42 / SEEDWORLD.COM INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026 These three pillars — productivity, resil ience and efficiency — are now embed ded in ISF’s broader vision for sustainable agriculture. Connecting Crop Breeding and Animal Sustainability Sustainability doesn’t stop at the farm gate. Feed crops are a critical link between plant and animal production, and Rivoire points out that seed com panies are already bridging that gap. “Within our membership, many compa nies are breeding varieties specifically for animal feed — hybrid rye for pigs, for example, which helps reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional feed crops. Others are developing what we call high-tech forages that directly influ ence methane emissions in livestock.” ISF promotes these stories globally, showcasing how plant breeding contrib utes not only to crop sustainability but to the sustainability of the entire food chain, from pasture to plate. “It’s a powerful message,” he adds. “Seeds don’t just grow plants; they grow and support solu tions for the environment.” Bringing Seeds to the Global Climate Negotiation Table For decades, UN climate conferences focused mainly on energy and industry. That changed at COP 28 in Dubai, where agriculture took a central role, and with it, the seed sector. “COP 28 was a turn ing point,” says Rivoire. “The Food and Seeds Take Center Stage in Climate Action How the International Seed Federation is positioning plant breeding at the core of a climate-smart future. By Marcel Bruins, Seed World Europe Editorial Director FROM YIELD TO RESILIENCE, from carbon to collaboration, the global seed sector is stepping into the spotlight of climate action. As agriculture transforms under the pressures of population growth, biodiversity loss and climate uncertainty, seeds and plant breeding are taking center stage. At the forefront of this conversation is Ben Rivoire, sustainability and crop value chain manager at the International Seed Federation (ISF). He shared how ISF is uniting seed companies worldwide around a shared vision of sustainable food systems and a fair, climate-smart future. We also spoke with Jason Allerding, chair of ISF’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Coordination Group, to understand how the federation is helping the industry move forward collectively. The Seed Sector’s Role in Sustainable Food Systems “The seed is the starting point,” Rivoire begins. “That’s what we always remind people — good quality seed and planting material are the foundation for every thing that follows in agriculture.” ISF sees the contribution of seeds to sustainable food systems through three main pillars: productivity, resilience and resource efficiency. “Our role is to deliver seed innovations that help farmers produce more and better with less,” says Rivoire. “Productivity and yield stabil ity are essential, but equally important is resilience — ensuring crops can thrive despite changing growing conditions. Finally, we must improve resource effi ciency: using water, fertilizer and inputs more wisely. That’s how seeds contribute to sustainability at the very first step of the value chain.”
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