FAO provides assistance to its Member countries in the development and improvement of national or sub-national seed programmes for seed production. Activities range from the support to early generation seed multiplication by national research institution to the promotion of small-scale seed enterprises. FAO is also involved in a variety of projects supporting community seed production in order to ensure production and access to good quality seed of adapted varieties at the community level. FAO also supports national seed services to establish an efficient seed quality assurance system guaranteeing the quality of seed sold to farmers. Strengthening national seed laboratories, training of seed analysts and inspectors, organization of the variety release system, preparation of national or regional variety catalogues are some of the main activities FAO undertakes in this area.

 An example of FAO's activities in this field is illustrated in this audio slide show on a seed project in Afghanistan.