Proceedings of the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 Proceedings of the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 Edited by John Ruane, Chikelu Mba and Jingyuan Xia Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2022 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 Required citation: Ruane, J., Mba, C. and Xia, J., eds. 2022. Proceedings of the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc1220en The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 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Requests for commercial use should be submitted via: www.fao.org/contact-us/ licence-request.Queries regarding rights and licensing should be submitted to: copyright@fao.org. ii  CONTENTS Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................vii Preface ...................................................................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................xi Abbreviations and acronyms .................................................................................................................................xii CHAPTER 1. OPENING AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS PLENARY SESSION 1.1 Opening remarks, Qu Dongyu .........................................................................................................................3 Keynote addresses: Developing solutions for farmers 1.2 Solutions for small-scale farmers, Fatma Ben Rejeb ......................................................................................5 1.3 Advanced technologies impacting the green development of seed industries, Mauricio Antonio Lopes ........7 1.4 Crop improvement, better seed – From conservation of crop biodiversity to impactful use Marco Ferroni ..................................................................................................................................................17 Keynote addresses: Delivering solutions to farmers 1.5 Seed systems as enablers to seed choice, Michael Keller.............................................................................24 1.6 The green development of China's seed industry, Hanzhong Wang ...........................................................28 1.7 Policies and governance: Providing clarity and coherence to shape a robust and inclusive seed industry Rachel Chikwamba .........................................................................................................................................31 CHAPTER 2. PARALLEL SESSIONS: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Parallel session: Modern plant breeding technologies 2.1 Next generation genomics and genomics-assisted breeding for international agriculture Rajeev K. Varshney .........................................................................................................................................37 2.2 Genome design of hybrid potato, Sanwen Huang .......................................................................................38 2.3 Genome editing: Opportunities and challenges, Dave Bubeck ...................................................................39 2.4 Policy and regulatory issues of new breeding technologies in the European Union Irene Sacristán Sánchez .................................................................................................................................41 2.5 Gene editing of banana for disease resistance, Leena Tripathi ....................................................................42 2.6 Genetically modified pulses, T.J.V. Higgins and Jose Barrero .......................................................................44 2.7 Genome editing for cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) improvement, Ihuoma C. Okwuonu ...................45 2.8 Policy and governance of new breeding technologies, John McMurdy .......................................................46 2.9 Principles for the governance of gene editing, Gregory Jaffe ......................................................................47 iii CONFERENCE ABSTRACT Parallel session: Emerging biotechnologies and informatics technologies 2.10 Plant microbiomes, Vittorio Venturi...............................................................................................................48 2.11 Artificial intelligence and big data: Advancements, opportunities and threats, Dionysis Bochtis .............49 2.12 A scale-based framework for governance and risk of emerging biotechnologies, Jack A. Heinemann .....51 2.13 Policy and governance issues in synthetic biology, Marianela Araya ..........................................................54 2.14 Germplasm meets systems biology – understanding and exploiting intraspecific crop plant adaptation to the climate crisis, Wolfram Weckwerth ..................................................................................55 2.15 International treaties and genetic resources, Emily Marden ........................................................................57 2.16 Report of outcomes from the two parallel sessions dedicated to the theme of advanced technologies Rajeev K. Varshney and Vittorio Venturi ..........................................................................................................59 CHAPTER 3. PARALLEL SESSIONS: CONSERVATION OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE Parallel session: The global conservation system A. The global conservation system – how it works: 3.1 Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) conservation: Global overview of diversity in situ, ex situ and on-farm, how it is conserved and used Nigel Maxted and Mariana Yazbek .................................................................................................................63 3.2 Facilitating conservation of and access to PGRFA diversity through new technologies, approaches and data, Fiona R. Hay ...............................................................................................................64 3.3 Data analysis for finding adaptive traits in crop diversity, Ahmed Amri and Zakaria Kehel ........................65 B. The global conservation system – what impact has it had? 3.4 Cherokee heirloom genetics: A 20-year search for calories and culture, Pat Gwin .....................................66 3.5 Farming systems based on PGRFA diversity – impact on livelihoods and resilience in the Pacific Karen Mapusua ...............................................................................................................................................67 3.6 Economic impacts of using PGRFA diversity in crop improvement, Nelissa Jamora ..................................69 Parallel session: Access and benefit-sharing 3.7 Twenty years of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Where are we now?, Kent Nnadozie ...............................................................................................................70 3.8 Implementing access and benefit-sharing measures for agriculture in Brazil, Simone Nunes Ferreira .........72 3.9 Evolving access and benefit-sharing systems in China for sustainable development and food security Qingwen Yang .................................................................................................................................................74 3.10 Exchanges between public and private sectors, Marisé Borja .....................................................................75 3.11 Access and benefit-sharing in an increasingly digitized future David Ellis, Isabel Lopez Noriega and Michael Halewood ..............................................................................76 3.12 Five ideas for optimizing access and benefit-sharing, Amber Scholz ..........................................................77 iv CONFERENCE BROCHURE  3.13 Report of outcomes from the two parallel sessions dedicated to the theme of conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture Lamis Chalak, Charlotte Lusty and Michael Halewood ..................................................................................78 CHAPTER 4. PARALLEL SESSIONS: CROP VARIETAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION Parallel session: Accelerating genetic gains in crops 4.1 Keynote: Accelerating genetic gains for sustainable development, Barbara H. Wells ................................83 4.2 Climate-smart maize: Developing and deploying climate-smart DroughtTEGO and TELA maize for African farmers, Sylvester O. Oikeh, Yoseph Beyene, Mark Edge, Kingstone Mashingaidze, Emmanuel Okogbenin and Stephen Mugo ...........................................................85 4.3 Bean improvement at Embrapa, Elcio Perpétuo Guimaraes and Thiago Livio Pessoa Oliveira de Souza .......87 4.4 Orange sweet potato: The model for biofortified crops with a visible trait, Maria Andrade ......................88 4.5 Wheat quality improvement in China, Zhonghu He ......................................................................................89 Parallel session: Facilitated adoption of improved varieties by small-scale farmers 4.6 Keynote: Improving the low level and rates of adoption of improved varieties in the developing world Ian Barker .......................................................................................................................................................90 