Seeds: Unleashing Nature's Power in the Battle Against Climate Change
Euroviews - Michael Keller
In the global struggle against the climate crisis, one silent hero takes center stage: the seed. Michael Keller argues that by fostering closer collaboration between the public and private seed sectors, groundbreaking solutions can be unearthed, potentially achieving the ambitious goal of eradicating hunger against all odds.
The recent commitment of $7 billion (€6.4bn) at the COP28 climate talks underscores the growing recognition of the climate crisis's urgency and its impact on food security. While this funding is a positive step, discussions often overlook the pivotal role of seeds in transforming food systems.
Seeds, as an agricultural input, wield unparalleled influence in building climate resilience. However, the real challenge lies in scaling up seed innovation to reach millions of smallholder farmers. To meet the 2030 crop productivity goals, innovative and collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors are imperative.
The public sector brings sustained and significant funding for agricultural innovation, while the private sector, with its agility, can rapidly mobilize additional financing. Estimates suggest that the private sector has the potential to fill over half of the $2.5 trillion (€2.29tn) annual funding gap required to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including ending hunger. Notably, the private seed sector invests $10 billion (€9.17bn) annually in research and development for over 80 crops.
Pooling investments can accelerate crop breeding programs, developing new seed varieties resilient to higher temperatures, water scarcity, and emerging pest threats. Moreover, the public and private sectors offer distinct forms of expertise and knowledge, complementing each other to ensure seeds are improved and adapted to the unique needs of farmers, particularly in developing countries.
Publicly funded research, exemplified by organizations like CGIAR, plays a vital role in delivering science for global goals, free from commercial pressures. Conversely, the private seed sector ensures the last-mile delivery of improved seeds, collecting practical insights from farmers, retailers, and processors. This collaboration facilitates focused breeding goals to address specific climate-related challenges.
In pursuit of a 2.3% increase in crop productivity in low-income countries by 2050, the global crop sector must embrace sustainable intensification and market delivery. The recent partnership with CGIAR reflects the ambition to achieve sustainable intensification.
Both sectors also hold valuable access to key actors, from national research institutes to seed associations, further enhancing their combined impact. The Seed Resilience project in Rwanda, launched with the non-profit Fair Planet, exemplifies this collaboration's potential. Trials of improved crop varieties aim to provide Rwandan farmers with choices resilient to climate change, supported by training in good agricultural practices.
The Seeds-for-Food Coalition, a public-private-civic partnership, is another initiative mobilizing inclusive seed systems. As global leaders prepare for the next climate talks, the author urges policymakers to elevate the role of seeds in discussions on food systems transformation and climate action.
By fostering a closer alliance between the public and private seed sector, new, creative solutions may emerge, offering a beacon of hope in the pursuit of ending hunger against all odds.
- #SeedPower, #ClimateResilience, #FoodSecurity, #PublicPrivateCollaboration, #SustainableAgriculture
