SEED SCIENCE CENTER AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY AND CNFA PARTNER TO ADDRESS GLOBAL FOOD INSECURITY

DES MOINES, Iowa – Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), based in Washington, D.C., and the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University, based in Ames, Iowa, have formalized their collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding during the World Food Prize Foundation’s 2022 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue.

Sylvain Roy, chief executive officer and president of CNFA, and Dr. Manjit K. Misra, director of the Seed Science Center, signed the memorandum on October 18, 2022. As partners, CNFA and the Seed Science Center will combine strengths to address the growing food insecurity around the world.

“This agreement brings together CNFA and the Seed Science Center’s complementary strengths of agricultural market systems development and scientific research to improve the productivity and resilience of the world’s seed supply,” said Mr. Roy. “This comes at a much-needed time, with the impacts of conflicts, COVID-19 and natural disasters putting strain on local and global food systems. This partnership will innovate approaches that can address crises quickly and sustainably, and reduce the effects of disruptions to food production, food distribution and market systems.”

“Seed is the foundation of agriculture. Developing the capacity of regional, national and local seed systems to conduct research, generate technology, formulate science-based policy and raise awareness on the importance of quality seed is the mission of Iowa State’s Seed Science Center,” said Dr. Misra. “This partnership with CNFA brings synergy to our mission and provides solutions to the grand challenges of food and nutrition security across the globe.”

The agreement between CNFA and the Seed Science Center outlines how the two organizations will collaborate to improve seed availability, quality and testing. It also describes how they will expand the supply and distribution of seeds and other inputs, especially in places where food security is under threat.

For more information on CNFA and the Seed Science Center, please visit www.CNFA.org or https://www.seeds.iastate.edu/

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About CNFA: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) is an international agricultural development organization that specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable, enterprise-based agricultural initiatives. CNFA works with businesses, foundations, governments, and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world’s growing demand for food. Since its inception in 1985, CNFA has designed and implemented enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity and improve access to inputs and financing in 47 countries.

About the Seed Science Center: The Seed Science Center, housed at Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Ames, Iowa, improves the production, quality assurance, marketing, utilization and regulatory environment of seed through research, testing, teaching, outreach and international programs. Many of the roughly 800 private seed companies in the United States rely on tests conducted by this world-renowned Center to support claims about the quality and performance of their products. Over the past 20 years, the Center has implemented programs to improve seed research and innovation, enterprise development, policy and regulation, and the general capacity of seed systems in 79 countries.

Contact:

publicrelations@cnfa.org, CNFA

lulurod@iastate.edu, Seed Science Center, Iowa State University