This is a timely and insightful book on the role that markets play in seed accessibility, conservation and innovation. The authors note that many of the policies that have governed access to seeds are based on a long-held view that a seed system follows a natural development pathway from farmers' production to government involvement towards a perfectly competitive private seed market. However, this is only appropriate for a relatively small share of crops and farmers. A broader view of a seed system provided by the book, which includes various forms of markets, as illustrated by the five cases in the book, is therefore extremely valuable.

The book consists of three parts. The first part sets the stage with chapters on agricultural markets and utilization of, as well as access to crop genetic resources, and the project methodology. The second part forms the heart of the book and describes five cases. Part three provides a synthesis which discusses markets, seed systems and crop diversity and a conclusion that offers some policy recommendation.

The five cases include sorghum and millet seeds in Mali, potato seeds in Bolivia, pigeon pea seeds in Kenya, small millet seeds in India and maize seeds in Mexico. The cases provide a range of different locations and seeds, but all include seeds of crops that have an importance for food security, have a significant level of local genetic diversity and reveal some market integration. Not all cases follow the value chain analysis approach sketched out in the beginning, use consistent terminology (such as market-shed) or use similar measures to assess crop genetic diversity. This is a bit confusing at times, but a minor complaint. They do all address the question of how the characteristics of local seed markets affect the price, availability and information about crop genetic resources exchanged.

Although farmer-saved seeds are still the most important source, the cases show that markets are also an important seed source across countries, especially after a severe drought or another calamity. The cases show a huge diversity of markets and traders, which results in a diversity in access to crop genetic resources across local markets within a country. The cases demonstrate the role of local markets as a crossroad for the formal and informal seeds' sectors and in increasing farmers' access to a wider range of materials at affordable prices. The authors point out that official seed policies and regulations in place may occasionally hamper this role of local markets in the seed system. A major limitation of local markets is the lack of information about the type of seeds sold, which is not always apparent from its appearance or variety name. The authors therefore suggest a priority for policy to address these information failures, e.g. by removing barriers to information exchange that current policies and regulations may generate, certifying sellers rather than seed or developing a wider range of seed certification.