4.7 Development of nutrient-efficient rice varieties on small-scale farms in Madagascar Matthias Wissuwa ...........................................................................................................................................92 4.8 Facilitated adoption of improved varieties by small-scale farmers: Policy reforms to incentivize adoption Peter Okoth Mbogo .........................................................................................................................................93 4.9 Role of cooperatives in adoption of new crop varieties, Rinaldo Gosparini ................................................95 4.10 Role of quality seed in improving rice yields: A case study, Rakesh Kumar Singh ......................................96 4.11 Report of outcomes from the two parallel sessions dedicated to the theme of crop varietal development and adoption, Emmanuel Okogbenin.....................................................................................98 CHAPTER 5. PARALLEL SESSIONS: SEED SYSTEMS Parallel session: System innovations in the seed value chain 5.1 Keynote: Seed systems: Their importance and policy challenges, Niels Louwaars ..................................103 5.2 A success story of India: Telangana State as global seed hub, Keshavulu Kunusoth ................................105 5.3 Seed quality for sustainability in Latin America, Enriqueta Molina ...........................................................107 5.4 Different quality control systems in one regulatory frame, Bellah Mpofu .................................................109 5.5 Quality seed production systems, Ali Üstün ................................................................................................111 5.6 Seed authenticity: Consequences of counterfeit seed in the market and innovative remedies Duncan Ochieng’ Onduu ...............................................................................................................................113 5.7 The contribution of seed treatment to green innovation of plant production, Tim Loeffler ....................115 v  Parallel session: Seed enterprise development and international trade 5.8 Government incentives for seed business development – Nigeria, Okelola Folarin Sunday ....................116 5.9 Government incentives for seed business development in China, Jikun Huang ......................................118 5.10 Seed sector development for resilience: Finding formal seed solutions in an informal world Shaun Ferris ..................................................................................................................................................120 5.11 Plant variety protection: A sustainable policy for the development of seed business Nguyen Thanh Minh ......................................................................................................................................121 5.12 Embracing market-based approaches to development: The East-West Seed Story Lysette T. Lacambra ......................................................................................................................................123 5.13 Phyto-sanitary: New approaches on phytosanitary controls to support cross-border seed trade Rose Souza Richards .....................................................................................................................................124 5.14 Seed policy and regional harmonization, Justin Rakotoarisaona .............................................................126 5.15 Report of outcomes from the two parallel sessions dedicated to the theme of seed systems Keshavulu Kunusoth and Niels Louwaars ....................................................................................................128 CHAPTER 6. HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL SEGMENT AND CLOSING PLENARY SESSION 6.1 Statement by Thomas Vilsack, the United States of America .....................................................................133 6.2 Statement by Zhang Taolin, China ..............................................................................................................135 6.3 Statement by Marije Beens, the Netherlands ..............................................................................................137 6.4 Statement by Jorge Solmi, Argentina .........................................................................................................138 6.5 Statement by Julian Jaftha, South Africa ....................................................................................................140 6.6 Statement by Mohamed Ali Fahim, Egypt ...................................................................................................144 6.7 Closing remarks by Beth Bechdol, FAO .......................................................................................................146 CHAPTER 7. CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................149 Annex 1. Conference organizational bodies ........................................................................................................153 Annex 2. Conference programme .........................................................................................................................159 vi  FOREWORD In 2015, the international community, through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), pledged inter alia to end hunger, malnutrition and poverty by 2030. Yet, in 2020, in keeping with a trend of worsening food insecurity and malnutrition, nearly one in three people globally, or 2.37 billion, did not have access to adequate food. The COVID-19 pandemic has overlapped with strife, erratic and extreme weather events, and other drivers, to exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition and lower the prospects for the universal achievement of the SDGs. These statistics are worrisome considering that significantly more food, estimated at 50 percent over the 2013 figures, should be produced to meet the nutritional demands of approximately 10 billion persons by 2050. Daunting as the task ahead may seem, the attainment of the SDGs is still possible. However, a business-as-usual approach is not an option, as we cannot continue doing the same things we did in the past and expect different outcomes. The FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31, with its aspirational four betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind – aligns the Organization’s work over the next eight years with the 2030 Agenda. Its aim is the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems to achieve the SDGs. One attribute of the envisaged agrifood systems is enhanced productivity, which is producing significantly more yields while using fewer external inputs. With over 80 percent of our food being plant-based, it is evident that sustainable crop production systems are critically important for any meaningful transformation of agrifood systems. We are very mindful that seed systems are key for crop production. There are no good crops without good seeds because seeds are the vehicles for translating the genetic potentials in crop varieties into desired outputs from farmers’ fields, such as improved productivities and enhanced nutritional quality attributes. Due to this critical importance of seeds to agrifood systems, FAO convened the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries to support implementation of the four betters, especially better production, by starting from better seeds. Through the conference, FAO provided a neutral forum for its Members, partners, industry leaders, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to discuss evidence-based solutions to the problems that constrain farmers’ access to quality seeds and planting materials of preferred productive, nutritious and resilient crop varieties. Over 2200 participants from 126 FAO Members attended the conference. The feedback received thus far on this global convening has been overwhelmingly favourable. The conference has also been recognized worldwide as being timely, informative, inclusive and inspiring, which creates a momentum to facilitate the development and delivery of the solutions for farmers to have access to quality seeds. In my opening remarks at this milestone event, I underscored the critical importance of leveraging green innovations to strengthen seed systems to develop and deliver solutions that work for farmers. The keynote speakers at the conference echoed my sentiments, which were further reaffirmed during the high-level ministerial segment. I strongly encourage all stakeholders along the extensive seed value chain, especially governments, researchers, extension agents and all development practitioners engaged with the task of transforming agrifood systems to be fit for achieving Agenda 2030, especially SDG1 and SDG2 on ending hunger and poverty, to read this important publication. QU Dongyu FAO Director-General vii  viii ©FAO/IFAD/WFP/Petterik Wiggers  PREFACE FAO organized the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries on 4 and 5 November 2021, in a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 12 years after the previous World Seed Conference. The event served as a neutral forum for FAO