ISF World Seed Congress 2025

The ISF World Seed Congress 2025 is an annual trade show and networking event for the seed industry, taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 19-21. It is hosted by the International Seed Federation (ISF) and the Turkish National Organizing Committee. The congress will feature discussions on industry challenges, networking opportunities, and the chance to showcase and discover innovative products.

The Crop Trust, in collaboration with the International Plant Treaty, will host a Channel World Seed session, broadcast live from a TV studio in the heart of the congress exhibition area. 

Funding the Conservation of Crop Diversity Worldwide

Only by safeguarding crop diversity in perpetuity, and making it available for use by researchers, plant breeders and farmers, can we adapt agriculture to the climate crisis, reduce environmental degradation, improve livelihoods, and feed everyone adequately. It is against this background that the International Plant Treaty and the Crop Trust are working through innovative funding mechanisms such as the Treaty’s Benefit Sharing Fund and the Trust’s Endowment. Negotiations have been ongoing for some years on the revision of the Treaty’s Multilateral System of Access and Benefit Sharing focusing largely on how user-based income to the Benefit Sharing Fund can be enhanced. At the same time, the Crop Trust continues to grow its pool of government, foundation and the private sector supporters of its Endowment Fund. Join us in a short conversation on how these different funds operate, relate to each other and aim to support crop diversity in perpetuity.

Speakers:

• Alwin Kopse, Chair of the Eleventh Session of the International Treaty’s Governing Body 
• Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director, Crop Trust
• Moderator: Claire Taylor

A link to the live stream will be shared here soon.