Innovations in seed technology, like herbicide tolerance and improved weed control, have already resulted in over 300 million tonnes of CO2 sequestration over the past 25 years. That’s the equivalent of the annual emissions of the state of California.
And with the exciting development of genome editing, plant breeders have the potential to develop seed varieties that can increase the efficiency of carbon capture, provide resistance to pests and pathogens, and even accelerate the domestication of new crop species.
We must equip farmers, large and small, with the knowledge and tools they need to build the foundations of truly sustainable food systems.
Farmers need access to more tools to support a robust and flexible response to a changing climate that affects both their own farms and the broader landscape.
However, to make a difference, innovations in agricultural technologies and practices must reach the field in a timely manner. For example, it takes an average of 16.5 years for a GM crop to get to market while it takes approximately 11 years to get a new pesticide to market and these long timetables translate into lost innovation and delayed opportunities. We work globally with our members to promote better regulatory and trade policies that nurture responsible innovation, provide fair access to technologies, and ensure their responsible and effective use.