Members and all relevant stakeholders along the seed value chain to discuss evidence-based means to enhance farmers’ access to quality seeds and planting materials of preferred productive, nutritious and resilient crop varieties. A Steering Committee, chaired by the FAO Deputy Director-General, Ms Beth Bechdol, provided strategic advice for the conference while a Scientific Advisory Panel, chaired by FAO’s Chief Scientist, Ms Ismahane Elouafi, assisted in the development of the conference programme. The Director of FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division, Mr Jingyuan Xia, led the Conference Secretariat, which was responsible for the preparations for, and hosting of, the event.1 The event included an opening and keynote address plenary session, and a high-level ministerial segment and closing plenary session. There were eight parallel sessions, which consisted of two for each of the four conference themes: advanced technologies; conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; crop varietal development and adoption; and seed systems. A fifth theme, policy and governance, was crosscutting. Over 2200 participants from 126 FAO Members took part in the two-day event. Of the 100 speakers, co-chairs, panellists or moderators in the sessions, 39 percent were from research or academic institutions, 23 percent from governments and intergovernmental organizations, 22 percent from the private sector, 10 percent from civil society organizations, farmers’ organizations or cooperatives, and 6 percent from international non-governmental or extension organizations. These proceedings, which are an important legacy for the conference, are composed of seven chapters: ◗ Chapter 1 contains the opening remarks from the FAO Director-General, Dr Qu Dongyu, and the keynote addresses of six high-level speakers. ◗ Chapters 2 to 5 include the summaries of the presentations given by global experts and representatives of stakeholders in the eight parallel sessions. ◗ Chapter 6 contains the statements delivered in the high-level ministerial segment by the representatives of six governments from different world regions and the closing remarks by the FAO Deputy Director-General, Ms Beth Bechdol. ◗ Chapter 7 contains the ten recommendations on Strategic Actions for the Green Development of Global Seed Industries identified by the Steering Committee of the conference. The two parallel sessions of the theme of "Advanced technologies" were titled "Modern plant breeding technologies" and "Emerging biotechnologies and informatics technologies", respectively. For the first session, there were four presentations, five brief interventions and a moderated discussion during which the presenters responded to participants’ questions. For the second session, there were four presentations, three brief interventions and another moderated discussion. During both parallel sessions, case studies were presented on the applications of novel technologies, especially molecular biology and related disciplines, to the conservation of, and research on, plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) and the development of progressively superior crop varieties. The techniques included genetic modification, genome editing, next generation sequencing, high-throughput phenotyping, genomics-assisted breeding technologies, synthetic biology, microbiome research, machine learning and artificial intelligence. 1 The video recordings of all the conference sessions, as well as the detailed programme, are available on the conference website, at www.fao.org/events/detail/global-conference-on-green-development-of-seed-industries/en ix  For the theme of "Conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture", the first of two parallel sessions was titled "The global conservation system". The first part of the session, dedicated to "The global conservation system – how it works", consisted of three presentations followed by a moderated discussion. The second part of the session, dedicated to "The global conservation system – what impact has it had?", included a conversation between the chair of the session and a representative of Indigenous Peoples; two presentations and a moderated discussion. The second parallel session was entitled "Access and benefit-sharing". Its first part consisted of five presentations while the second half consisted of a moderated discussion with five panellists, followed by a concluding presentation. The state of the art for, and experiences from, both the technical and normative domains of the safeguarding of PGRFA in nature (in situ); in genebanks (ex situ); and through the enhancement of on-farm diversity – in particular, by cultivating farmers’ varieties/landraces – were presented and discussed in these two parallel sessions. The first of the two parallel sessions dedicated to the theme of "Crop varietal development and adoption" was entitled "Accelerating genetic gains in crops". There were five presentations and a moderated discussion with five panellists. The second session, titled "Facilitated adoption of improved varieties by small-scale farmers", included five presentations and concluded with a discussion involving six panellists. The case studies presented in these parallel sessions dealt with the means for addressing the imperatives of the continuing development, dissemination and adoption of progressively improved crop varieties. Result-oriented plant breeding programmes typically adopted efficiency-enhancing scientific and technological methods to introduce desirable attributes into improved crop varieties. The adoption of new crop varieties was enhanced when farmers participated in the selection of such varieties or otherwise had their preferences reflected in the breeding objectives. The two parallel sessions dedicated to the theme of "Seed systems" were titled "System innovations in the seed value chain" and "Seed enterprise development and international trade", respectively. In the first parallel session, there were seven presentations, followed by a moderated discussion. For the second session, there were also seven presentations and a discussion involving four panellists. The coexistence of the so-called formal and informal seed sectors was underscored through the case studies that were presented and discussed in these two parallel sessions. Depending on the context, both seed sectors are means for farmers to access affordable quality seeds and planting materials of preferred and well-adapted crop varieties in timely manners. The interventions also demonstrated the multiplicity of actors in seed delivery systems, including the public and private sectors, farmers’ associations and cooperatives and community-based organizations. These actors thrived in settings where there were measures to ensure predictability, such as enforced laws, policies and regulations and the requisite institutional frameworks. In addition, the presentations that were delivered in the different thematic sessions highlighted the importance of policy and governance, which was the crosscutting theme for the conference. These presentations and discussions demonstrated that the deployment of appropriate scientific and technological methods by suitably strengthened institutions and personnel, within the context of nurturing laws, policies, regulations, incentives and partnerships, resulted in effective seed value chains that delivered context-relevant solutions to farmers. Annex 1 describes the roles and membership of the three conference organizational bodies – the Steering Committee, Scientific Advisory Panel and FAO Secretariat while Annex 2 contains the final conference programme. Jingyuan Xia Executive Secretary, Conference Secretariat and Director, Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO x  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The organization of the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries would not have been possible without the invaluable support and commitment of many people. Of particular note, the contributions of all the members of the three conference organizational bodies – the Steering Committee, Scientific Advisory Panel and Conference Secretariat – who are listed in Annex 1, were immeasurable. The members of the Steering Committee, chaired by the FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, and with the vice-chairs Yemi Akinbamijo, Marco Ferroni and Hanzhong Wang, discharged with distinction their role of providing strategic advice on all aspects of the conference. Their wise counsel ensured that the conference exceeded the expectations of most of the stakeholders. Similarly, the members of the Scientific Advisory Panel, which was chaired by the FAO Chief Scientist, Ismahane Elouafi, with Rachel Chikwamba and Niels Louwaars as vice-chairs, were stellar in deploying their significant expertise and breadth of experience to develop the programme for the conference. Deserving of special commendation are the co-leaders of the Panel’s working groups who developed the draft programme for two parallel sessions dedicated to each of the four conference themes, namely advanced technologies (Rajeev Varshney and Vittorio Venturi); conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (Lamis Chalak and Charlotte Lusty); crop varietal development and