This week, Istanbul becomes the epicenter of seed sector strategy and global food security.
Drumroll please… we are officially live in Istanbul! After months of preparation and planning, the International Seed Federation’s World Seed Congress 2025 officially kicks off this morning, drawing together more than 1,500 delegates from 70+ countries for three days of strategy, science, and connection. This isn’t just another conference — it’s where the seed industry sets its direction.
And there may be no better place to do it than Türkiye.
A world leader in agricultural production, Türkiye exported nearly $30 billion in ag products to more than 190 countries in 2022. Its seed sector — backed by more than 1,130 companies and growing fast — has become a powerful voice in global conversations around innovation, regulation, and resilience.
Since liberalizing its seed policies in the 1980s, Türkiye has become a hub for R&D, variety development, and international seed trade. Today:
- Over 75% of certified seed in Türkiye comes from private companies.
- Exports span 1,800 agricultural products and are growing.
- The country leads Europe in agricultural production value.
Organizations like TÜRKTED and TSÜAB have been instrumental in shaping this growth, pushing for harmonized policies, expanding international cooperation, and ensuring Turkish seed companies are heard on the global stage.
As host of this year’s Congress, Türkiye is stepping into the spotlight. And the world is watching.
What’s at Stake?
This year’s Congress is diving headfirst into the biggest challenges—and opportunities—facing the global seed sector. The theme, “Discovering Bold Horizons,” isn’t just aspirational. It’s a call to action.
How do we breed crops that can thrive under climate pressure?
Can we create a global regulatory landscape that supports both innovation and access?
How do we stop counterfeit and illegal seed from undermining trust and yield?
And what’s the real business case for conserving biodiversity?
Over the next three days, delegates will trade ideas, forge partnerships, and shape the strategies that will define the next decade of seed. Whether you’re focused on plant science, policy, or market growth, the decisions made here matter everywhere.
Seed World Is Here
We’re live on site at World Seed Congress 2025’s ISF Interview Corner – Powered by Seed World. Over the next three days, we’ll be bringing the buzz from World Seed Congress 2025 to your screen, your feed, and your inbox. From spontaneous insights to standout ideas, our biggest goal is to capture the human side of seed, from CEOs’ big ideas to startup founders’ dreams, and from policy experts’ insights to advocates’ priorities. Specifically, we’ll be bringing you:
- Rapid-fire interviews those most in the know
- Walk and Talks with industry leaders and fresh voices
- Snapshots of what’s trending in the halls
- And answers to the Seed World question everyone will be asking: If you had a Billboard— one giant sign that the whole world could see — what would it say?
World Seed Congress 2025 is More Than a Congress — It’s a Catalyst
The seed sector stands at a crossroads. Climate volatility, shifting regulations, and rising food demands are no longer future concerns: they’re today’s reality. What happens here in Istanbul won’t stay here. It will ripple through research labs, farms, and markets around the world.
This week is about alignment, ambition, and action, because the choices we make now will shape the crops, systems, and solutions of tomorrow.
So, wherever you are in the world, tune in, speak up, and be part of the story. The future of food starts with seed. And the future of seed starts here. Welcome to World Seed Congress 2025, live in Istanbul!
