CropLife International

Meeting the needs of a growing population and safeguarding ecosystems are closely linked, and science and innovation have a role to play in addressing both. Rena Isemer works at the intersection of agricultural innovation, environmental science, and regulation. Her focus is on developing and applying scientific methods to assess how crop protection products affect non-target plant species and biodiversity. As an environmental scientist, Rena studies crop protection technologies and their use, and helps building the scientific foundations that support resilient agriculture and long-term food security.

Resilient agriculture and biodiversity conservation must go hand in hand. As leaders, experts and scientists gather at COP17, discussions around the Global Biodiversity Framework offer an important reminder: agricultural innovation can help protect biodiversity while enabling farmers to produce food more sustainably. By enabling farmers to produce more on existing farmland, innovation can reduce pressure on natural ecosystems and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems while supporting biodiversity conservation. That means working together to: 🌱Ease access to and adoption of climate and nature-friendly agricultural technologies 🌱Improve agricultural resilience and productivity 🌱 Deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity At COP17, we are calling on policymakers and stakeholders to recognise the critical role of agricultural innovation in delivering the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Through new innovations and technologies, closer collaboration and shared commitments, we can build a future where biodiversity thrives alongside productive and resilient agriculture.

Food security and biodiversity are complementary, not competing, goals. With the right combination of innovation and on-farm practices, farmers can produce more food on existing farmland, easing pressure on natural habitats. Improved seeds and advanced crop protection technologies play a crucial role in increasing productivity on existing farmland: 🌾 In India, direct seeded rice cut irrigation-water use by up to 35% while maintaining yields. 🌱 In Thailand, farmers improved yields by 23% through sustainable rice-production practices. 🐝 Simple measures like planting flower strips and hedgerows can support pollinators and boost crop yields by up to 25%. When farmers have access to the tools and technologies, the path to food security can also lead to wins for biodiversity. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gwzF5KNd #SideWithFoodSecurity

🔬 How can we help agricultural discoveries move from concept to market? By turning new active ingredients into effective and safe crop protection products that deliver value to farmers while advancing more sustainable agriculture. Alessandro Nogueira's work brings together formulation science, research, regulatory expertise, and manufacturing to help maximize product performance, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and promote the responsible use of active ingredients.

The next breakthrough in agriculture starts long before it reaches the field. Behind each new agricultural innovation lies years of research, scientific expertise, and investment. The data illustrates the scale of this investment: 🌾 Developing a new crop protection solution takes an average of 11.4 years, with costs estimated at $307 million. 🌱 Bringing a new plant biotechnology trait to farmers takes around 16.5 years and around $115 million in discovery, development, and regulatory authorization. This is why strong intellectual property (IP) frameworks matter. By providing legal certainty for long-term research and development, they enable the development and testing of agricultural innovations. They also support the conditions needed for collaboration and licensing, ensuring innovations move efficiently to reach farmers and growers. As agriculture is faced with growing challenges caused by climate change and rising food demand, continued innovation has never been more important. Predictable IP frameworks support the innovation pipeline needed to help growers produce more resilient harvests, strengthen food security, and build more sustainable food systems. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/emwuEcyU #SideWithFoodSecurity

🌱 With 95% of our food directly produced on soils, soil health is the foundation of a more food secure future in the face of a changing climate. Dr. Abbey Wick’s work brings together farmers, scientists, industry partners, and agronomists from India to Brazil, connecting technical knowledge and on the ground resources to support growers to build productive farming systems while reducing their impact on the environment. #SideWithFoodSecurity