adoption (Emmanuel Okogbenin); and seed systems (Keshavulu Kunusoth and Niels Louwaars). Immense thanks are also due to Rachel Chikwamba and Long Mao, who co-led the working group on the overarching theme of policy and governance, which was embedded in the thematic sessions. The FAO Plant Production and Protection Division, led by the Director, Jingyuan Xia, provided the secretariat for the conference, which was responsible for the core technical and organizational activities for the event. In particular, the contributions of Wilson Hugo, Chikelu Mba, John Ruane and Chantal Wedge, who oversaw the day-to-day running of the secretariat, were invaluable. The secretariat was also responsible for the publication of these proceedings. All of the 116 people who served as chairs, panellists, presenters, moderators and rapporteurs of the different sessions discharged their duties most creditably. They ensured that a wide diversity of views and updated knowledge about green development of the seed industries were shared worldwide through this conference. Barbara Wells, the former CGIAR Global Director for Genetic Innovations, gave the keynote presentation in the parallel session, "accelerating genetic gains in crops", and most eloquently conveyed the message that new and improved crop varieties were strategic assets for sustainable development. Regrettably, she died on 16 February 2022. She leaves a towering legacy as an inspiring leader who contributed immensely to getting the benefits of crop improvement to underserved small-scale farmers in remote parts of developing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary to organize this conference, with its concurrent parallel sessions, as a virtual event. This was a significant undertaking that demonstrated the resilience of FAO’s information technology infrastructure and the expertise of those who supported the secretariat in using it. Also, the sterling resourcefulness, patience and flexibility of FAO’s audio-visual, communications and multilingual interpretation teams were instrumental in creating the conducive atmosphere in which the conference was held. The work of all these behind-the-scenes professionals is gratefully acknowledged. xi  ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ABS Access and benefit-sharing Bt Bacillus thuringiensis CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CIMMYT International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center CRISPR Clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats CRISPR/Cas CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein CRISPR/Cas9 CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid DSI Digital sequence information DUS Distinctness, uniformity and stability Embrapa Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation EWS-KT East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations GM Genetically modified GMO Genetically modified organism IRRI International Rice Research Institute ISF International Seed Federation ISTA International Seed Testing Association ITPGRFA International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture KEPHIS Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service Nagoya Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing Protocol of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity NGO Non-governmental organization OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development PCR Polymerase chain reaction PGRFA Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture PVP Plant variety protection QDS Quality declared seed R&D Research and development SADC Southern African Development Community SDG Sustainable Development Goal SNP Single nucleotide polymorphism UN United Nations UPOV International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants USDA United States Department of Agriculture VCU Value for cultivation and use xii  1. OPENING AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS PLENARY SESSION 1 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 Participants at the Opening and Keynote Addresses Plenary Session. From left to right, top row: Qu Dongyu, Beth Bechdol, Ismahane Elouafi and Jingyuan Xia; middle row: Fatma Ben Rejeb, Marco Ferroni, Mauricio Antonio Lopes and Michael Keller; bottom row: Hanzhong Wang and Rachel Chikwamba. 2 ©FAO 1. OPENING AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS PLENARY SESSION  1.1 Opening remarks Qu Dongyu FAO Director-General Excellencies, quality – with less – less inputs of resources and Ladies and gentlemen, less impacts on the environment. All the SDGs can be achieved, including SDG1 no poverty and SDG2 I start by saying congratulations for all your zero hunger. But we need to do things differently. efforts to make this global seed conference Business as usual is no longer an option. happen, 12 years after the previous one. FAO’s new Strategic Framework for 2022–2031 Good harvest depends on good seeds. The supports the 2030 Agenda. Through the world is facing a global population rise – that transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, is expected to reach about 10 billion by 2050! resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. For We need to produce 50 percent more food to better production, better nutrition, a better adequately feed everyone. environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. This Global Seed Conference will contribute The only way to achieve this target is by to the four betters, especially better production, increasing crop productivity, through science for which "better seeds" are fundamental. and innovation. Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States of America, There are no good crops without good seeds. and Janusz Wojciechowski, the European Union Seeds are the foundation of agrifood systems. Commissioner for Agriculture, made a statement We rely on seeds to produce food, feed, fibre, fuel, yesterday saying that increased productivity is and they contribute to a friendly environment. essential and that science and innovation will Seeds play a crucial role in promoting food bring about a more sustainable agriculture. And security and healthy foods, including food that the solutions have to be good for farmers, for quality and food safety. And in supporting consumers and for the planet. farmers’ livelihoods, economic growth and rural development. An improved and resilient crop With innovative technologies and new business variety can deliver a good and nutritious yield. models we can do so in a sustainable manner, to protect our planet, our limited natural resources We need green innovation for sustainable agrifood and biodiversity. And ensure profitability and systems – and to lay the path to green agriculture. social equality. We need to adapt our agrifood Green agriculture is a fundamental approach systems to mitigate the impacts of the climate for sustainable agrifood systems. It will ensure crisis, and to reduce our environmental footprint. food security, improve human well-being, create opportunities for employment and decent work for Food insecurity has been increasing over the all, and protect the planet, now and in the future. past six years. In 2020, almost 2 billion people did not have regular access to safe, nutritious and Today’s Global Conference focuses on the green sufficient food. And up to 811 million people are development of the seed industry, with four major currently facing hunger. objectives: We need to speed up action, be efficient and ◗ First, increase awareness of the contributions effective, and coherent. We must produce more – of the seed industry to green innovation for more quantity and more food diversity with higher sustainable crop production. 3 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 ◗ Second, promote cooperation among sectors, ◗ Four, seed systems: Fit-for-purpose seed especially as a means to enhance public–private systems for delivering context-specific cropping partnerships and international cooperation to systems solutions to farmers should become enable greater access to resources, and sharing the norm. of knowledge and information. ◗ Five, policy and governance: Effective policies, ◗ Third, commit to setting new priorities and legislation and regulations must be in place targets for mobilizing scientific, technical and to enable all relevant stakeholders to engage financial resources to strengthen seed systems. beneficially in the seed value chain. ◗ Fourth, encourage constructive debate on Governments are the key drivers to eradicate innovation and to share updated knowledge and hunger. They should launch national seed actions evidence – research and development are key to strengthen the seed value chain, and FAO will drivers for improved crop varieties. continue to support governments to develop and implement national policies, regulations and laws Dear colleagues, to create predictability and foster confidence in seed systems. FAO is a technical organization that generates, facilitates and promotes professional knowledge. Over the next couple of days, prominent speakers And provides a neutral global platform for will present their insights on developing and scientific and evidence-based knowledge sharing, delivering solutions to farmers, to set the scene including on affordable quality seeds, and