From drought-tolerant cereals to pest-resistant vegetables and forage crops that reduce methane emissions in livestock, these innovations are helping farmers adapt to a rapidly chang ing climate. “Through high-performing germplasm, seed-applied technologies and microbial treatments, we can enhance resil ience at the most fundamental level of production,” Rivoire says. Corn treated with beneficial Bacillus bacteria has shown strong productivity gains on low-fer tility soils, while soybean and rice varieties inocu lated with similar microbes have demonstrated improved nutrient efficiency. Plant breeders have also improved sorghum forage quality by introducing chemically induced mutations that reduce lignin production, work that dates back to the late 1970s. These innovations allow farmers to achieve higher yields with fewer inputs, reducing both environmental pressure and produc tion costs. The benefits extend beyond the farm. Vegetable varie ties with longer shelf life can reduce postharvest losses, one of the most overlooked contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the food chain. Perennial crops also support carbon sequestra tion through deeper root systems and longer growing cycles. “Every new generation of seed technology offers a multiplier effect,” Rivoire says. “Better-adapted crops mean more stable harvests, lower input needs and more sustainable farming.” Yield, Efficiency and Environmental Gains Productivity and sustainability are often framed as competing priorities, but the seed sector continues to show they can move together. According to ISF, yield increases and yield stability are among the most powerful drivers of environmental progress. When farmers produce more on the same land, pressure to convert forests and natural habitats into farmland declines. Higher yields per acre mean less land use, which directly sup ports biodiversity and lowers carbon emissions. “Without the advancements made by modern plant breeding, agriculture would require a much larger footprint to meet global food demand,” Rivoire says. In Europe, improved seed varieties have increased yields in key crops by about 20% over the past 15 years. In the United States, corn yields have increased nearly ninefold since the 1930s, much of that progress driven by plant breeding and hybridization. Yield stability is equally critical. As climate change brings more extreme weather, farmers increasingly depend on resilient varieties that can withstand extreme conditions. “We’re no longer just breeding for productivity,” Rivoire says. “We’re breeding for reliability, ensuring farmers can maintain their livelihoods and feed their communities even under stress.” In regions prone to climate extremes, that resilience can mean the difference between a successful harvest and a total loss. Stable yields also help maintain consistent food supplies and prices, a key factor for global food security. SUSTAINABILITY From genetics to policy, the global seed sector is shaping how agriculture delivers productivity, resilience and environmental progress. By Marcel Bruins, Seed World Europe Editorial Director STARTS with the SEED WHEN WE TALK about sustainability in agriculture, the conversation often centers on what happens in the field: fertilizers, water use, soil management and emissions. Yet, as Ben Rivoire and Khaoula Belhaj-Fragnière of the International Seed Federation (ISF) point out, the path to a more resilient food system begins long before a single plant emerges from the soil. It starts with seed. “The seed is where sustainability truly begins,” Rivoire says. That starting point is also where measurable gains are built over time. “Every improved variety carries within it the potential to use resources more efficiently, withstand climate pressures and help farmers produce more with less environmental impact,” Belhaj- Fragnière says. Recent ISF papers (Contributions of the Seed Sector to Improve the Environmental Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Systems, Navigating the Evolution of Plant Breeding Innovation and A Call for Policy Action to Foster Plant Breeding Innovation) show how the global seed sector is using innovation to help agriculture reduce its environmental footprint while maintaining productivity. Innovation at the Root of Progress Seed innovation is not new, but its role in environmental sustain ability is gaining recognition like never before. Every new variety released to the market reflects years of research, testing and refinement, combining conventional breeding with advanced technologies. 64 / SEEDWORLD.COM INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026
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