34  / SEEDWORLD.COM  INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026
PARTNER CONTENT
T
he global seed sector stands at a pivotal moment. Demand 
for innovation has never been higher, yet the conditions un­
der which seeds must perform are becoming more complex 
and less predictable. Climate volatility, emerging pest and disease 
pressures, evolving consumer expectations and disruptions to key 
inputs are redefining what resilience means in agriculture.
At the heart of overcoming these challenges lies a simple truth. 
Innovation in plant breeding depends on access to crop diversity. 
Without it, the pipeline of new varieties slows and the capacity 
to respond to emerging risks diminishes. Crop diversity — con­
served in genebanks around the world — is therefore not a distant 
public good. It is a strategic asset for the entire seed sector.
Today, more than 850 genebanks safeguard millions of sam­
ples of crop diversity, representing centuries of evolution, farmer 
selection and scientific effort. They hold traits that are increas­
ingly essential in modern breeding programs — drought toler­
ance, heat resistance, disease resilience and nutritional quality. 
Yet this global genebank system, while robust in many re­
spects, is under increasing pressure. Public sector funding is 
shrinking, endangering the possibility of support in perpetuity 
for key genebanks. At the same time, the pace of environmental 
change is accelerating. The result is a growing mismatch between 
the importance of crop diversity and the level of investment to 
secure it.
For the seed sector, this is a real concern — a question of 
long-term viability and competitiveness.
The ability to develop high-performing varieties depends 
on a steady flow of genetic resources. Genebanks provide that 
foundation, often freely and under internationally agreed 
frameworks. They reduce the cost and risk of pre-breeding, en­
able access to rare traits and help ensure that innovation is not 
constrained by narrow genetic bases.
This shared infrastructure also strengthens the resilience 
of global agriculture. When collections are threatened — by 
conflict, natural disaster or institutional disruption –— backups 
such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault ensure that diversity is 
not lost. This redundancy is not only a safeguard for countries. 
It is a safeguard for the global seed industry and the markets it 
serves.
The Crop Trust was established to secure this system for the 
long term. We manage an endowment fund to provide stable 
financing to key genebanks, ensuring that collections remain 
safe, accessible and available for use. In 2025, we provided US 
$17 million in financial support for genebanks. The Crop Trust 
Sowing the Seeds of Resilience:  
Crop Diversity as a Strategic 
Asset for the Seed Sector
By: Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director, Crop Trust
Sweet potato regeneration 
plot at NARI Aiyura. 
PHOTO: MICHAEL MAJOR, CROP TRUST

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