for a robust exchange of ideas. Ministers from planting materials of well-adapted and nutritious different regions will share their thoughts on crop varieties. initiatives and policies aimed at making quality To support this work, we have identified five key seeds of priority productive, nutritious and themes to be covered over the next two days: resilient crop varieties available to farmers. ◗ One, advanced technologies, including modern Participants will discuss progress on the various biotechnologies, such as gene editing and aspects of the seed industry value chain and genetic improvement, are important tools for make recommendations to guide global work to generating superior crop varieties. promote the green development of global seed ◗ Two, conservation of plant genetic resources industries, in support of the 2030 Agenda. for food and agriculture, both in nature and in genebanks, and relevant data must be We only have nine harvests ahead of us before we made available for research and breeding reach our 2030 agenda. Let us sow the new seeds programmes. for a promising future now! FAO is committed to leverage the momentum generated by this ◗ Three, crop varietal development and adoption: conference to transform the evidence provided Plant breeding should be encouraged as it into action on the ground. generates progressively superior crop varieties adapted to different stress environments and Thank you. requiring less external inputs. 4 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 2.5 Gene editing of banana for disease resistance Leena Tripathi Eastern Africa Hub, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania Banana (Musa spp.), including plantain, is one Intensive efforts using genetic modification of the major staple food crops grown in over have developed improved banana varieties 136 countries in the subtropics and tropics, with with resistance to biotic stresses. However, the annual global production of around 163 million commercialization of genetically modified crops tonnes, feeding about 500 million people. It is a faces hurdles due to the complicated regulatory valuable food security and cash crop as it can be approval process. cultivated in diverse environments and produces fruits throughout the year in favourable weather CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has emerged conditions. as the most powerful tool for crop improvement due to its capability of creating precise Smallholder farmers mainly cultivate bananas alterations in plant genome and trait stacking for domestic consumption and local or regional through multiplexing. The availability of a well- markets; only about 15 percent of production annotated, whole genome sequence of bananas enters international markets. Africa contributes coupled with established genetic transformation one-third of the world’s production, with East regeneration protocols makes the banana a Africa being the most significant banana-growing strong candidate for gene editing. region accounting for about 40 percent of the total output in Africa. Its production is constrained Recently, the robust CRISPR/Cas9-based genome mainly by diseases and pests in addition to other editing of bananas has been established using factors like declining soil fertility, narrow genetic the phytoene desaturase (PDS) as a visual marker diversity in germplasm and inadequate availability gene. The establishment of the CRISPR/Cas9 tool of clean planting material. has paved the way for the application of genome editing for the improvement of bananas for The production is significantly reduced by many important traits such as disease-resistance. bacterial, fungal and viral diseases such as banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW), moko disease, The CRISPR/Cas9-based editing was applied to blood disease, black Sigatoka, yellow Sigatoka inactivate the integrated endogenous banana fusarium wilt, banana bunchy top disease and streak virus (eBSV), a double-stranded DNA banana streak disease, and pests like nematodes badnavirus, integrated into the B genome of and weevils. The use of disease-resistant banana plantain (AAB), overcoming a major challenge varieties is one of the most effective options to in breeding and the dissemination of hybrids. mitigate the negative impacts of pathogens and Banana streak virus sequences integrate into pests in banana production. the host plant genome as eBSV, and under the stress conditions such as temperature change, Developing improved varieties of bananas using drought, hybridization and micropropagation, conventional breeding is challenging because of the integrated virus sequences get activated the low genetic variability in Musa germplasm, and produce the infectious episomal form of polyploidy, lengthy production cycle and sterility BSV, and plants develop symptoms. The gene of the majority of the cultivars commonly grown edited events of plantain ‘Gonja Manjaya’ were by farmers. Modern breeding tools, including generated with mutations in the targeted genetic modification and genome editing, can sites of integrated eBSV sequences in the host be applied to improve bananas bypassing the genome. Sequencing and phenotyping of the natural bottlenecks of traditional breeding. edited events showed targeted mutations and 42 2. PARALLEL SESSIONS: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES  confirmed the inactivation of eBSV for its ability boosted by developing science-based guidelines, to be converted into infectious viral particles. which will treat the gene edited varieties similar to those generated through conventional breeding, The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture particularly where no foreign gene is inserted. is currently advancing the application of gene The gene edited crop varieties lacking any editing to control BXW, the most destructive foreign gene remain indistinguishable from those banana disease in East Africa. This disease, developed through traditional breeding. caused by the Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) bacteria, can be controlled Genome edited crop varieties with no foreign gene by disrupting the function of disease-causing integration are not regulated as GMOs in several susceptibility (‘S’) genes, nutrient transporters, or countries such as Argentina, Australia, Chile, negative regulators of plant defence. The target Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Honduras, genes have been identified through the literature Guatemala, Canada, Japan and the United States or comparative transcriptomics of BXW-resistant of America. Africa is also making progress in wild progenitor banana ‘Musa balbisiana’ and creating the enabling environment for the BXW-susceptible banana cultivar during early commercialization of gene edited crop varieties. infection with Xcm. Recently, we demonstrated In Africa, Nigeria is the first country to publish the that disruption of the banana orthologue of the national biosafety guidelines for the regulation downy mildew resistance 6 (MusaDMR6) gene of gene editing. Kenya has recently approved showed enhanced resistance to BXW disease. the regulatory guidelines for gene editing. Many Knocking down of MusaDMR6 had no detrimental countries are still in the process of developing effects on plant growth. regulatory guidelines for gene edited products. There is a need for the coordination of regulatory The advances in gene editing have the potential approaches globally. to develop disease-resistant varieties of bananas, which will contribute to food security, particularly A synopsis of recent advancements in the in Africa. However, the commercialization of application of gene editing of bananas will gene edited products has some challenges due be presented during this conference. It will to the regulation of genome edited products in also briefly describe the status of regulatory various countries. The use of gene editing in crop requirements for the release of gene edited crop improvement programmes for bananas will be varieties in different countries. 