b'Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO.BUSINESS AS USUAL IS NO LONGER AN OPTIONFAO ADVOCATING FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ANDNEW BUSINESS MODELS.BY: MARCEL BRUINSIN November 2021, the UN Food and Agriculture3.Commit to setting new priorities and targets for mobi-Organization (FAO) organized the Global Conferencelizing scientific, technical, and financial resources to on Green Development of Seed Industries, with manystrengthen seed systems; andprominent speakers and lively panel discussions.4. Encourage constructive debate on innovation and to share In his opening remarks, Dr QU Dongyu, Director-Generalupdated knowledge and evidence-research and develop-of the FAO stated that the world needs to produce 50 per centment are key drivers for improved crop varieties.more food to adequately feed everyone, and the only way to achieve this target is by increasing crop productivity, throughTo support this work, Qu explained that they had identified science and innovation. five key themes:With innovative technologies and new business modelsA.Advanced technologies: including modern biotechnolo-we can do so in a sustainable manner, to protect our planet,gies, such as gene editing and genetic improvement, are our limited natural resources and biodiversity. And ensureimportant tools for generating superior crop varieties. profitability and social equality, he added. In his view, itB.Conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agri-would be necessary to adapt our agri-food systems to mit- culture, both in nature and in gene banks, and relevant igate the impacts of the climate crisis, and to reduce ourdata must be made available for research and breeding environmental footprint.programmes.He mentioned that all the SDGs could be achieved,C. Crop varietal development and adoption: plant breeding including SDG1 no poverty and SDG2 zero hunger. But weshould be encouraged as it generates progressively supe-would need to do things differently. Business as usual is norior crop varieties adapted to different stress environ-longer an option. ments and requiring fewer external inputs.Qu noted that an improved and resilient crop variety canD. Seed systems: fit-for-purpose seed systems for delivering deliver a good and nutritious yield. We need green innova- context-specific cropping systems solutions to farmers tion for sustainable agri-food systemsand to lay the pathshould become the norm; andto green agriculture, which is a fundamental approach forE.Policy and governance effective policies, legislation and sustainable agri-food systems. It will ensure food security,regulations must be in place to enable all relevant stake-improve human wellbeing, create opportunities for employ- holders to engage beneficially in the seed value chain. ment and decent work for all, and protect the planet, nowAccording to Qu, governments are the key drivers to erad-and in the future. icate hunger. They should launch national seed actions to The Global Conference focused on the green develop- strengthen the seed value chain, and FAO will continue to sup-ment of the seed industry, with four major objectives: port governments to develop and implement national policies, 1.Increase awareness of the contributions of the seedregulations and laws to create predictability and foster confi-industry to green innovation for sustainable crop pro- dence in seed systems. duction. Qu explained that there were only nine harvests ahead 2.Promote cooperation among sectors, especially tobefore we reach our 2030 agenda. Let us sow the new seeds for enhance public-private partnerships and internationalpromising future now! FAO is committed to leverage the momen-cooperation to enable greater access to resources andtum generated by this conference to transform the evidence pro-sharing of knowledge and information. vided into action on the ground.34IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'