INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM /  11
LORENA BASSO DID not arrive at this 
moment by chance. She built it step by step, 
starting at age 20 inside her family’s business, 
Semillas Basso, learning every layer of the opera­
tion from the ground up.
That foundation shaped more than her techni­
cal understanding. It formed a leadership style 
grounded in practicality, resilience and a constant 
focus on what comes next. Working across Latin 
America, she learned to navigate complexity, adapt 
quickly and think long term in a region where agri­
culture carries both opportunity and pressure.
Now, as she prepares to take the helm of the 
International Seed Federation (ISF), she steps into 
the role at a time when expectations for agricul­
ture have never been higher. Climate pressure, 
geopolitical tension and rising global demand are 
all converging. For Basso, the answer begins in a 
familiar place.
“The seed is at the beginning of everything,” 
she says.
Her path to this role moved from national 
leadership to regional collaboration and now to the 
global stage. Along the way, she has seen first­
hand how deeply connected the seed sector has 
become, and how much more coordination it will 
require to meet the challenges ahead.
As the first woman to lead ISF, she views the 
moment not as an exception, but as part of a 
broader shift already underway.
Seed World: You lead Semillas Basso and 
have been active in the seed sector for 
many years. What key experiences have 
most shaped how you lead today?
Basso: I joined our family business when I was 20 
and started from the ground up. That gave me the 
chance to understand the company in depth, from 
the simplest parts of the operation to the most 
complex ones.
Working in Latin America shaped me as well. It 
taught me resilience, adaptability and the habit of 
always looking ahead.
My professional profile was built through practi­
cal learning, hard work and a constant focus on 
what comes next.
Power
Agriculture’s biggest challenges don’t start in the field. 
They start with seed and Lorena Basso is stepping in to shape 
what happens next. By Aimee Nielson, Seed World U.S. Editor
The
Behind the First Move

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