b'Another way ISF is improving the seed sectors message is through their Seed Resilience campaign.Seed Resilience is a concrete action plan about how seed can better contribute to the SDGs, he says. In addition, were reaching out to several stakeholders and partners about Seed Resilience to bring our messages across.The key to this campaign is establishing a network of expe-rience and knowledge based on one key message outlined through the campaign. There are a lot of views and a lot of things already happen-ing, van Leeuwen says. This way, stakeholders outside of the seed sector know where to go when they have questions.The points of the Seed Resilience Campaign are:Initiating and contributing through partnerships on Seed Resilience. Marco van Leeuwen. Vicente Navarro.Setting up a renewed dialogue based on data collection on sustainable seed systems and their contribution to the SDGs. NUTRITION AND MALNUTRITION IN THE GLOBEBuilding a flagship project with partners for a sustainable seed system based on inclusiveness in a country.Publishing a best practice guide on access to improvedThe World Health Organization reports that one in three people (or varieties and sustainable crop management.approximately three billion) people are malnourished globally. ISF brought these four points forward to stakeholders at theWithout a doubt, our current food system has provided caloric efficiencies World Seed Congress in Barcelona and will continue to bring thesefor billions of people over many decades, Geeta Sethi, advisor and global pieces forward until 2030, when van Leeuwen says the industry should hopefully have reached a large extent of the SDGs.lead for food systems at the World Bank, says. That said, weve reached a In addition, this campaign will help the seed sector obtainpoint where current food systems are really creating a bankrupt planet and their license to operate.unhealthy people,For more, check out: seedworld.com/1-in-3-people-are-We need to advocate for the positive aspects the seedmalnourished-we-can-change-thatindustry brings to our food systems. In this context, we are also asking for a science-based approach for regulations, Navarro says. Such an approach would ensure a level playing field for allEnsuring both access to seeds and genetics will keep crop plant products, irrespective of the methods used in their diversity alive and mitigate issues as the seed sector continues to development. innovate for disease and pest control as well.For me, communicating the many good things we do, theIn addition, looking at sustainability and carbon differently is challenges we have, and the solution for it is imperative. There isanother major change for the industry to make.a planet to feed, says Navarro Approximately 35% of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet are related to agriculture, he says. We need to think of Bringing New Solutions to the Table ways to produce less CO . In vegetables, you can think about 2Though the challenges to breaking through to society about theminimizing that by introducing new varieties or even produc-seed industry solutions are difficult, both the vegetable seeding vegetables closer to the consumerwhich would lower the sector and ISF have taken up the torch. impact in transportation.Navarro says this starts by becoming more active with theThe UN and FAO report that 35% of greenhouse gas emis-food value chain.sions come from agriculture, however, the USDA reports that We need to try and partner and establish much strongerits closer to 10.5%. Regardless of which statistic you use, theres a dialogue with any potential partner that shares our goal, heroom for improvement. says. This starts by reaching out and investing more in scienceFor ISF, ensuring a sustainable future is step No. 1. and innovation.The world is changing in terms of demand, says van Innovation, Navarro says, is the basis of the seed sector, but itLeeuwen. We need to build something altogether that feeds needs to fit in the industry in a sustainable way.This also meansthis planet and its population for the long term by overcoming all keeping the seed and genetics pool diverse will be imperative forthese challenges and anticipating trends and developments. the future.The beautiful thing is that, as a breeding industry and seed There are thousands of different kinds of tomatoes for differ- industry, we have solutions for many of those challenges, he ent purposes, areas and cultures, he says. Keeping diversity orsays. Most things are not for tomorrow, but for the longer term. increasing diversity that we do through our breeding programsWe are here on this planet, and we need to make things infinite, will play an important role for future generations.despite what is happening around the world.SW16/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2022'