The Seed Business

The seed market has become more consolidated in recent years. Four companies currently represent more than 50% of commercial seed sales globally: Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta, and BASF. But beyond these big four, there are thousands of other businesses developing new, diversified crops.  On today’s episode of State of Seed, we hear about the economic forces impacting seeds around the world. We’ll find out how they impact not only seed businesses, but also our food in general.   Host Laura Rosbrow-Telem speaks with key business leaders at the World Seed Congress, including J.D. Rossouw, Senior VP and Head of Vegetables Research and Development of the Crop Science Division at Bayer. She also talks to Marco van Leeuwen, ISF President and Rijk Zwaan Managing Director, as well as Sam Crowell, Senior Director for international programs and policy at the American Seed Trade Association.  Plus, Laura calls longtime farmer Andrew Brait, co-owner of Full Belly Farms, about what it is like to buy seeds. Full disclosure: They are related.  Special thanks to Susan McCouch and Jonathan Miller, whose expertise helped inform this episode.  State of Seed is a show from the International Seed Federation, with production services by FP Studios.