Dear Members, Partners, and Friends of AfSTA,

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire AfSTA Secretariat, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us in Cape Town for the 26th Annual AfSTA Congress, held from 23 to 25 March 2026 at the Century City Conference Centre. Your presence, energy, and engagement made this a truly historic gathering, one that drew over 500 delegates from 46 countries, setting a new participation record and reaffirming AfSTA's place as the unified voice of Africa's seed industry.

We are deeply grateful to our keynote speaker, South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, and to all the distinguished speakers, panelists, and moderators who shared their expertise across our three day programme, from innovation and future seed systems, through trade and harmonization, to institutional strengthening and strategic coordination. Their insights, alongside the active participation of policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders, gave real depth to this year's theme, "Empowering Africa's Future, One Seed at a Time."

The Congress delivered outcomes that will shape our work in the years ahead. Delegates examined the persistent constraints on cross border seed trade, including fragmented regional markets, inconsistent regulations, and climate pressures, while charting a shared path forward built on stronger public private collaboration, science based regulation, and closer regional coordination.