43 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 6.7 Closing remarks Beth Bechdol FAO Deputy Director-General On behalf of the Director-General, I would like Over these generations, my family has been to make some observations and remarks, before fortunate – and even blessed – to have a high bringing this conference to a close. degree of certainty as to when, where, how and at what cost the next year’s supply of seeds would be Honourable Ministers, sourced. This is the certainty that every farmer in Excellencies, every part of the world deserves. I am glad to note Distinguished Guests and Participants, that this conference is a step in the right direction Ladies and Gentlemen, for FAO to achieve this aim for all. We have reached the end of this milestone The conference has brought together participants event and I would like to thank the distinguished from different segments of the sector, with speakers we had the pleasure to listen to yesterday very different backgrounds. But, they all had and today, as well as everyone in the audience something in common – their willingness to work who participated in the discussions. My sincere together, and to find solutions. These two days appreciation to all participants of today’s high-level have demonstrated that we have the making of segment for their excellent interventions that have something very great here. A new way of working. I greatly enriched this conference. am convinced that we are moving beyond some of the traditional and even “entrenched” approaches And a special thanks goes to our organizing team that have prevailed due to different interests. from the Plant Production and Protection Division for preparing the sessions and facilitating the As many speakers mentioned, this conference has dialogue. Thank you to Dr Xia and all my colleagues come at a very opportune time. As we begin to for their valuable contributions and active implement our FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, engagement over the past two days – but also over its theme of seeds could not be more appropriate. the past weeks and months. They are the foundation of our agrifood systems. We heard inspiring messages from many different The positive impacts of this conference are actors working across the agricultural value truly encouraging. The keynote addresses were chain, as they discussed the future of the seed informative and visionary. The parallel sessions industry in a climate-changing world. These voices showcased the latest achievements gained included farmers and scientists, policymakers and and the best lessons learned. And, our work on researchers. We participated in rich discussions seeds received political endorsement in the illustrating the essential role of seeds in agriculture high-level ministerial segment. The ten conference and food production, and we heard about concrete recommendations will sharpen our focus as we examples and solutions for farmers. strive to promote the green development of global seed industries moving towards the 2030 Agenda. I will share that this is a deeply personal topic for me. As the daughter of a farmer, the seventh So, what did we hear during these two days? This generation of our family farm in rural Indiana, I do conference delivered reasons for optimism and understand the power of an individual seed – what concrete solutions for farmers on ways to address that seed means to a farmer, to her or his families the numerous challenges that were presented. Let and their livelihoods, and what it ultimately me share a few of my thoughts. delivers to our planet, especially to our soil and water, and to the people of the world. 146 6. HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL SEGMENT AND CLOSING PLENARY SESSION  First, Scientific Innovation. It has been repeatedly generated by this conference and to translate the demonstrated that research and development is evidence provided into action on the ground. More a key driver to deliver improved crop varieties. It specifically: is evident that seeds, particularly quality ones, do not just happen. They are made, developed We will continue to provide technical support and strengthened through a process of several through our usual mechanisms, including from our distinct, yet interwoven steps. regular budget and extra-budgetary resources. I urge all development partners to support We will share information and support the research and development in plant breeding exchange of genetic resources. FAO will drive and genetics, as well as the conservation of information dissemination on enhanced access plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, to quality seeds, and continuously advocate for, especially through strengthened institutional and and support access to, plant genetic resources for human capacities. food and agriculture. Second, Farmers’ Capacity. Farmers, especially We will encourage and convene policy dialogues. small-scale farmers in remote parts of low- and Taking advantage of our longstanding normative middle-income countries, cannot produce essential processes, FAO will remain at the forefront of food because they lack access to the most critical standard setting and building international input – seeds. I call upon governments and consensus, including through international seed development partners to remove these constraints trade. and strengthen the capacities for farmers to have this access to quality seeds. And, we will support countries and national governments to develop and implement Third, Seed Industries. The private sector is national policies, regulations and laws to create a key partner and a most formidable ally in predictability and ultimately foster confidence in promoting agriculture development. This is seed systems. one of the reasons that FAO has developed a new Strategy for Private Sector Engagement. I I believe that civil society, research and academia, challenge industry and private sector colleagues governments, development agencies and the to adopt a vastly different business model to the private sector agree that farmers deserve the norm – and to be co-creators of solutions that seeds that they trust will deliver solutions. ensure everyone is well-fed and guaranteed a respectable livelihood. Yes, there are different opinions as to how best to arrive at this goal. But, I am confident that even Fourth, Government Policy. The role of these differences can be bridged. They pale in governments, who are in the driver’s seat to comparison to the benefits that can be achieved eradicate hunger, cannot be overemphasized. I by working together. suggest that governments launch national seed actions as a means to strengthen the entire seed It is for this reason that FAO commits to bringing value chain. all of us together to translate the evidence provided through this conference into action on And, fifth, International Cooperation. As an the ground, which will ensure that farmers have African proverb tells us, ‘if you want to go fast, access to the full benefits of quality seeds. And go alone; but if you want to go far, go together’. this will require cooperation… from all of us! International cooperation, at global and regional levels, enables greater access to resources and With this, I declare the 2021 Global Conference on permits the sharing of knowledge and information. Green Development of Seed Industries officially closed. I wish everyone a good day and a good As I close, let me convey to you the commitment evening and look forward to working more closely from everyone at FAO to leverage the momentum together in the future. 147 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 148  7. CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS 149 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 150 © FAO/Giulio Napolitano 7. CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATIONS  Recommendations from the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries held at FAO headquarters on 4 and 5 November 2021 FAO hosted the Global Conference on Green 1. Adopt innovations that harness appropriate Development of Seed Industries virtually on 4 and scientific and technological advancements, 5 November 2021, which was attended by over in particular through the convergence of 2200 participants from 126 FAO Members. The institutions, infrastructures, policies and overall objective of the Conference was to provide regulatory frameworks and partnerships along a neutral forum for FAO Members and all key the seed value chain – from the conservation stakeholders to discuss evidence-based solutions of plant genetic resources for food and to the problems that constrain farmers’ access to agriculture, through their use in breeding quality seeds and planting materials of preferred progressively superior crop varieties, to the productive, nutritious and resilient crop varieties. availability and use of affordable quality Strategically, the event was a means to identify seeds – as means to develop and deliver priority interventions for the implementation of context-specific solutions to farmers. relevant aspects of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–31 aimed at the transformation to more 2. Strengthen institutional and human capacities efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable for the judicious use of the advances in agrifood systems for better production, better agricultural biotechnologies – in particular nutrition, a better environment and a better genetic modification, genome editing, induced life, thus contributing to the achievement of the mutagenesis, high-throughput screening, United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals genomics-assisted breeding, systems biology, (SDGs), especially SDGs 2 and 1. synthetic biology, next-generation sequencing and cell biology – and informatics and data The two-day event had an opening plenary analytics to enhance plant breeding and the session, which was headlined by the conservation of crop diversity. Director-General of FAO, Dr Qu Dongyu, and featured six keynote addresses. The closing 3. Create the enabling environment at national, plenary session included a high-level ministerial regional and global levels, through appropriate segment. In between, there were eight parallel national policies, laws and regulations and sessions – two for each of the four themes, regional and international agreements, for advanced technologies; conservation of plant enhanced capacities to access and use advanced genetic resources for food and agriculture; crop technologies safely for generating improved crop varietal development and adoption; and seed varieties and safeguarding crop diversity. systems. A fifth theme, policy and governance, was crosscutting. 