Earlier this month, more than 150 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates endorsed a landmark statement outlining transformative priorities in agricultural research and development (R&D), urging policymakers, scientists and industry leaders to unite in tackling the food security crisis through innovation, investment and international collaboration.
The International Seed Federation (ISF), representing tens of thousands of seed and plant breeding companies across more than 70 countries, is proud to join this global coalition by endorsing the Laureate Letter 2025. We stand alongside world leaders and scientific pioneers in advocating bold action towards a resilient and sustainable food future.
At ISF, we are deeply committed to our mission of creating the best environment for the global movement of seed and promoting plant breeding and innovation in seed, which is the foundation for sustainable agriculture and food systems. By signing this letter, we reaffirm that innovation in seed and plant breeding, supported by robust, science-based policy frameworks, is critical to tackling two of the most pressing challenges of our time: food insecurity and the climate crisis.
The seed sector plays a vital role in driving agricultural innovation, with ISF members investing, on average, 25 per cent of their annual turnover in research and development to deliver improved plant varieties. However, unclear and unpredictable regulatory frameworks continue to hinder investment, and policies that are inconsistent with science and business realities impede progress on new breeding methods like genome editing, which can produce more resilient and nutritious crop varieties for farmers in a faster, more precise, and more efficient way. These innovations are vital to feeding a growing global population while reducing agriculture’s environmental impact.
By endorsing this letter, ISF confirms that the voice of the private seed sector is part of the global conversation – and action – on investing in agricultural R&D, advancing consistent and science-based policies, and fostering collaboration across sectors to ensure that these advancements reach the farmers and communities who need them most.
Now is the time to act. By prioritizing research, innovation, and global cooperation, we can transform food systems and work toward a world without hunger.
