b'carbon reduction and water use to social inclusion and gender empowerment. We want to help, guide and support our members benchmark against international standards and learn from other industries, Rivoire notes. Our goal is to lift the entire seed sector up togetherto make collective progress that no single company could achieve alone.The group also explores ways to support smallholder farmers, empower women and youth in agriculture, and promote responsible membership, many companies are breeding varieties specifically forseed production practices globally.animal feedhybrid rye for pigs, for example, which helps reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional feed crops. Others areA SHARED VOICE FOR THE SECTORdeveloping what we call high-tech forages that directly influenceAllerding, chair of the ISF Environmental and Social Responsibility methane emissions in livestock. (ESR) Coordination Group and global head, HSE, sustainability ISF promotes these stories globally, showcasing how plant& risk management for global seeds at Syngenta, underlines the breeding contributes not only to crop sustainability but to the sus- importance of this collaborative approach. Within the ISF ESR tainability of the entire food chainfrom pasture to plate. Itsgroup, weve worked to build trust and engagement among mem-a powerful message, he adds. Seeds dont just grow plants; theybers by aligning on the key challenges facing our industry and the grow and support solutions for the environment. opportunities we can leverage together with a shared voice, he explains. Our goal is to help stakeholders understand and fully BRINGING SEEDS TO THE GLOBAL CLIMATEvalue the impact of our industry in innovating to improve food NEGOTIATION TABLE security, environmental outcomes, and community health. Were For decades, UN climate conferences focused mainly on energydeveloping shared guidelines on social rights and environmental and industry. That changed at COP 28 in Dubai, where agriculturecontributions and will publish a statement outlining the ESR con-took a central roleand with it, the seed sector. COP 28 was atribution of our sector as input to COP 30. Through our networks turning point, says Rivoire. The Food and Agriculture Declarationwith members, related sectors, governments, global organizations on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climateand NGOs, we can also provide foresight on future risks and stra-Action signed by over 150 countries recognised agricultures dualtegic areas of focus for the sector.roleas both a contributor to emissions and a key part of the solution. LOOKING AHEAD: CLIMATE-SMART SEEDS AND ISFs mission at upcoming conferences, including COP 30 inSMART POLICIESBelm, Brazil, is to make sure seeds are represented as a driver ofThe coming years, Rivoire believes, will be decisive for the seed climate action. Plant breeding has been helping farmers adapt tosectors role in climate action. COP 30 is not the finish lineits changing conditions for centuries, Rivoire explains. Our job nowthe starting point, he says. We want long-term, coordinated action is to communicate that contribution clearlyto show that seedacross ISF, our sister organizations, and national seed associations.innovation is climate innovation. We also advocate for an enablingKey priorities include promoting climate-smart varieties, sup-policy environment, so companies can continue to research, breed,porting carbon-efficient seed production, and ensuring that seed trade, and deliver improved varieties globally. companies can continue investing in breeding research. Climate In Brazila country where agriculture, forestry, and biodi- action is not just about yield, he stresses. Its about sustainable land versity intersectISF plans to demonstrate how seeds underpinuse, biodiversity, and balancebetween agriculture and forests, sustainable land use and responsible production. Ten years afterbetween productivity, conservation and restauration.the Paris Agreement (2015), its time to show measurable progressRivoire points to innovations such as varieties with deeper root and make sure seed innovation is part of every climate solution andsystems that capture more water and nutrients, or crops adapted to engage for the next 10 years he says. no-till and cover-cropping systems. Seed companies are already helping farmers transition to more sustainable agricultural and agro-UNITING THE INDUSTRY: ISFS COLLABORATIVEnomical practices. Its about combining genetics with agronomy, SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS innovation with education. Together, we can build a more resilient How can thousands of companiescompetitors, large and smalland sustainable food and feed system. work together for sustainability? Through pre-competitive col-laboration, Rivoire explains. ISF is a global neutral platform whereA UNIFIED VISIONcompanies from all over the world can sit togetherfamily-ownedAs the conversation ends, Rivoire returns to a simple but powerful firms, multinationals, vegetable breeders, field crop companies message: unity. Sustainability is not about one company or one and exchange ideas on sustainability, he says. cropits about collective effort, he says. By aligning our work at Three years ago, ISF created a dedicated Working GroupISF with that of breeders, farmers, food retailers and policymakers, on Environmental and Social Responsibility with over 20 mem- we can make sure seeds truly are the starting point of a sustainable bers and invited observers. The group discusses everything fromfuture. 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