4. Safeguard crop genetic resources in their natural habitats, in genebanks and through Stakeholders adjudged the event as timely, enhanced on-farm diversity; characterize informative, inclusive and inspiring. Based on their heritable variations; evaluate them the inspiring outcomes, the Steering Committee for agronomic performance; and improve of the Conference identified the following ten associated documentation and data recommendations on Strategic Actions for the management systems. Green Development of Global Seed Industries: 151 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 5. Enhance access to, including through 9. Enforce effective national policies, laws exchanges across national boundaries in and regulatory frameworks and regional keeping with appropriate phytosanitary and international agreements, and measures, and use of, crop diversity, especially support effective institutions, including in for research and for breeding progressively collaboration with relevant international superior crop varieties, while enabling the fair organizations, to incentivize innovations along and equitable sharing of their benefits. the seed value chain, in order to enhance the demand for, and supply of, quality seeds and 6. Breed a diverse portfolio of well-adapted planting materials of preferred crop varieties, progressively superior crop varieties, which including through regional and international are more nutritious, produce higher yields with trade. fewer external inputs, are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, fit the farming systems 10. Accord high priority to the development and satisfy the needs of consumers and and strengthening of the seed value end-users under worsening climate change chain, especially through the inclusion of scenarios. sector-specific provisions, for instance ‘seed action’ – which outlines strategic interventions 7. Disseminate information on improved crop – in overarching national plans and policies varieties, create the enabling environment and associated budgetary support and for effective information sharing – through encourage private sector investment across effective policies, laws, regulations and multiple sectors for the development of incentives – and strengthen institutional sustainable agricultural and food systems. and farmers’ capacities for the widespread adoption and use of these elite materials in Governments, development partners and all cropping systems. stakeholders along the seed value chain are called upon to implement these strategic actions, 8. Develop capacities along the seed value chain publicize them widely through appropriate – from production, through quality assurance, electronic and print media, incorporate them into to marketing via diversified seed enterprises advocacy materials and provide feedback to FAO. and related service providers – so that farmers have timely access to enough quantities For further information and engagement, please of affordable quality seeds and planting contact the Director of FAO’s Plant Production and materials of the improved crop varieties that Protection Division: NSP-Director@fao.org are most suited to their production systems and end use. 152  ANNEX 1. CONFERENCE ORGANIZATIONAL BODIES 153 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 154 © FAO/Mustafa Saeed / Arete ANNEX 1. CONFERENCE ORGANIZATIONAL BODIES  The Global Conference on Green Development ◗ Robert Delve, Lead Global Technical Advisor of Seed Industries was organized by FAO with (Agronomy), Sustainable Production, Markets the support of a Steering Committee, a Scientific and Institutions Division, International Fund for Advisory Panel, and a Secretariat. Agricultural Development STEERING COMMITTEE ◗ Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist, FAO The Steering Committee had the following ◗ Michael Keller, Secretary General, International responsibilities: provide advice on all aspects of Seed Federation the conference, provide advice to the Scientific Advisory Panel regarding the programme, act as ◗ Alberto Lipparini, Secretary General, Italian the event’s ambassador among the respective Seed Association (Assosementi) organizations/networks/countries of the Steering Committee members, encourage people to attend ◗ Mauricio Lopes, Research Scientist, Embrapa the conference, and provide advice on potential Agroenergy, Embrapa follow-up to the conference. ◗ Kent Nnadozie, Secretary, International Treaty Composition on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, FAO Chair: ◗ Fatma Ben Rejeb, Chief Executive Officer, ◗ Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO Pan-African Farmers’ Organization Vice-Chairs: ◗ Rakesh K. Singh, Program Leader and Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding), Crop Diversification ◗ Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, Forum for and Genetics, International Center for Biosaline Agricultural Research in Africa, Ghana Agriculture ◗ Marco Ferroni, Chair, CGIAR System Board ◗ Jingyuan Xia, Director, FAO Plant Production and Protection Division ◗ Hanzhong Wang, Vice President, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Members: ◗ Lorena Basso, President, Argentinian Seed Association and President, Seed Association of the Americas ◗ Robert Bertram, Chief Scientist, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, United States Agency for International Development 155 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL ◗ Shaun Ferris, Senior Technical Advisor, Agriculture/Livelihoods and Markets, Catholic The Scientific Advisory Panel had the specific role Relief Services of developing a draft programme covering the main conference themes. In doing so, the panel ◗ Csaba Gaspar, Programme Manager, OECD Seed provided proposals for the names of potential Schemes keynote speakers, presenters, panellists and chairs for the different sessions, ensuring gender ◗ Keshavulu Kunusoth, Director, Telangana State and geographical balance in the proposals. For Seed and Organic Certification Authority, India each of the five conference themes, working (Co-lead conference theme 4: Seed systems) groups were established, with two co-leads for each working group. ◗ Charlotte Lusty, Head of Programs and Genebank Platform Coordinator, Global Crop Diversity Trust Composition (Co-lead conference theme 2: Conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture) Chair: ◗ Long Mao, Head, Research Group of Wheat Complex Traits Dissection, Institute of Crop ◗ Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist, FAO Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Vice-Chairs: Sciences (Co-lead conference theme 5: Policy and governance) ◗ Rachel Chikwamba, Group Executive: Chemicals, Agriculture, Food and Health, Council for ◗ Cathie Martin, Professor, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, the United Africa (Co-lead conference theme 5: Policy and Kingdom governance) ◗ Nigel Maxted, Professor of Plant Genetic Conservation, School of Biosciences, University ◗ Niels Louwaars, Director of Plantum, the of Birmingham, the United Kingdom Netherlands Seed Association, the Netherlands (Co-lead conference theme 4: Seed systems) ◗ Chikelu Mba, Team Leader, Seeds and Plant Genetic Resources, FAO Members: ◗ Peter Okoth Mbogo, Senior Maize Breeder, Seed ◗ Maria Andrade, Sweet potato breeder and 2016 Co, Kenya World Food Prize winner, International Potato Centre ◗ John McMurdy, Vice-President of Innovation and Development, CropLife International ◗ Vivienne Anthony, Senior Scientific Advisor, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable ◗ Emmanuel Okogbenin, Director, Programme Agriculture. Development and Commercialization, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (Lead conference theme 3: Crop varietal development ◗ Peter Button, Vice Secretary-General, UPOV and adoption) ◗ Lamis Chalak, Professor, Head of Plant ◗ Tilabilenji Phiri, Senior Programmes Officer, Production Department, Faculty of Agronomy, In-Situ Conservation and SADC Seed Centre The Lebanese University (Co-lead conference Coordinator, SADC Plant Genetic Resource theme 2: Conservation of plant genetic Centre resources for food and agriculture) ◗ Martin Ekvad, Former President, Community Plant Variety Office 156 ANNEX 1. CONFERENCE ORGANIZATIONAL BODIES  ◗ Alison Powell, Chair of the ISTA Seed Science Coordination: Advisory Group to the ISTA Executive Committee and Chair of the ISTA Vigour Technical ◗ Ndeye Ndack Diop, Agricultural Officer Committee ◗ Stefano Diulgheroff, Information Management ◗ Sobhana Sivasankar, Section Head, Plant Officer Breeding and Genetics, Joint FAO-IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture ◗ Bonnie Furman, Agricultural Officer ◗ Rajeev Varshney, Research Program Director, ◗ Wilson Hugo, Agricultural Officer International Crops Research Institute for the SemiArid Tropics & Adjunct Professor, Food ◗ Haekoo Kim, Technical Adviser Futures Institute, Murdoch University (Co-lead conference theme 1: Advanced technologies) ◗ Preetmoninder Lidder, Technical Adviser ◗ Vittorio Venturi, ICGEB Scientific Coordinator ◗ Shawn