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Background
From June to August 2024, the International Seed Federation (ISF) conducted a survey of the global seed sector, gathering the insights of more than 200 seed experts from across seven regions on the sector’s achievements over the last century, as well as threats and opportunities in the future. It comes ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79), the UN Summit of the Future and the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), where decision-makers will shape the climate and development agenda for the coming years.
Summary
Overall, the survey produced the following findings:
Climate change and climate change-related impacts make up the most significant threats to the seed sector.
More than half of the respondents ranked climate change and its associated impacts as the top challenge facing the sector. This includes increased extreme weather events due to climate change, increased temperatures, and plant diseases and pests, the spread of which is exacerbated by rising temperatures.
Issues around international trade, the movement of seeds, and regulations were also frequently cited as challenges both now and in the future.
New plant breeding breakthroughs are likely in the next 10-20 years, but investment and predictable regulations will remain critical.
Nearly all surveyed said new breeding breakthroughs to accelerate the development of improved seeds were very likely (49%) or somewhat likely (42%).
Around a third called for more private and public investment and predictable and science-based regulations to have the most impact on unlocking more innovation in the sector.
A collective call for a collaborative, sustainable, and science-based global seed sector that offers high-quality, resilient, and accessible seeds, especially for low- and middle-income countries.
