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When seed players gathered in Cotonou, Benin, in early December 2017, there was one burning question on everyone's mind. What is the best solution to prepare for seed supply in times of crisis, such as during the Ebola pandemic in 2014?

It emerged that setting up a rapid response system to provide the seeds needed in times of crisis is probably the best way for the region to prepare for a food crisis.

"We call for a rapid response system that can quickly address the need for quality seed in times of crisis," the stakeholders concluded.

Each year, food and nutrition security stakeholders meet in a designated city to exchange and identify the best approaches and solutions to address the actual and potential food crisis in West Africa. In 2017, the 33rd RPCA meeting was held in Cotonou, Benin.

On the bangs of the event, a session was organized by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) under the patronage of two of the regional economic communities. These include the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). The main objective of the event was to review seed distribution in Ebola-affected countries and draw lessons for future interventions.

Food security is a major risk in sub-Saharan Africa with the spread of the fall armyworm, (Spodoptera frugiperda). This insect pest damages many crops, including maize and cereals, on which most of West Africa's population depends.

Experts maintain that its spread poses a major risk to food and nutritional security in Africa, and could jeopardize decades of efforts to reduce poverty.

At the Cotonou meeting, experts from the public and private sectors, as well as international organizations, agreed that it was essential to set up a system guaranteeing the continuous distribution of essential seeds to producers and farmers.

"Reducing cross-border barriers to trade in seeds".

ECOWAS advocates the free movement of people and goods between West African states. In practice, however, considerable challenges remain.

At the Cotonou events, stakeholders urged West African countries to relax cross-border restrictions and other obstacles hindering the transformation of the region's seed industry.