b'plant different types of food for ahad seen a big trend toward less variety of dishes, Sayoc says. plastic packaging, but concerns over virus transmission saw a sharp Connecting to Consumers shift backwards. Another IYFV goal is to improve Sustainable growth is the key, understanding of how fruit andwhether thinking about packaging vegetable food systems contrib- or production. ute to society in both developingAgriculture is one of our worlds and developed countries. Creatingmain uses of water, and we have evidence-based communicationala very important role to play in messages, allows ISF and theirachieving the UNs SDGs, Navarro members to shine a spotlight onargues.seeds as the start to the worldsHe believes that while govern-agriculture system. ments set goals and regulations to There is a lack of awareness inenforce these changes, consumers society today about where foodare going to be the driving force comes from, and whats in thatbehind many shifts coming in the food, and what it took to get thatfuture in regard to sustainability.food to the plate, Navarro says.I have three children and they Luckily, fruits and vegetablesare all vegetarian because they bridge that gap. believe they can contribute to a Fruits and vegetables are farbetter world by eating that way, more recognizable in the market forNavarro says. We have a clear role consumers because a tomato or ato support that trend.cucumber is a very specific prod-uct, Zijp says. Often field cropsFuture Focus Zijp says one key thing for helping smallholder farmers is are being used for other, more- Though seed breeding projectsgiving them access to a market to sell their products. In processed products such as oil,have a five to 10-year outlook insome areas, that means increasing their vegetable whereas a vegetable is taken from amany cases, if 2020 trends con- consumption.PHOTO: EAST-WEST SEEDplant and brought to the market. tinue, those shifts will likely impact Zijp believes that while thefruit and vegetable breeding deci-Western world is more discon- sions moving forward. nected to their food sources, devel- Navarro expects to seeTo read about how different companies worked on theoping countries are much moreincreased demand for nutrition. Year of Plant Health in 2020, visit our series page:familiar with seeds as the startingRight now, the main things weseedworld.com/year-plant-healthpoint for the food they eat.are breeding for are yield or taste or That awareness is somethingconvenience, but we can also breed we still have to work on to makefor health compounds, he says.Sustainable Successsure that consumers understandOf course, it is difficult to meas- Keller reports ISF is not just focused on 2021. He sees that taste, for instance, is quite reli- ure exact nutrient levels as growingthis as one step in a greater goal. ant on the quality of the seed, Zijpconditions make a difference fromOur engagement is not limited to the year of cel-says. And not only taste its also allplant to plant and fruit to fruit, butebration. Our long-term engagement is to contribute the other specifics of the seeds. Navarro believes progress can stillto food security and sustainable agriculture. But to Navarro says one additionalbe made, in a sustainable way. achieve this we all need to partner, and this year will challenge is that the general publicThe IYFV may help jumpstartcertainly help to enhance collaboration with FAO. We recognizes certain industry buz- that goal into motion, building onsee an opportunity as well to bridge the celebration zwords, often without the neces- the successes and challenges of thewith the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit. sary context.pandemic. Attavar, who is the chairman of ISFs task force for There is a lot of concern amongThis virus has changed eve- the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS), is looking for-some consumer groups about GMOrything in our lives and also in theward to the Summit in September. seeds, something that wasnt anindustry. It has accelerated someWe are looking at the Action Tracks and we are issue in the past, he says. long-term trends that were underly- hopeful this year of fruits and vegetables will have a Navarro is also concerned withing. Things that might have takenlasting impact on the overall awareness and effective-the sustainability of our global foodyears in the past, were happening inness of healthy crops, not just for this year, but in the system. Before the pandemic, heweeks or months, Navarro says. future as well, Attavar says.SW50/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2021'