The International Seed Federation kicks off 2015 World Seed Congress

On 25 May, The International Seed Federation kicked off its 2015 World Seed Congress in Kraków, Poland, with more than 1,600 seed industry professionals — a new record — gathering to discuss issues that cross borders.

The first South American ISF president, Alvaro Eyzaguirre, welcomed attendees to the 66th congress during the opening ceremony. The theme of this year’s congress is “Sharing a Passion for Nature.”

“It is incredible to think that something as small as the seed has such an incredible impact,” Eyzaguirre says, noting the incredible challenges that agriculture is up against — climate change, public misperceptions and the need to increase food production to meet the demands of a growing global population. Eyzaguirre adds that the leadership and members of ISF share a commitment to finding a solution to these challenges.

He went on to say that ISF has a key role to play in uniting voices around the world. “The demand for agriculture is unrelenting,” Eyzaguirre says. “But people don’t understand what ag is doing to serve the world. I believe that we can and will continue to contribute solutions for food security.”

During the opening ceremony, participants learned about Poland’s rich history, it’s seed industry and about the future direction of the ISF.