b'The vegetable seed sector provides nutrition and healthy and enjoyable food to society, Navarro says. Its really an aspect that we shouldnt forget.Since the Summit, the vegetable seed sector has been putUN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALSto work. One thing Navarro says that can always help is being reminded of the role and purpose to society beyond the financial aspect of a private company.Vegetables will probably not feed the entire population of the world, he says. But for sure, they have an important role in achieving food security and improving nutrition of people. Nutrition isnt at the level it should be, though.The difficulty comes from the misconception of only the developing countries needing better nutrition. According to the World Health Organization, one in three people are suffering from malnutritionbut that number isnt just about not getting enough to eat. Sometimes, malnutrition devel-ops from eating the wrong kinds of calories or eating too much. Millions of people dont get enough proper nutrition, says Navarro. Obesity is becoming one of the biggest diseases to affect the planet. Vegetables go beyond what we usually con-sider food security. Its also about nutrition security.Coming up with new innovations is imperative to this endeavorincluding innovations that ensure vegetables arrive to consumers across the globe in their best state. We can innovate a lot in terms of producing varieties that reduce the losses across the value chain, he says. While the vegetable sector is eager and open to creating new innovations to open the doors to improve the food system, it now falls to having a license to operate within society.A License to OperateGaining the publics trustespecially when it concerns new plant breeding innovationsisnt always easy.According to the Pew Research Center, peoples perception of how much genetically modified (GM) food they eat is often seen as a benchmark for the publics familiarity with GM foods. In the U.S., just 11% of Americans estimate that most of the food they eat has GM ingredients, while another 40% say some food they eat as GM ingredients. Forty-eight percent of the American public believe they do not eat GM foods. CREDIT: UNITED NATIONSEven though most vegetable companies dont even work in the GM-realm, Navarro says its still difficult to convince the public to give them a license to operate. It depends on how the society and the consumers of the world look to the industry as a solution or as a troublemaker. By 2030, the UN has 17 goals theyd like to achieve to better the world: The concept of having a license to operate has to do withthe Sustainable Development Goals. Adopted by all UN member states, businesses conducting business with society, Navarro says.The industrys job, Navarro says, is to convince society thatthe goals are an urgent call for action by all countries for a global the seed industry is a solution. The difficulty, however, comes inpartnership to improve health and education as well as spur economic with the messaging.growth.To learn more, visit: sdgs.un.org/goalsOne way ISF has been working to change societys view on agri-culture is by telling a more compelling story of the seed industry.We have to share our contributions in a better way, says van Leeuwen. ISF is working on a series of videos in tandem with seed companies to elaborate on best practices. JUNE 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /15'