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Background
A five-part global webinar series
Every Tuesday in September 2026
13:00-15:00 CEST
Online – Participation is free
Illegal seed practices threaten farmers’ livelihoods, undermine innovation, distort fair competition and put food security at risk.
To raise awareness and support coordinated action, the International Seed Federation is convening a five-part webinar series, “Combating Illegal Seed Practices: From Awareness to Action.”
Across five sessions, farmers, seed sector representatives, enforcement specialists, technical experts and international organisations will examine the real-world consequences of illegal seed practices and the practical measures available to address them.
The series will explore farmer impacts, seed authentication and traceability, laboratory testing, evidence gathering, sector-led enforcement, policy frameworks and international cooperation. Participants will gain practical insights into how public authorities, industry and other stakeholders can work together to protect farmers, strengthen legitimate seed markets and safeguard agricultural innovation.
What are illegal seed practices?
Illegal seed practices can take many forms, including counterfeiting, seed piracy, theft, fraudulent labelling, trademark infringement and the unauthorised use or sale of protected varieties.
Their consequences extend across the entire seed value chain. Farmers may experience crop failure, reduced yields and financial losses. Legitimate businesses face unfair competition and weakened incentives to invest in research and innovation. Regulators and enforcement authorities must respond to increasingly complex and often cross-border activities.
Addressing these practices requires more than isolated action. It depends on effective collaboration between farmers, the seed sector, public authorities, testing and certification bodies, enforcement organisations and international institutions.
This webinar series will connect these perspectives and move the discussion from awareness to practical action.
Who should attend?
This webinar series is designed for stakeholders who play a role in protecting seed system integrity, supporting fair and transparent markets, and addressing illegal seed practices. It is particularly relevant for:
- National seed associations
- Seed sector representatives
- Policymakers and regulators
- Enforcement authorities and customs officials
- Seed testing, certification, and quality assurance bodies
- International organisations and intergovernmental bodies
- Farmer organisations and extension services
- Organisations working on illicit trade and anti-counterfeiting
- Experts in intellectual property, plant breeders’ rights, and innovation protection
- Public-private partnership initiatives focused on agricultural input integrity
Participants involved in policy development, enforcement, farmer protection, awareness raising, market integrity, certification, traceability, or public-private cooperation are especially encouraged to attend.
Webinar Programme
Webinar 1:
Seed Sector Integrity: Why It Matters in Practice
Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 13:00-15:00 CEST
Registration via Zoom
Moderator: Nils Elmegaard, Chair, ISF CG – Engagement against ISP
Speakers:
- Thor Kofoed, Chair, Copa-Cogeca Working Party on Seeds
- Julius Nyabicha, Cereal Growers Association
- Natalie Waterschoot, Bayer
About the session:
The opening webinar will ground the series in the real-world impact of illegal seed practices.
A farmer will share first-hand experience with counterfeit or illegal seed and the consequences for farm performance and livelihoods. This will be complemented by the seed sector perspective, highlighting how companies are working with partners to strengthen seed integrity, traceability, and compliance, and why this matters for farmers and society.
Webinar 2:
Fighting Counterfeiting and Seed Theft — Tools and Field Success
Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026, 13:00-15:00 CEST
Registration via Zoom
Moderator: Marcel Bruins
Speakers:
- Hans-Joachim Henn, Consultant
- Catharina Pires, Director of Biotechnology and Seeds, CropLife Brazil
Maria Luiza Silveira, Legal and Intellectual Property Specialist, CropLife Brazil
About the session:
The second session will explore how innovation and coordinated action can effectively reduce illegal seed practices. It combines technical solutions such as authentication and tracking systems with national-level success stories, demonstrating how industry and authorities can work together to combat counterfeiting, theft, and trademark infringement.
Webinar 3:
From Lab to Law Enforcement — Turning Detection into Action
Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026, 13:00–15:00 CEST
Registration via Zoom
Moderator: Marcel Bruins
Speakers:
- Sergio Pasquini, Vice-President, International Seed Testing Association
- Stefano Betti, Deputy Director General, Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade
About the session:
This session will connect scientific detection with enforcement outcomes. It will show how seed testing, certification systems, and traceability provide the evidence base for legal action, and how these tools support broader efforts to combat illicit trade at national and international levels.
Webinar 4:
Seed Sector Enforcement in Action — Lessons from AIB and Breeders Trust
Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2026, 13:00–15:00 CEST
Registration via Zoom
Moderator: Nils Elmegaard, Chair, ISF CG – Engagement against ISP
Speakers:
- Ignacio Giacchi, Anti-Infringement Bureau
- Corné van Beers, Breeders Trust
About the session:
This session will focus on practical enforcement mechanisms within the seed sector. Drawing on experiences from the Anti-Infringement Bureau (AIB) and the Breeders Trust, the discussion will highlight investigation approaches, evidence gathering, cross-border cooperation, and how cases are built against illegal operators. It will provide a concrete view of how rules are enforced in practice.
Webinar 5:
Seed Sector Enforcement in Action — Lessons from AIB and Breeders Trust
Date: Tuesday, 29 September 2026, 13:00–15:00 CEST
Registration via Zoom
Moderator: Lorelei Garagancea, ISF Legal Director – IP and Genetic Resources
Speakers
- Leonor Sanhueza, Representative of the OECD work on illicit trade
- Jaak Feuggelen, Representative of the European Anti-Fraud Office
About the session:
The final session will look at the global dimension. It will explore how international cooperation, policy frameworks, and customs enforcement contribute to tackling illegal seed trade. Participants will gain insights into how national efforts can be strengthened through alignment with international standards and practices.