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The importance of seeds in the global food system
Staff at the Iowa State University Seed Science Center said feeding a growing population starts with seeds.
Cindy Hicks says brownfield farmers can be at the forefront of creating global access to nutritious food. “We know that while the population is increasing, agricultural land is decreasing, meaning we have to produce more with less land.”
She says it’s important to get quality seeds into the hands of smallholder farmers. “But unfortunately, more than 80% of smallholder farmers do not have access to high-quality seeds.”
Hicks said he has been sharing a message about the power of seeds at this year’s Borlaug Dialogue. “Here at the World Food Prize, it’s great to see people coming together with one goal in mind: feeding the hungry.”
Hicks met with Brownfield at the 2024 Borlaug International Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa.
Interview: Cindy Hicks, Iowa State University Seed Science Center, at the 2024 World Food Prize Borlaug International Dialogue
