World Seed Congress opens in Lisbon with record attendance

By AI, Created 12:58 PM UTC, May 16, 2026, /AGP/ – More than 1,700 delegates from over 75 countries have gathered in Lisbon for the 2026 World Seed Congress as the global seed sector confronts trade disruptions, climate shocks and food insecurity. The meeting is focused on joint action, innovation and policy coordination to keep seed innovation moving across borders.

Why it matters: - The global seed industry is meeting at a time when trade disruptions, conflicts and climate extremes are putting food security under pressure. - Seed innovation is a major driver of crop yield gains, but the system depends on cross-border movement of germplasm, testing and commercial production. - The outcome matters for farmers, seed companies and food systems in regions already facing hunger and climate stress.

What happened: - The 2026 World Seed Congress opened in Lisbon on May 18 and runs through May 20 at the Lisbon Congress Centre. - The International Seed Federation is hosting the event with the Portuguese Seed Association, ANSEME. - More than 1,700 delegates and guests from more than 75 countries are attending, representing over 900 companies and organizations. - The Congress is being held under the theme “Joint Actions, Resilient Futures.”

The details: - The Congress program includes panel discussions on the global outlook for seed markets. - Sessions will cover regulatory alignment on plant breeding innovation and new genomic techniques. - The agenda also includes the biodiversity framework for global plant genetic resources. - The Congress will feature the launch of the ISF Social Responsibility Guidelines. - Organizers will present a blueprint for inclusive seed systems. - Michael Keller, ISF Secretary General, said the scale of attendance reflects the seed sector’s belief that collaboration, innovation and joint action are practical responses to global challenges. - Arthur Santosh Attavar, ISF President and managing chair of Indo-American Hybrid Seeds, said seed companies invest up to 30 percent of turnover in research and development. - Attavar said ISF is working with national and regional seed associations and governments to create policy environments that help innovations reach farmers quickly and without unnecessary restrictions. - S&P Global Commodity Insights says seed innovations account for 74 percent of crop yield gains in the European Union. - The Congress comes as an estimated 700 million people worldwide, mainly in Africa and Western Asia, still face hunger each year. - Experts warn that a predicted El Niño event in mid-2026 could push an additional 132 million people into food and nutrition insecurity within five years. - In 2025, two famines were declared in a single year for the first time.

Between the lines: - The record turnout suggests the seed sector is treating geopolitical uncertainty as a reason to coordinate, not to pull back. - Lisbon also gives the Congress a symbolic bridge to Portuguese-speaking markets, where agriculture is important and food insecurity remains acute. - The focus on regulation, biodiversity and social responsibility shows the industry is trying to pair innovation with policy legitimacy.

What’s next: - Delegates are expected to use the Congress to push for smoother rules on seed trade and breeding innovation. - The Lisbon meetings may shape industry positions on new genomic techniques, plant genetic resources and inclusive seed systems. - More information about the ISF World Seed Congress 2026 is available online.

The bottom line: - The seed industry is using its biggest annual gathering to argue that faster innovation and tighter international cooperation are now essential to food security.