In order for us to have resilient cropping systems to underwrite the 50 percent increase in food production required to feed and nourish an ever-increasing human population in the face of global challenges such as climate change and the finite and dwindling natural resources, farmers should use quality seeds and planting materials of well-adapted, climate-smart crop varieties. However, genetic gains, i.e. improvements in yield, productivity, production and quality, through the cultivation of new improved crop varieties, are not being fully exploited by those who need them the most – the farmers.

To enable farmers to benefit from genetic gains, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works with its Members and diverse stakeholders to:

• Deploy the most appropriate scientific and technological advances for research and development.
• Safeguard the sources of the desirable crop traits.
• Make available a diverse suite of progressively superior crop varieties to farmers.
• Enhance farmers’ access to quality seeds and planting materials.
• Create the enabling environment for diverse partners to provide effective solutions.

On 4 and 5 November, the Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries organized by FAO will serve as a neutral forum for FAO Members, partners, industry and opinion leaders, and other stakeholders to engage in focused dialogues on how to make quality seeds of preferred productive, nutritious and resilient crop varieties available to farmers. In addition, this virtual event will generate evidence for actions towards the realization of the goals of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31: for the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life.

The conference is made up of plenary sessions (opening, keynote addresses, reports on conference themes and recommendations, high-level ministerial segment and closing), and eight parallel sessions, two for each of the 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, is embedded in these sessions.

The event will be webcast live here. The detailed programme can be found here.
Registrations for different sessions are available in the following links:

• Plenary Sessions (Opening, keynote addresses, reports on conference themes and recommendations, high-level ministerial segment and closing)
• Theme 1: Advanced technologies, Parallel Sessions 1.1 & 1.2
• Theme 2: Conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, Parallel Sessions 2.1 & 2.2
• Theme 3: Crop varietal development and adoption, Parallel Sessions 3.1 & 3.2
• Theme 4: Seed systems, Parallel Sessions 4.1 & 4.2