b'Scientific validation has followed.At Bayer, sustainability has become anSustainability has to be both top-down and Studies from UC Davis, the Universityenterprise-wide discipline rather than a sidebottom-up.of Arkansas, and the USDA show thatproject. We are committed to building anSyngenta is embedding sustainability RiceTec hybrids emit less methane underefficient and sustainable end-to-end supplyinto its product pipeline through a Portfolio both traditional and water-saving regimes,chain, Loureno explains. The companysSustainability Framework (PSF), launched and when expressed as yield-scaled glob- targets are as detailed as its breeding plans: in 2024 with the crop protection portfolio al-warming potential, the advantage grows Climate neutrality across all sites byand expanded in 2025 with seeds. Its a even larger. Weve been delivering water- 2030. data-driven tool that evaluates seed varieties use efficiency and climate resilience for42% reduction in greenhouse-gason environmental impact, input efficiency, more than two decades, R says. The nextemissions (from 2019 levels) byand climate resilience, explains Allerding. step is accelerating genetic gain with tools2029. The framework guides breeding decisions like genomic selection and gene editing.100% renewable electricity world- toward varieties that support regenerative RiceTecs new genomic platform pin- wide. agriculture, reduce carbon emissions, and points DNA regions linked to yield stability12.3% cut in supply chain emissionsimprove resource use.under heat and drought. Were identifyingby 2029, and net zero across the fullEvery product entering development and combining the regions that keep yieldsvalue chain by 2050. is now screened through the PSF criteria, steady when temperatures spike or irriga- Water management is another pillar.Allerding says. That means sustainability tion water runs low, R explains. ThatsFresh water is critical for seed produc- metrics are connecting to research priori-where sustainability meets profitability. tion, Loureno notes. Were partneringties in real time. The system also allows For Fit at Semillas Fit, the breedingwith growers in water-scarce areas to iden- the company to quantify progress and share toolbox looks a little different but serves thetify risks and improve efficiency. By 2030,transparent results with regulators and cus-same goal: lowering inputs and improvingBayer plans to have water-management sys- tomers alike.efficiency. Were not yet targeting nitro- tems in all relevant sites and to strengthen gen-use efficiency in cereals, he says, butlocal watershed stewardship wherever itPROJECTS THAT INSPIREin vegetables we are focusing on labour-sav- operates. Beyond corporate metrics, tangible stories ing and worker-friendly traitsplants thatFit approaches internal sustainabil- often make the biggest impressionexam-are easier to prune, fewer thorns, smootherity from the ground upliterally. Weples that others can adapt and scale. Each of surfaces. Thats sustainability for people. encourage our employees to bring ideas,these companies can point to initiatives that His vegetable programmes also reachhe says. If someone suggests a way to saveembody the new sustainability mindset.into nutrition. Were selecting super- water or recycle waste, we test it. WhenFor RiceTec, the standout is FullPage, food varieties with higher antioxidantit works, we share it across the company.launched commercially in India in 2024 as content and better health value, he says.Fits favourite example came from thethe countrys first herbicide-tolerant crop. Sustainability is not only about conveni- seed-extraction unit. We use a lot ofDesigned specifically for direct-seeding, ence or taste; its about human well-being. water to wash seeds out of fruit. One of ourFullPage enables efficient weed control employees proposed recycling it throughwithout the water and methane intensity of SUSTAINABILITY STARTS wells and filtration. Now we reuse the sametransplanting. Its a catalyst for change, AT HOME water, and the savings are significant R says. Farmers adopting FullPage are Farmers are not the only ones under pres- especially in our Mediterranean climate. reducing water use, greenhouse-gas emis-sure to shrink their footprints; seed com- Semillas Fit also installs solar panelssions, and labour costsand seeing more panies themselves are re-engineering howwherever feasible and offers electric-vehi- reliable yields.they operate. cle options to staff. Not everyone can useThe companys commitment extends At RiceTec, a quiet revolution is under- them yetsome sales reps drive long dis- beyond Asia. In the U.S., RiceTec is a way in seed production. In India, the com- tancesbut the choice is there, Fit says.charter member of the Rice Stewardship pany is shifting hybrid seed multiplication from traditional transplanting to Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). Its one of our most impactful initiatives, R says. Moving to DSR in seed production alone can drasti-cally cut water use, greenhouse-gas emis-sions, and labour demands.But DSR is technically demanding. Each parent line responds differently to the new system, R explains. Synchronizing flowering for pollination is critical, so weve had to adjust breeding lines and agronomic management simultaneously. The result will be a seed-production model that mir-rors the sustainability gains RiceTec pro-motes for farmers.Across its global footprint, RiceTec invests in breeding platforms, seed treat-ments, and agronomic systems that reduce resource inputs while maintaining yield. From methane-reducing hybrids to water-efficient growing systems, sustain- The new sustainability toolbox combines precision genetics, operational accountability, and cultural ability is embedded in every stage of ourengagement. Photo: Ricetecvalue chain, R says.FEBRUARY 2026|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 31'