Hot Topics
Sustainability in the Seed Sector
Seed is the starting point of crop production and a critical enabler of sustainable agriculture, food security, and resilient value chains. ISF’s sustainability work supports the global seed sector in translating shared commitments into practical action while recognizing the diversity of companies, associations, crops, markets, and production systems worldwide.
- Read the Seed Sector Declaration
- Explore our Stories
- ISF Practical Guide for Seed Production: Navigating Social Rights and Ethical Practices in the Seed Sector – Launching on 20 May 2026
Our Sustainability Pillars
Through its sustainability work, ISF aims to highlight the contribution of the private seed sector to climate resilience and environmental sustainability, increasing access to quality seed, responsible seed sector practices, and building resilient value chains.
Led by the Coordination Group – Environmental and Social Responsibility (CG ESR), ISF convenes seed companies, national seed associations, partners, and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, develop practical tools, and strengthen the sector’s shared contribution to sustainable agriculture and food systems, through four strategic objectives.
Coming Soon - A Practical Guide for Seed Production
ISF, led by the CG ESR, has produced a practical guide and e-learning course to support seed companies and associations in understanding, navigating and strengthening social rights and ethical practices across seed value chains. The guide provides practical orientation for companies at different stages of their sustainability journey and reinforces wider industry work on environmental and social responsibility.
Our Declaration
In 2021, ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit, the global seed sector, representing its diversity, acting as individuals or as representatives of co-operatives, family-owned, small-, medium-sized, or multinational companies based around the world, declared its commitment to a future where enough affordable, safe, and nutritious food is produced for all without compromising the economies, societies, or environments of future generations.
As of July 2024, over 250 seed companies and seed associations, representing thousands of seed companies, have signed the declaration.
Our Stories
Through the ISF Coordination Group – Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR), the following stories showcase how the private seed sector, as a critical player in broader agri-food value chains, contributes to sustainable and resilient food systems in the following ways:
- seed as the basis for sustainable economic activity for farmers and stakeholders; and
- seed as the basis for enhancing resilience to climate shocks and mitigating agriculture’s impact on global warming.