50 / SEEDWORLD.COM INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026 we scale it.” One example came from a seed extraction unit. “We use a lot of water to wash seeds from fruit. An employee suggested recycling it through wells and filtration. Now we reuse that water, and the savings are significant.” Semillas Fitó is also investing in solar panels and electric vehicle options for employees. “Not everyone can use them yet,” Fitó says, “but the option matters. Sustainability has to work both top-down and bottom-up.” Syngenta is embedding sustainability into product development through its Portfolio Sustainability Framework (PSF), launched in 2024 for crop protection and expanded to seeds in 2025. “It’s a data-driven tool that evaluates varieties on environmental impact, input efficiency and climate resilience,” says Allerding. “Every product entering development is screened through PSF criteria. That connects sustainability metrics directly to research priorities,” he adds. The system also enables transpar ent reporting to regulators and customers. Projects that Inspire Beyond metrics, real-world examples show how sustainability can scale. For RiceTec, FullPage®, launched in India in 2024, represents a major step forward. Designed for direct seeding, the herbicide- tolerant system allows effective weed control while reducing water use, methane emissions and labor. “It’s a catalyst for change,” Ré says. In the U.S., RiceTec is a charter member of the Rice Stewardship Partnership, working with growers, conservation groups and the USDA to improve nutrient management, protect aquifers and support wildlife habitat. “It’s about efficiency and biodiversity together,” Ré says. Bayer’s DirectAcres program focuses on smallholder farmers in India, helping them transition to direct seeded rice. Through partnerships with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and government networks, the program provides training and digital support, including chatbot guidance through the FarmRise app. “Our Arize hybrids that can be direct seeded give farmers stable yields while reducing water use and methane emissions,” Lourenço says. “It’s not just climate impact — it’s livelihoods.” The program also includes carbon credit initiatives tied to regenera tive practices. At Semillas Fitó, one of the most meaningful examples came from within. “The water recycling idea came from the shop floor,” Fitó says. “That’s what makes it powerful.” At Syngenta, the PSF framework itself is reshaping how suc cess is measured. “A variety can’t just yield well,” Allerding says. “It also has to perform on resource efficiency and climate resil ience. That alignment is shaping the future of breeding.” Purpose and the Human Factor For Fitó, sustainability is tied directly to purpose. “A company must have a purpose beyond profit,” he says. “Every decision we make impacts society, and we have responsibility for those impacts.” Plant breeding turns climate goals into real-world impact, translating genetic gains into stronger yields, lower footprints, and more resilient farming systems. PHOTO: RICETEC He sees sustainability as the expression of that responsibility. “The more you learn, the more you realize you’re not operating in isolation. Sustainability gives meaning to what we do — it con nects our business with society.” Across the industry, that perspective is becoming more common. Whether through Bayer’s emissions targets, RiceTec’s hybrid development, Syngenta’s data frameworks or Fitó’s employee-driven initiatives, sustainability has moved from project to purpose. It is no longer an add-on — it is core to how companies operate. From Traits to Transformation Looking across these companies, a clear pattern emerges. The modern sustainability toolbox combines precision genetics, operational accountability and cultural engagement. Breeders are selecting for deeper roots and stronger plants, while compa nies are building stronger commitments across their organiza tions. Bayer’s renewable energy and water targets show how large companies can anchor climate action in measurable goals. RiceTec demonstrates how a focused company can transform an entire production system. Syngenta integrates sustainabil ity into every research decision. Semillas Fitó shows how small, employee-driven ideas can scale across an organization. Through collaboration within ISF’s ESR-CG, these efforts extend beyond individual companies, helping shape a more uni fied sustainability agenda for the seed sector. Together, these examples reflect a shift from isolated projects to system-wide change. As Fitó puts it, “Sustainability isn’t a department. It’s an attitude.” SW
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