is we go to every African country and we
is we go to every African country and we
is we go to every African country and we look at the different crops and we try
look at the different crops and we try
look at the different crops and we try to identify 20 different indicators of
to identify 20 different indicators of
to identify 20 different indicators of performance along that seed value chain
performance along that seed value chain
performance along that seed value chain these vary from country to country and
these vary from country to country and
these vary from country to country and crop by crop this now allows us to
crop by crop this now allows us to
crop by crop this now allows us to identify the choke point along that seed
identify the choke point along that seed
identify the choke point along that seed delivery channel and we can actually
delivery channel and we can actually
delivery channel and we can actually raise the red flag where the systems are
raise the red flag where the systems are
raise the red flag where the systems are not working well for example every
not working well for example every
not working well for example every country needs a whole new pipeline of
country needs a whole new pipeline of
country needs a whole new pipeline of new varieties that it can supply trees
new varieties that it can supply trees
new varieties that it can supply trees from us to meet the challenges what you
from us to meet the challenges what you
from us to meet the challenges what you can see in this graph is that Kenya is
can see in this graph is that Kenya is
can see in this graph is that Kenya is doing extremely well when it comes to
doing extremely well when it comes to
doing extremely well when it comes to the step of crop maize however when it
the step of crop maize however when it
the step of crop maize however when it comes to the second and third crop
comes to the second and third crop
comes to the second and third crop cowpeas sorghum millet they are doing
cowpeas sorghum millet they are doing
cowpeas sorghum millet they are doing extremely poor not we then take this
extremely poor not we then take this
extremely poor not we then take this information along with
information along with
information along with indicators such as availability of
indicators such as availability of
indicators such as availability of Sydney small packages number of
Sydney small packages number of
Sydney small packages number of extension officers available to farmers
extension officers available to farmers
extension officers available to farmers and the quality of seed polish and
and the quality of seed polish and
and the quality of seed polish and regulatory systems once we identify the
regulatory systems once we identify the
regulatory systems once we identify the critical choke points we take this
critical choke points we take this
critical choke points we take this information to governments private
information to governments private
information to governments private companies donor organizations and we do
companies donor organizations and we do
companies donor organizations and we do raise the flag that if you have to fix
raise the flag that if you have to fix
raise the flag that if you have to fix the seed delivery system in Africa this
the seed delivery system in Africa this
the seed delivery system in Africa this is the point where you need to start I
remain convinced that improved seed has
remain convinced that improved seed has the power to unlock agricultural
the power to unlock agricultural
the power to unlock agricultural potential in Africa and the power to
potential in Africa and the power to
potential in Africa and the power to break this vicious cycle of rural
break this vicious cycle of rural
break this vicious cycle of rural poverty how do I know that this will
poverty how do I know that this will
poverty how do I know that this will work
work
work well there are thousands of studies that
well there are thousands of studies that
well there are thousands of studies that support this finding but most
support this finding but most
support this finding but most importantly for me I know that it worked
importantly for me I know that it worked
importantly for me I know that it worked for me and for my family I know it might
for me and for my family I know it might
for me and for my family I know it might be too late for my best friend Thomas
be too late for my best friend Thomas
be too late for my best friend Thomas but I think with the chance to save his
but I think with the chance to save his
but I think with the chance to save his little daughter Naomi thank you
”
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