Beijing, China — ISF joined the 32nd China Beijing Seed Industry Conference, held on 11–12 September 2025. ISF President Arthur Santosh Attavar spoke at the opening ceremony, emphasizing the central role of seed innovation in addressing today’s global challenges, including climate change, the decline in arable land resources, and a growing population.
ISF Phytosanitary Affairs Manager Dr. Rose Souza Richards delivered two key presentations. In the plenary keynote on the “Status of International Seed Trade” (11 September), together with Mr. Attavar, Dr. Souza Richards emphasized that seed is the starting point of food security and highlighted the global value of seed exports (US$16.2 billion in 2022). She underscored the role of science-based phytosanitary measures and digital tools like ePhyto in reducing barriers, while also drawing attention to persistent challenges such as divergent import requirements, complex re-export processes, and the costs of duplicative testing
On 12 September, at the Vegetable Forum, Dr. Souza Richards addressed “Strengthening Global Collaboration in Seed Trade and Phytosanitary Measures.” She highlighted the highly segmented 
vegetable seed market, the impact of diverse regulations across countries, and the growing importance of harmonization and equivalency of measures. She also showcased ISF initiatives along with NPPO–industry partnerships in Europe and Asia-Pacific, which are building trust and aligning science-based approaches across borders.#
