ISF World Seed Congress 2024: Industry Experts Share Their Views on Global Seed Movement, Sustainable Seed Solutions, and Gene Editing

Day one of The International Seed Federation (ISF) World Seed Congress 2024 kicked off with an exhilarating convergence of industry visionaries, all united by a singular pursuit: excellence.

The first session themed, “Global Seed Movement: Challenges and Opportunities in Treated Seed Trade” discussed the significance of treated seeds in global agriculture, particularly for enhancing crop yields and disease resistance. In a recent position paper on this subject, ISF discussed the challenges and importance of the international movement of treated seeds.

Moreover, a dynamic program unfolded, spotlighting three engaging panel discussions: "Seeding a Sustainable Future – Innovations in Seed Solutions," "Exploring Gene Editing: Benefits, Intellectual Property, and Licensing," and "Looking to the Future-Understanding Control Methods for Fusarium and Pythium."

As part of the first session, the primary authors of the position paper explained the key points presented in the paper and highlighted the need for consistent international regulations on seed treatment products to streamline global trade, which is crucial in the face of escalating global food demands and environmental changes.

Laurel Carter, Head of Phytosanitary and Seed Movement Compliance at Syngenta highlighted the global nature of the seed industry, stating, "Seed production occurs worldwide to optimize quality and yield. After harvest, seeds often undergo processing in specialized facilities across different countries to ensure maximum quality before treatment. This movement across 2-3 countries before reaching growers underscores the criticality of global seed movement."

She further stated, "The objective is to foster collaborative communication and dialogue among national and regional seed associations and regulators. Through this, we aim to gain a better understanding of regulators' concerns and to educate them about the global nature of the seed industry."

Next, Christine Hazel, Global Regulatory Lead - Seed Applied Technologies at Corteva Agriscience, highlighted the global movement of both treated and untreated seeds, emphasizing that high-quality production practices ensure their global mobility across various crops, including corn, soybean, and vegetables. She underlined the importance of seed treatment products in protecting seeds from diseases and environmental stresses, emphasizing the precision application process and the role of regulatory authorities in assessing these products to support sustainable agriculture.

The panel of experts from Germains explored the latest advancements in sustainable seed solutions in the second session named ‘Seeding a Sustainable Future – Innovations in Seed Solutions.’ It discussed cutting-edge innovations to combat crop losses from abiotic stress factors and the importance of strategic partnerships for a sustainable future. The session provided insights into developing more environmentally conscious seed solutions for the industry and the growers they serve.

Dale Krolikowski, Head of Business Development and Research at Germains Seed Technology, explained, “Biostimulants, often derived from seaweed, aid in early root and plant development, helping plants overcome climate changes, abiotic stress, and drought tolerance. Additionally, biostimulants can be sourced from bacteria and fungi, enhancing nitrogen and fertilizer use efficiency, thus promoting sustainability.”

Paul van den Wijngaard, Head of Research & Development - Europe at Germains Seed Technology, stated, "Many new products in the market help crops cope with abiotic stress. Our focus is on developing dedicated seed treatment solutions tailored to specific crops to address these challenges effectively."

The session, “Gene Editing and its Multiple Angles: Benefits, Intellectual Property, and Licensing,” was a moderated panel discussion hosted by Corteva Agriscience. It focused on the various aspects of gene editing, including its benefits and the challenges surrounding intellectual property and licensing.

Dan Jenkins, VP of Regulatory and Government Affairs at Pairwise, said, "We are using gene-editing to improve food and vegetables, harnessing it to benefit consumers, farmers, and the environment."

Arend Streng, Patent Specialist at Rijk Zwaan, added, "We are focusing on many crops, but initially we are concentrating on a few to determine whether gene editing can be efficiently applied to them."

Claudia Hallebach, LLM, Head of Global IP at KWS Group, remarked, "We see significant potential in new genomic techniques across all our crops. To support sustainable agriculture, we need to develop trade in all our crops, especially corn, sugar beet, cereals, and sunflower, with traits like fungal resistance and pest resistance for food security."