McGuire, Agricultural Officer and Group Leader, Bacteriology and Strains4Plants, International Centre for Genetic ◗ Arshiya Noorani, Agricultural Officer Engineering and Biotechnology (Co-lead conference theme 1: Advanced technologies) ◗ Lucio Olivero, Seed Specialist SECRETARIAT ◗ John Ruane, Senior Agricultural Innovation Specialist The FAO Secretariat was in charge of the organization of the conference, including its ◗ Alexandra Sokolova, Programme Officer programme, logistics and communication. Communication: Composition ◗ Maria Soledad Fernández González, Digital Executive Secretary: Communication Specialist ◗ Jingyuan Xia, Director, Plant Production and Protection Division ◗ Mirko Montuori, Communication Officer Deputy Executive Secretary: ◗ Ginevra Virgili, Graphic Designer ◗ Rémi Nono Womdim, Deputy Director, Plant Production and Protection Division Operations: General Coordinator: ◗ Alessia Laurenza, Clerk Typist ◗ Chikelu Mba, Team Leader, Seeds and Plant Genetic Resources ◗ Elena Rotondo, Office Assistant ◗ Sara Tripodi, Office Assistant ◗ Juliet Upton, Office Assistant ◗ Chantal Wedge, Intern 157 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 158  ANNEX 2. CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 159 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 160 ©© FFAAOO//GGiiuusseeppppee BBiizzzzaarrrrii ANNEX 2. CONFERENCE PROGRAMME  Thursday, 4 November 2021 09.30-10.00 PLENARY SESSION 1: OPENING Moderator: Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO Opening remarks QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO 10.00-12.30 PLENARY SESSION 2: KEYNOTE ADDRESSES Moderator: Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist, FAO Section A: Developing solutions for farmers • Solutions for small-scale farmers Fatma Ben Rejeb, Chief Executive Officer, Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) • Advanced technologies impacting the green development of seed industries Mauricio Lopes, Research Scientist, Embrapa Agroenergy, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Brazil • Crop improvement, better seed – From conservation of crop biodiversity to impactful use Marco Ferroni, Chair, CGIAR System Board • Discussion Section B: Delivering solutions to farmers • Seed systems as enablers to seed choice Michael Keller, Secretary General, International Seed Federation (ISF) • The green development of China's seed industry Hanzhong Wang, Vice President, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), China • Policies and governance: Providing clarity and coherence to shape a robust and inclusive seed industry Rachel Chikwamba, Group Executive for Chemicals, Agriculture, Food and Health, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa • Discussion Break 12.30-13.30 161 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 Thursday, 4 November 2021 PARALLEL SESSIONS: THEME 1 AND 2 Theme 1: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES 13.30-15.30 Session 1.1 Modern plant breeding technologies Co-Chairs: • Rajeev K Varshney, Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Professor, Murdoch University, Australia • Cathrine Ziyomo, Senior Scientist, BECA-ILRI Hub, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Break 15.30-16.00 16.00-18.00 Session 1.2 Emerging biotechnologies and informatics technologies Co-Chairs: • Vittorio Venturi, Scientific Coordinator and Group Leader, Bacteriology and Strains4Plants, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) • Sobhana Sivasankar, Section Head, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Joint FAO-IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Theme 2: CONSERVATION OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 13.30-15.30 Session 2.1 The global conservation system Co-Chairs: • Charlotte Lusty, Head of Programs and Genebank Platform Coordinator, Global Crop Diversity Trust • Lamis Chalak, Professor, Head of Plant Production Department, Faculty of Agronomy, The Lebanese University, Lebanon Break 15.30-16.00 16.00-18.00 Session 2.2 Access and benefit-sharing Co-Chairs: • Lamis Chalak, Professor, Head of Plant Production Department, Faculty of Agronomy, The Lebanese University, Lebanon. • Charlotte Lusty, Head of Programs and Genebank Platform Coordinator, Global Crop Diversity Trust 162 ANNEX 2. CONFERENCE PROGRAMME  Friday, 5 November 2021 PARALLEL SESSIONS: THEME 3 AND 4 Theme 3: CROP VARIETAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION 9.00-11.00 Session 3.1 Accelerating genetic gains in crops Co-Chairs: • Emmanuel Okogbenin, Director, Programme Development and Commercialization, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) • Idah Sithole Niang, Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe 11.30-13.30 Session 3.2 Facilitated adoption of improved varieties by small-scale farmers Co-Chairs: • Maryke Labuschagne, Professor in Plant Breeding, University of the Free State, South Africa • Maria Andrade, Sweet Potato Breeder, International Potato Centre (CIP) PARALLEL SESSIONS: THEME 3 AND 4 Theme 4: SEED SYSTEMS 9.00-11.00 Session 4.1 System innovations in the seed value chain Co-Chairs: • Martin Ekvad, Former President, Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) • Alison Powell, Chair, International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Seed Science Advisory Group to the ISTA Executive Committee and Chair, ISTA Vigour Technical Committee 11.30-13.30 Session 4.2: Seed enterprise development and international trade Co-Chairs: • Keshavulu Kunusoth, Director, Telangana State Seed & Organic Certification Authority, India and Vice President, International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) • Shaun Ferris, Senior Technical Advisor, Agriculture/Livelihoods and Markets, Catholic Relief Services Break 13.30-14.30 163 Proceedings of the Global Conference  on Green Development of Seed Industries 4–5 November 2021 Friday, 5 November 2021 14.30-16.00 PLENARY SESSION 3: REPORTS ON CONFERENCE THEMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Moderator: Jingyuan Xia, Director, FAO Plant Production and Protection Division Reports on conference themes • Theme 1: Advanced technologies Rajeev K. Varshney, Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Professor, Murdoch University, Australia • Theme 2: Conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture Charlotte Lusty, Head of Programs and Genebank Platform Coordinator, Global Crop Diversity Trust Lamis Chalak, Professor, Head of Plant Production Department, Faculty of Agronomy, The Lebanese University, Lebanon • Theme 3: Crop varietal development and adoption Emmanuel Okogbenin, Director, Programme Development and Commercialization, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) • Theme 4: Seed systems Keshavulu Kunusoth, Director, Telangana State Seed & Organic Certification Authority (TSSOCA), India and Vice President, International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Report on conference recommendations • Recommendations Long Mao, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences 16.00-17.30 PLENARY SESSION 4: HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL SEGMENT AND CLOSING Moderator: Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO High-level ministerial segment • Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, United States of America • Zhang Taolin, Vice Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the People’s Republic of China • Marije Beens, Director-General for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Kingdom of the Netherlands • Jorge Solmi, Secretary of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Argentina • Julian Jaftha, Chief Director, Plant Production and Health, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa • Mohamed Ali Fahim, Director, Climate Change Information Center, Egypt Concluding remarks Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO 164  165 This book represents the proceedings of the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries which FAO organized in a virtual format on 4 and 5 November 2021. Coming 12 years after the previous World Seed Conference, FAO convened the conference to provide a neutral forum for its Members, partners, industry leaders, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to engage in focused dialogues on how best to make quality seeds and planting materials of preferred productive, nutritious and resilient crop varieties available to farmers, especially in food insecure parts of the world. The proceedings provide a record of the main highlights of the conference, including the opening and keynote address plenary session, a high-level ministerial segment and eight parallel sessions dedicated to the four conference themes of advanced technologies, conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, crop varietal development and adoption, and seed systems. The fifth conference theme, policy and governance, was crosscutting. The conference was timely, informative, inclusive and inspiring and its successful convening creates an important momentum to facilitate the development and delivery of the solutions that enable farmers to have access to quality seeds and planting materials of improved crop varieties. ISBN 978-92-5-136706-3 9 7 8 9 2 5 1 3 6 7 0 6 3 CC1220EN/1/10.22