b'Diverse genetics also offer a wide potential range of nutri-tional and health-related phytochemical profiles in both horticul-ture and field crops. When asked about future seed industry consolidation, Howard says it\'s difficult to make predictions, but consolidation is slowing at this point for the simple reason that most of the potential targets have already been acquired. Recent changes in U.S. merger guidelines may also create some barriers to further acquisitions in this market, he adds. However, independent corn, soybean and other seed com-panies may find it increasingly difficult to compete with global giants, and exit the industry. In addition, state support may provide ChemChina/Sinochem/Syngenta or LongPing High-Tech the resources to make further acquisitions outside of China.Whether or not much more consolidation happens, the giant seed companies have all taken action to preserve genetic diversity, and many smaller seed companies still exist. But not as many as there were a few decades ago. The membership roll of the Independent Professional Seed Association has dropped from about 300 at its inception in 1989 to about 100 now. As Dean Cavey (co-founder of Verdant Partners) recently stated in the Progressive Farmer, "I think the biggest challenge ahead for this industry is its ability to maintain the independent seed company." Indeed, Bollinger notes that local, independent seed compa-nies that once developed regionally-adapted varieties are rapidly disappearing, taking with them seeds suited to specific climates, pest pressures and growing conditions. Whats worse, when local seed companies are swallowed up, the jobs, knowledge and exper-tise they once provided to their communities often disappear. Mike Bollinger, Seed Savers Exchange executive director. Efforts to Preserve Seed DiversityIts heartening that the many government-supported global and national seed bank initiatives are going strong, among them the Globally, across all crops at this point, only 25% of cropSvalbard Global Seed Vault operated by the Crop Trust. Seed diversity has survived, according to the UN Food & Agriculturebanks safeguard seed from around the world, providing a safety Organization. This reduction in available genetics has mainly beennet against catastrophic crop failures and offering resources driven by the need for farmers in Western countries to plant seedfor breeding programs. The Crop Trusts 10-year BOLD project, with high-yield attributes (including field crop seed that worksfunded by the government of Norway, is currently building on with modern herbicide systems) to make a good profit.the Crop Wild Relatives Project to continue the conservation At the same time, patenting genetics has become common.and use of wild varieties. With support from Germany, the Crop This limits access to germplasm for farmers, but as MikeTrust and its partners are also updating existing global conser-Bollinger, executive director at Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) invation strategies for potato, yams, vigna, millets and sorghum, Iowa explains, today, even public researchers find themselvesand developing strategies for many others, including brassica, locked out of access to important genetic material due to IPcitrus, sunflower and vanilla.restrictions. In the U.S., those within the USDAs National Plant Germplasm But everyone in the industry knows that diverse genetics willSystem have long worked to ensure researchers and breeders always be crucial. Genes found in heirloom, wild and regionallyhave access to genetic diversity. The System currently holds adapted seed stocks may be invaluable in many future scenariosabout 620,000 unique seed samples from more than 100 differ-(as they are today) and once theyre gone, theyre gone.ent crops. Seed diversity is crucial to adapt to climate change, emerg- And in 2023, the USDA introduced a multi-year plan to ing pests and diseases, and other potential shocks to agriculturalstrengthen national genebank germplasm management. Hannah systems, explains Phil Howard at Michigan State University,Tetreault, a plant physiologist with the Agricultural Genetic who has studied seed industry consolidation in detail. DiversityResources Preservation Research Unit in Colorado, foresees allows for broad and nimble responses to these changes, hethat over the next 20 years, the number of backup seed collec-says, rather than narrow and brittle responses.tions will rise. Understanding of the genetic diversity preserved 42/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2025'