Advanta Seeds was honored with the Excellence in Food Security Leadership – Smallholder Access to Improved Seeds Trailblazer Award at this year’s Food Security Summit in Dubai. The recognition underscores the company’s ongoing efforts to empower smallholder farmers with quality seeds and drive innovation in sustainable agriculture, critical to strengthening global food security.

The award highlights Advanta’s focus on providing smallholder farmers access to improved seed varieties, enabling higher yields, climate resilience, and income stability. By addressing key constraints in seed availability, the company is tackling one of the most significant barriers to global agricultural productivity.

During the summit, Francis Borges, Head of Sustainable Value Chain Projects at Advanta, participated in a panel discussion on Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Improving Soil Health. Borges emphasized the role of sorghum as a climate-smart crop, noting its adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions, lower water requirements, and contribution to sustainable food systems. He also highlighted Advanta’s work in scaling sorghum cultivation through public–private partnerships and policy support, positioning the crop as a viable option for nutrition-sensitive and resilient farming.

The recognition in Dubai reflects a broader industry trend toward integrating smallholders into global food systems while promoting sustainability. Companies like Advanta are increasingly leveraging innovation, partnerships, and targeted interventions to enhance crop productivity, soil health, and farmers’ livelihoods, aligning commercial success with broader food security goals.

As global populations grow and climate risks intensify, the need for resilient, sustainable agricultural systems is acute. Advanta’s initiatives, particularly in climate-smart crops like sorghum, offer a template for bridging productivity, sustainability, and smallholder empowerment — essential pillars for building robust food systems worldwide.