From yield to resilience, from carbon to cooperation — the global seed sector is stepping into the spotlight of climate action. As agriculture transforms under the pressures of population growth, biodiversity loss, and climate uncertainty, seeds and plant breeding are taking centre stage.

At the forefront of this conversation is Ben Rivoire, sustainability and crop value chain manager at the International Seed Federation (ISF). He shared with Seed World Europe how ISF is uniting seed companies worldwide around a shared vision of sustainable food systems and a fair, climate-smart future. We also spoke with Jason Allerding, chair of ISF’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Coordination Group, to understand how the federation is helping the industry move forward collectively.

The Seed Sector’s Role in Sustainable Food Systems

“The seed is the starting point,” Rivoire begins. “That’s what we always remind people — good quality seed and planting material are the foundation for everything that follows in agriculture.”

Ben Rivoire is the sustainability and crop value chain manager at the International Seed Federation.

ISF sees the contribution of seeds to sustainable food systems through three main pillars: productivity, resilience, and resource efficiency. “Our role is to deliver seed innovations that help farmers produce more and better with less,” says Rivoire. “Productivity and yield stability are essential, but equally important is resilience — ensuring crops can thrive despite changing growing conditions. Finally, we must improve resource efficiency: using water, fertilizer and inputs more wisely. That’s how seeds contribute to sustainability at the very first step of the value chain.”

These three pillars — productivity, resilience, and efficiency — are now embedded in ISF’s broader vision for sustainable agriculture.

Connecting Crop Breeding and Animal Sustainability

Sustainability doesn’t stop at the farm gate. Feed crops are a critical link between plant and animal production — and Rivoire points out that seed companies are already bridging that gap.

“Within our membership, many companies are breeding varieties specifically for animal feed — hybrid rye for pigs, for example, which helps reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional feed crops. Others are developing what we call high-tech forages that directly influence methane emissions in livestock.”

ISF promotes these stories globally, showcasing how plant breeding contributes not only to crop sustainability but to the sustainability of the entire food chain — from pasture to plate. “It’s a powerful message,” he adds. “Seeds don’t just grow plants; they grow and support solutions for the environment.”

Bringing Seeds to the Global Climate Negotiation Table

For decades, UN climate conferences focused mainly on energy and industry. That changed at COP 28 in Dubai, where agriculture took a central role — and with it, the seed sector. “COP 28 was a turning point,” says Rivoire. “The Food and Agriculture Declaration on ‘Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action’ signed by over 150 countries recognised agriculture’s dual role — as both a contributor to emissions and a key part of the solution.”

ISF’s mission at upcoming conferences, including COP 30 in Belém, Brazil, is to make sure seeds are represented as a driver of climate action. “Plant breeding has been helping farmers adapt to changing conditions for centuries,” Rivoire explains. “Our job now is to communicate that contribution clearly — to show that seed innovation is climate innovation. We also advocate for an enabling policy environment, so companies can continue to research, breed, trade, and deliver improved varieties globally.”

In Brazil — a country where agriculture, forestry, and biodiversity intersect — ISF plans to demonstrate how seeds underpin sustainable land use and responsible production. “Ten years after the Paris Agreement (2015), it’s time to show measurable progress and make sure seed innovation is part of every climate solution and engage for the next 10 years” he says.

Uniting the Industry: ISF’s Collaborative Sustainability Efforts

How can thousands of companies — competitors, large and small — work together for sustainability? Through pre-competitive collaboration, Rivoire explains. “ISF is a global neutral platform where companies from all over the world can sit together — family-owned firms, multinationals, vegetable breeders, field crop companies — and exchange ideas on sustainability,” he says.

Three years ago, ISF created a dedicated Working Group on Environmental and Social Responsibility with over 20 members and invited observers. The group discusses everything from carbon reduction and water use to social inclusion and gender empowerment. “We want to help, guide and support our members benchmark against international standards and learn from other industries,” Rivoire notes. “Our goal is to lift the entire seed sector up together — to make collective progress that no single company could achieve alone.”

The group also explores ways to support smallholder farmers, empower women and youth in agriculture, and promote responsible seed production practices globally.

A Shared Voice for the Sector

Allerding, chair of the ISF Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) Coordination Group and global head, HSE, sustainability & risk management for global seeds at Syngenta, underlines the importance of this collaborative approach. “Within the ISF ESR group, we’ve worked to build trust and engagement among members by aligning on the key challenges facing our industry and the opportunities we can leverage together with a shared voice,” he explains. “Our goal is to help stakeholders understand and fully value the impact of our industry in innovating to improve food security, environmental outcomes, and community health. We’re developing shared guidelines on social rights and environmental contributions and will publish a statement outlining the ESR contribution of our sector as input to COP 30. Through our networks with members, related sectors, governments, global organizations and NGOs, we can also provide foresight on future risks and strategic areas of focus for the sector.”

Looking Ahead: Climate-Smart Seeds and Smart Policies

The coming years, Rivoire believes, will be decisive for the seed sector’s role in climate action. “COP 30 is not the finish line — it’s the starting point,” he says. “We want long-term, coordinated action across ISF, our sister organizations, and national seed associations.”

Key priorities include promoting climate-smart varieties, supporting carbon-efficient seed production, and ensuring that seed companies can continue investing in breeding research. “Climate action is not just about yield,” he stresses. “It’s about sustainable land use, biodiversity, and balance — between agriculture and forests, between productivity, conservation and restauration.”

Rivoire points to innovations such as varieties with deeper root systems that capture more water and nutrients, or crops adapted to no-till and cover-cropping systems. “Seed companies are already helping farmers transition to more sustainable agricultural and agronomical practices. It’s about combining genetics with agronomy, innovation with education. Together, we can build a more resilient and sustainable food & feed system.”

A Unified Vision

As the conversation ends, Rivoire returns to a simple but powerful message: unity. “Sustainability is not about one company or one crop — it’s about collective effort,” he says. “By aligning our work at ISF with that of breeders, farmers, food retailers and policymakers, we can make sure seeds truly are the starting point of a sustainable future.”