Climate Resilience Starts with Seeds: Reframing Agriculture at the World Seed Congress in Istanbul
The agricultural leaders, policymakers, and youth gathered in Istanbul, Turkey for the World Seed Congress from 19–21 May. The spotlight was on a critical yet often overlooked truth: climate resilience starts with seeds. Once again, International Seed Federation (ISF) and NextGen Ag Impact Network (NGIN) took the global stage. Their mission? To flip the script, from agriculture as climate culprit to climate catalyst.
“We need to stop viewing agriculture as the enemy of the planet,” said Michael Keller, Secretary General of the ISF. “Seeds are where sustainability begins. With the right investment and innovation, agriculture can become one of our most powerful tools in building climate resilience.”
As the world converges for the next COP summit, the global conversation around climate change continues to spotlight fossil fuels, transport, and energy systems. But an uncomfortable truth remains largely underrepresented: agriculture is both a contributor to and a potential solution for the climate crisis. ISF and NGIN are stepping into this void with a clear message, climate resilience starts with seeds, and it’s time we change the narrative.
Agriculture is often cast as a climate villain, synonymous with emissions, deforestation, and unsustainable land use. While there are undeniable challenges, this singular narrative ignores the innovation, adaptation, and commitment to sustainability emerging from within the sector. The reality is more nuanced, and ISF and NGIN are working to bring those complexities and opportunities to the forefront.
Young voices from NGIN, including farmers, scientists, and agribusiness professionals, were participating at the World Seed Congress to not only represent agriculture but to reframe it. Their message: we need to make our voices heard, we need to tell a better story. One that recognizes agriculture not only as part of the problem but as a critical part of the solution. Through seed innovation, regenerative practices, and community-led change, agriculture can help restore biodiversity and protect water systems.
Take Brazil, for instance, where young farmers like Rafael are pioneering climate-smart agriculture. Yet even there, regenerative agriculture remains loosely defined, and implementation is uneven. While companies like Nestlé and Walmart began endorsing regenerative agriculture in 2023, practical challenges persist. For example, integrating livestock for soil health, commonly promoted in regenerative systems, is not feasible for fruit and vegetable growers due to food safety concerns.
Moreover, there’s a deep information gap among farmers, especially smallholders, about what regenerative agriculture entails, how to implement it, and what support systems exist. Bridging this gap requires not just education but also local knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and youth empowerment. Regarding the importance of empowering youth, young people are more likely to adopt new technologies and practices but often lack land, resources, or support. In this case, youth can also serve as change agents who can bridge traditional farming with modern innovations.
This is why the ISF’s focus on seed innovation is so timely. Seeds are the foundation of agriculture and food systems, they determine yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to extreme weather. Investing in seed development is an investment in long-term climate resilience. It enables farmers to grow crops that thrive in changing conditions, reducing vulnerability and ensuring food security. However, the potential of improved seeds can only be fully realized if farmers, especially smallholders, have the knowledge, skills, and support to use them effectively. Bridging the deep information gap around regenerative agriculture requires more than education: it calls for capacity-building to ensure practical implementation, youth empowerment to drive innovation and generational continuity, and local knowledge-sharing to embed these solutions within the community’s lived experience.
But for this transformation to happen at scale, political alignment is essential. ISF and NGIN’s changemakers are calling on governments to invest more in agriculture, not just through subsidies or market incentives, but in infrastructure, research, and education. Policy frameworks should support regenerative transitions while recognizing the regional realities farmers face.
To conclude, agriculture doesn’t need a PR makeover, it needs an honest, inclusive, and future-oriented conversation. This begins with acknowledging its potential. At these kinds of global events, forums, and congresses, ISF and NGIN are not just changing the narrative. They are planting the seeds for a more resilient, regenerative future, one where agriculture is seen not as a threat, but as a catalyst for climate solutions.
Eye for Nature
Nature-based consultancy