Change: to make different in some particular; to make radically different; to give a different position, course, or direction to. Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. LAST JUNE, Britain voted to leave the European Union. In November, Donald Trump won the American presidency. In January, the United States withdrew from the Trans- Pacific Partnership, which could now be resurrected as senior officials from the other 11 Pacific Rim nations recently gathered to discuss moving forward without the U.S. This doesn’t include the half-dozen other geopolitical actions that made the headlines in 2016: Brazil and South Korea impeached their presidents, Eastern Aleppo fell and the military coup in Turkey failed. Couple those events with changing communication technologies, such as the immediacy and reach of Twitter, and how policymakers' decision-making is influenced by public opinion. “Altogether, this represents a huge change in our busi- ness environment and creates a great deal of uncertainty,” says Jean-Christophe (JC) Gouache, International Seed Federation (ISF) president. Additionally, Gouache — who is in the second of a two-year term as president — notes two other significant trends: the increasing progress in science and intensified concentration and consolidation within the seed industry. “What is the role of ISF in such a fast-changing world, and how do those changes impact the seed industry?” Gouache asks. “As the world transforms, so must we in our approach to be effective.” Gouache and ISF Secretary-General Michael Keller agree the key priorities set forth by the ISF Strategic Objectives 2016-2020 plan are critical to federation mem- bers. These include the international movement of seed, innovation, intellectual property rights, biodiversity and engagement. AWORLDOFCHANGE In a global environment that seems to be changing at an unprecedented pace, leaders question if the traditional tactics used to meet the mission of the International Seed Federation are enough. Julie Deering / SeedWorld.com 28 GERMINATION.CA JULY 2017