Seed Companies Embed Sustainability Across Operations

Leaders from Bayer, Semillas Fitó, RiceTec and Syngenta explain how sustainability goes beyond field traits to include corporate practices and culture.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 1:47am

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In Part 2 of Seed World Europe's Seeds of Change series, leaders from major seed companies explain how they are using science, technology, and company culture to make agriculture more productive and responsible. From breeding for climate resilience to reducing emissions and water use across operations, these companies are aligning on shared sustainability priorities and translating innovation into measurable impact for farmers and the planet.

Why it matters

As the seed industry faces growing pressure to address environmental and social challenges, leading companies are moving beyond just developing new crop traits to embedding sustainability across their entire operations and value chains. This collaborative effort reflects a collective spirit to ensure sustainability becomes embedded across the sector, from breeding strategies to business practices.

The details

Bayer is breeding crops with traits for tougher weather, thriftier water use, and reduced chemical needs, using new technologies like biotechnology and genome editing. RiceTec has been developing rice hybrids suited for water-saving direct seeding systems for over two decades. Semillas Fitó is focusing on labor-saving and worker-friendly traits in vegetables, as well as selecting for higher nutritional value. Syngenta has launched a Portfolio Sustainability Framework to evaluate seed varieties on environmental impact, input efficiency, and climate resilience. These companies are also re-engineering their own operations, with targets for climate neutrality, renewable energy, and water management.

  • In 2024, Syngenta launched its Portfolio Sustainability Framework to evaluate seed varieties.
  • In 2025, Syngenta expanded its Portfolio Sustainability Framework to include the seeds portfolio.
  • In 2024, RiceTec launched FullPage, India's first herbicide-tolerant crop designed for direct seeding.

The players

Bayer

An American multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company.

Semillas Fitó

A Spanish seed company focused on vegetables, field crops, and ornamental plants.

RiceTec

An American company specializing in the development and production of hybrid rice seeds.

Syngenta

A Swiss agribusiness that develops agricultural products for farmers, ranchers, and consumers.

ISF Environmental and Social Responsibility Coordination Group (ESR-CG)

An association-driven collaboration of leading seed companies aligning on shared sustainability priorities.

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What they’re saying

“It takes a broad range of traits to tackle the challenges facing farmers. Yield potential, climate resilience, pest resistance, and nutritional value — while reducing fertilizer and input needs — all of it matters.”

— Cristiane Lourenço, Director, global sustainability & smallholder farmers at Bayer

“We've been delivering water-use efficiency and climate resilience for more than two decades. The next step is accelerating genetic gain with tools like genomic selection and gene editing.”

— José Ré, Sustainable ag science advisor for RiceTec

“Sustainability has to be both top-down and bottom-up. If someone suggests a way to save water or recycle waste, we test it. When it works, we share it across the company.”

— Eduard Fitó, President of Semillas Fitó

“To score highly in this framework, a variety can't just yield well; it has to score well on resource efficiency and climate resilience. That alignment between product performance and environmental performance is influencing the future of breeding.”

— Jason Allerding, Global head, HSE, sustainability & risk management seeds for Syngenta

What’s next

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The takeaway

Through their collaboration in ISF's ESR-CG, these seed companies are ensuring their sustainability efforts resonate beyond their own fields and facilities, helping shape a more unified and impactful sustainability agenda for the entire seed sector.