In this incisive episode of Battle for African Agriculture, Dr. Million Belay is joined by Dr. Titilayo Adebola, a leading legal scholar whose work sits at the intersection of intellectual property, seed governance, and decolonization. Together, they unpack the deeply colonial roots of Africa’s current seed laws and the growing pressure on African governments to adopt UPOV 1991-style regimes—laws that often privilege corporate breeders at the expense of farmers, biodiversity, and traditional knowledge. Dr. Adebola explains how the African Model Law on Plant Variety Protection offers a bold and Afrocentric alternative, rooted in farmers’ rights, legal pluralism, and community seed systems.

With clarity and conviction, Dr. Adebola outlines the political dynamics shaping seed law harmonization across the continent, from free trade agreements to donor influence. She calls for African leaders to resist one-size-fits-all legal models and instead embrace seed systems that reflect the continent’s ecological, cultural, and legal diversity. This episode is essential listening for anyone who believes seed sovereignty is central to food sovereignty—and who understands that true transformation begins with reclaiming the legal foundations of our food systems