Sowing Sustainability: Cultivating the Food Systems of Tomorrow

Summary: The implications of critical steps and initiatives aimed at cultivating a more resilient and eco-friendly approach to food production and distribution.

FREMONT, CA: The agri-food sector is dispersed and intricate, yet according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 80 per cent of food production begins with seeds. While every participant in agri-food value chains may have a different goal in mind, the majority of them are faced with the same obstacle: providing sustainable food for all.

Opportunities for collaboration between the many industries along the chain are created by this.

Before World Food Day and after the UN Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) in Rome in July 2023, the world's seed business is assessing its recent achievements and exploring opportunities to further collaborate with both domestic and international stakeholders.

 

Seed Sector Contributions

Implementation at the country level is prioritised by the International Seed Federation (ISF) and its members through local transformation routes using science, technology, and innovation as catalysts for nature-positive solutions and livelihood enhancers. The Seed Resilience initiative is to educate smallholder farmers and rural people about better varieties and high-quality seeds on four crop pillars: vegetables, pulses, potatoes, and cereals. Additionally, it facilitates communication between the seed sector and legislators regarding the significance of seeds in food policy.

To increase farmers' yields and revenue in five years, the project aims to increase the adoption of modern technologies and high-quality planting materials. It is hoped that other nations where farmers encounter difficulties obtaining high-quality seeds will be able to emulate the project's success.

In addition, the Seeds for Food Coalition was established to create a network of expertise and understanding regarding seed resilience and the conducive conditions necessary for its growth. The alliance will mobilise initiatives between the public and private sectors on knowledge sharing, capacity development, and promotion of a regulatory framework to support seed systems, emphasising its link with food to promote sustainable seed systems for the transformation of food systems.

The goal of the project is to provide farmers with a set of standards and recommendations for efficient seed systems across a range of political and geographical circumstances.

In parallel, ISF and its members are attempting to create governance and dialogues around food systems that involve all relevant sectors and stakeholders and encourage greater commercial participation, particularly through public-private partnerships. Seed firms are keeping up their investments in innovation, data, research, and technology to promote economic growth, people's livelihoods, health and nutrition, minimise post-harvest losses, and mitigate climate change.

Turning Declarations into Concrete Seed Actions

ISF has developed several frameworks to support the transformation of food systems during the past three years. The ISF Seed Declaration laid the groundwork for the seed industry's increased involvement in sustainability and food security issues. ISF established a new Coordination Group on Value Chain and Environment and Social Responsibility as part of its organisational reorganisation.  To encourage the use of premium seed and improved varieties, these Coordination Groups bring together stakeholders from the seed business, advance awareness of seed as a fundamental component of sustainable food production, and interact with agri-food value chains.

Important projects to improve smallholder farmers' access to innovative seeds and promote seed-friendly regulatory frameworks were initiated in 2023 by ISF and its partners.  The programs were created to support farmers in selecting seeds, facilitate enhanced crop yield and seed resilience, and stimulate the agricultural industry's acceptance of new technologies.

2024 and Beyond Rallying Agri-Food Value Chain Engagement

Every day, players in the seed sector strive to provide farmers all over the world with seeds of cutting-edge types for a variety of crops, regions, and climates. Through collaborations and dialogues, ISF and its members are dedicated to fostering stronger ties between the plant breeding community, the food sector, seed traders, and retailers. For the good of society, resilient and sustainable food systems also depend heavily on access to innovation.