b'Risk is Inevitable and Communication is VitalDavid Zaruk is an expert on risk. As a regula- seed researchers within Europe. I think Europe is at a competitive tory policy analyst, he has been an EU risk anddisadvantage on a lot of these issues. science communications specialist since 2000 and is particularly knowledgeable about theSW: Your area of expertise is in risk. Do you think that we seed industrys interaction with Europes com- have effective communication of risk within the seed indus-plex regulatory framework. Hes also a regulartry? How could we improve it?columnist for Seed World Europe. Zaruk: We can always improve communication on risk. Its based on trust. Its based on very clear information, well communicated SW: What are the most significant challenges seed compa- by trusted public figures. I think one of the real problems is the nies face when trading with Europe?relationship of the food chain itself. The seed breeders are at the Zaruk: One of the things that we tend not to understand andvery beginning of the process, and they work with agronomists that gets lost in a lot of the debates is that this is a trade issuewho are working with farmers to develop the seeds to answer more than a scientific or ideological issue. If you block a seedthe problems that they have. Now the farmers, meanwhile, are or products from those seeds from being exported into theworking with their buyers and perhaps also food processors European Union, then you can give certain advantages to yourand food manufacturers, who themselves are working with the own farmers or your own seed companies.brands and the retailers. But this chain cannot be integrated without good risk communication.SW: How do Europes stringent regulations impact our inno-vation and competitiveness? SW: How are sustainability concerns being integrated into Zaruk: Europe has exported quite a few researchers to NorthEuropes regulatory framework for seeds?America and when the European Court of Justice had their deci- Zaruk: One of the difficulties that we have is defining sustain-sion, which said that the new plant breeding technologies wouldability. Many people would say sustainability means it has to be have to be regulated under the 2001 GMO Directive, they essen- in harmony with nature. If youre using something synthetic, or tially knocked the wind out of the sails of many of the innovativeyoure putting a pesticide onto a seed, youre not being sustain-able. The whole idea of an integrated pest management system is interpreted in different ways because the goal of it is to use as little pesticides as possible. Defining sustainability on the farm is almost impossible. Better communication along the food chain will yield to more sustainable farming approach.We can always improve communication on risk. SW: What future regulatory policy trends could affect seed trade with Europe? Its based on trust. Its based on very clearZaruk: We will reach 10 billion people [in population] at some information, well communicated by trusted point. I dont think European farming will be the main center of where this growth in agriculture will take off. We saw already public figures. after the crisis in Ukraine how farming tried to expand its yieldsDavid Zaruk and capacity quickly to cover this loss, particularly because Ukraine exported a large amount of food to the World Food Program in developing countries. Its important to realize that the future of farming is going to be in countries in Africa, where they have a large amount of underutilized farmland as well as the largest growing population. And there were beginning to see, particularly with the seed technologies, that many of these gene editing processes can solve problems in the field.SWThis article has been shortened for print.To read the full version, go to www.seedworld.com/US18/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2024'