ISF World Seed Congress 2024 Day 2: Industry Leaders Delve into Digital Innovation, Sustainable Agriculture, and PPPs

Day 2 of the ISF World Seed Congress 2024 is brimming with insightful sessions and dynamic panel discussions on key topics, including Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Plant Breeding Innovation, Microplastics in Seed Treatments, Seeding Success with Digital Innovation, and Consumer Perception and Acceptance of Gene-Edited Products. During the "Seeding Success with Digital Innovation" session, Andreas Lankow, Agricultural Solutions Portfolio Head, Syngenta and Will Salter, Global Head Seedcare Institute, Syngenta, explored trial locations and data gathering from farmers worldwide, highlighting innovations and new tools designed to support growers.

Lankow shared, “I’m addicted to data, and people know I spend a lot of time utilizing it. My journey began in a warehouse packing bags of seeds. In today's AI-driven era, data is paramount. In agriculture, it's the data we capture from farms that matters most.”

Lankow elaborated, “Syngenta has numerous trial locations worldwide where we test products in various environments and management practices across Europe. We capture the performance of our products not just in isolation but aim to understand how they perform under different stress conditions, climatic conditions, and soil textures. We digitalize all these trials, calling them geo-referenced on-farm trials. We gather extensive data layers, starting with soil testing technologies to understand soil textures and attributes, and then using drones to capture even more farm data.”

"Technology is evolving faster than growers can adapt to it. Growers need to understand the benefits of technology in their fields first. Syngenta plays a critical role in helping growers onboard this technology by demonstrating its value," said Lankow. Discussing Large Language Models (LLM), he added, "At Syngenta, we are integrating LLMs with digital twins of our products. These models interact with big data, providing growers with simple, actionable advice. AI helps us consolidate all data and expertise, making it easily accessible to growers. This is the direction we are heading, simplifying data collection and access with LLMs."

The session on “Consumer Perception and Acceptance of Gene-Edited Products” delved into the factors influencing public perception and behavior towards genome-edited products. Panelists emphasized the significance of transparency, education, and engagement in shaping consumer views, stressing the need for clear communication regarding the benefits and risks associated with genome editing in food and agriculture.

Following this, a panel discussion on “The Role of the Seed Sector in the COP28 Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action” took place. The COP 28 Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action represents a landmark commitment by over 150 countries to better align global efforts on agriculture and food systems with climate action. Experts discussed how to ensure that quality, improved seeds are included in important discussions and that the declaration leads to a real impact among farmers facing climate change. Panelists included Saskia Nuijten from EIT Food, Kelly Racette from The Nature Conservancy, Frank Gbaguidi from CSIS, Jorge Fernández Vidal from the Liechtenstein Group, and Jason Allerding from ISF, with moderation by Jean-Paul Judson.

The "From Seeds to Eco-systems: The Elements of Regenerative Agriculture" session, sponsored by Bayer, featured speakers Cristiane Lourenco, Director, Global Sustainability and Ralf Glaubitz, Head of Global Portfolio Management SeedGrowth & Biologics. They explored the keys to implementing regenerative agriculture in a universal yet flexible manner at the farm and field levels.

The final panel discussion, titled “Innovative Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Development: What are the Bottlenecks and Opportunities?” focused on the development of the seed sector in the Global South. This topic has been on the agenda for decades, with numerous initiatives and programs implemented by governments, the private sector, and civil society. Despite some progress, the situation requires more attention due to challenges such as a growing population, climate change, and the need for more sustainable agricultural solutions. The overarching goal is to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by providing them with better seed choices.

The session began with a keynote address by Sonja Vermeulen, Managing Director of Genetic Innovation at CGIAR, and then transitioned into a panel discussion. Panelists included Willem Schoustra, Director of Seed NL; Arnold Puech d’Alissac, President of the World Farmers Organization; Abdulrazak Ibrahim, Cluster Lead Specialist at FARA; and Andrew Mushita, Head of the Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT) in Zimbabwe. They analyzed which initiatives have been effective on the ground, which have not, and the reasons behind these outcomes. They also explored what more can be achieved through collaborative efforts.

The discussion concluded with remarks from Philippe Lesigne, Chair of the ISF Coordinating Group on Market Access and Trade, and was moderated by Simone van Trier. The session emphasized the importance of innovative public-private partnerships in overcoming bottlenecks and seizing opportunities to enhance seed sector development in the Global South.