Seed companies and associations representing all regions of the world have come together to sign a Declaration committing to actively support achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and proactively demonstrate their extensive and diverse contributions towards sustainable food systems, while calling for more urgent public private cooperation.
The “Seed Sector Declaration,” signed by seed companies of all sizes and geographic representation and by seed associations representing hundreds of companies per country, was launched as a part of the sector’s engagement with the UN Food Systems Summit, scheduled for September 2021.
The document acknowledges the enormous challenge for agriculture to produce sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for a global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, amid rising pressure from climate change, effective biodiversity preservation and natural resource scarcity. On current trends, the number of hungry people is expected to reach 840 million by 2030, from 690 million at present.
The Declaration highlights the sectors’ foundational contribution to food production, supporting development and use of the latest plant breeding methods to accelerate the improvement of crop varieties, ensuring the efficient movement of healthy, quality seed around the globe, and supporting access to and benefit sharing of genetic resources.
Seed companies and associations voiced their support to the Sustainable Development Goals, with specific contributions to seven SDGs:
- No. 1, End poverty
- No. 2, Zero Hunger
- No. 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth
- No. 12, Responsible Consumption and Production
- No. 13, Climate Action
- No. 15, Life on Land
- No. 17, Forming Partnerships to Accomplish these Goals
The seed sector will continue investing in science and innovation, supporting the conservation of genetic resources and biodiversity, and connecting with the value chain to lay the foundation for a multitude of consumer benefits. This requires an open and inclusive dialogue on food systems and a workable policy environment where farmers have access to quality seed of their choice, according to the Declaration.
