b'THE RISK CORNER BY: DAVID ZARUKCLIMATE BENEFITS FROMSEED BREEDINGG etting innovation right involvesMultiple-cropping: Intercropping ordevelop more climate-friendly feed solu-aligning so many factors: frommixed cropping can help maintain soiltions.research challenges, hard work,fertility while increasing crop yields andReduced food waste: Eliminating insight,determination,committedreducing fertiliser use. Developing morefood waste would eliminate a large part investments and, usually, a lot of luck.compatible intercropped seeds will aug- of the climate campaigners criticisms of For innovations to develop into markets,ment this process agriculture. Gene editing techniques have the technologies need to align with theBetter cover crops: Many sustaina- shown how a large amount of spoilage can dominant societal narrativesthe sharedble farming pioneers are developing mul- be reduced, cold storage can be avoided, values and visions populations embraceti-species cover crop mixes to prepare,and freshness maintained for longer.when they tell their stories. Brilliant seedprotect and feed their soil for the comingNext generation biofuels: The biofuel innovations may never develop if influen- rotations. The opportunities for betterrevolution fell flat in the 2000s with the tial publics sense any narrative abrasioncover crop seed varieties are significantchoice of traditional seed varieties that with the values, they hold dear (e.g., bio- for improved soil nutrition, fertiliser reduc- threatened food security and did not attain technologies that are seen as non-natural,tions and carbon sequestration. net-zero. The enhancement of non-edible corporate, uncertain, non-traditional ). Sustainable Intensification: We needplant varieties that can grow well on mar-Today the dominant societal nar- to grow more food on less land, with grow- ginal lands is allowing policymakers and rative is climate change, and the storiesing urban populations and less predictableinvestors to take a second look.seed breeders can tell of the part they playclimates and food systems. Several stud-in fighting this threat is important. Manyies have shown how seed breeding hasTELL THE STORYenvironmental activists are spinning aaccounted for between 60 and 85 per centThe narrative at COP-26 in Glasgow story of agriculture as a problem for theof yield increases over the last 50 years.leaned more toward eradicating problems climate, of industrial farming destroyingWith the need to rewild less productive(precautionary) rather than promoting biodiversity and uncontrolled methaneland, any yield intensification will rest onsolutions (innovative). Seed science has emissions playing havoc with our envi- the shoulders of seed breeders. a wonderful story to tell of how climate ronment.Better climate resilience: As farmingchange can be mitigated, how humans can Seed breeders are the key to shift thisconditions get hotter, dryer, wetter, lessadapt without having to surrender their narrative toward farming as the source ofseasonal, more pest-ridden and unpre- lifestyles or food security. The societal climate solutions. So how can seed sciencedictable, farmers will need new seed vari- narrative has shifted into crisis mode; answer our climate change challenges? eties that can survive and thrive in suchall-natural is a luxury only the most ReductionofCO emissions:conditions. The challenge is on for moreaffluent of activists are willing to defend. 2Conventional farming is seen as intensive,local solutions. At the same time, many of the media-in-industrial and carbon-emitting, capturedBiodiversityimprovements:tensive risk issues of the 1990s (GMOs, by the fossil fuel and chemical corpora- Industrial agriculture has borne thenuclear energy, vaccines) appear less tions. Seed breeders need to show howbrunt of the blame for species loss andthreatening. they have developed the tools to makeecological damage. Developing seeds thatThe world is ready to embrace plant agriculture climate-positive.can thrive in mixed environments or withbiotechnology innovations, but the story No-tillagriculture:Herbicide- fewer pesticides will give farmers morehas to be told properly: resistant seeds allow for more efficientopportunity to enhance the ecology in- stress the benefits; no-till (regenerative) farming. The climatetheir fields. -show the continuity (for farming, benefits include more carbon sequesteredIncreased micronutrients: In a worldconsumption, ecology and quality); in the soil, less need for irrigation, higherwith increased climate stresses, growing- i dentify the positive impact on peo-yields and better soil nutrients. Fewerpopulations and soil challenges, diets inples lives; develop the ecological/tractors ploughing fields also reduces thepoorer regions will suffer. Malnutrition cansustainable solutions;carbon footprint. be reduced by enriching food staples with-and provide a multiple array of alter-Reduced fertiliser use: With the highimportant vitamins and minerals. natives. use of fossil fuels in fertiliser productionAnimal feed innovations: The criesWhen we turn our focus to climate gaining attention, developments in seedsto abandon livestock farming get louderissues next December in Egypt for a that grow well with less fertiliser (e.g.,with every bovine belch. While some feedpost-pandemic COP-27, I would hope to better nitrogen use efficiency) will helpadditives are helping to reduce methanesee seed scientists touting their innova-make farming more sustainable.emissions, a simpler approach would be totions from a big tent. 30IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'