b'As the World Changes,We Must Evolve with ItAFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF REFLECTION, THE INTERNATIONAL SEED FEDERATION MADE SOME CHANGES.BY: ALEX MARTINN othing can stay static for very long. Take a look at whatwe felt a need to set up a new structure that allows us to meet we all work with: seeds. As soon as you put them in thenew demands and drive our association in a more efficient way.ground, they begin to change and growsproutingThe new structure, Keller says, should give ISF a better roots, a stem, leaves and finally, the crop youve been waiting for. foundation to reach their new key strategic objectives by 2025.The same thing is true of associations: growth and changeChange is always concerning and unsettling, says Donald are a necessary part of doing business, and the InternationalColes, president of ISF. I give great credit to our members for Seed Federation (ISF) is no different. appreciating its importance and supporting us in its implemen-After more than two years of reflection andand most oftation.it while being stuck in a virtual world due to COVID-19the association has concluded important changes in its structure.STRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR BETTER MESSAGINGWe are working as an association in a constantly evolv- When it comes to leadership during a pandemic, while it might ing environment, says Michael Keller, secretary general of ISF.have been just as productive, Coles says the year was nothing When youre working in such an evolving environment, you getless than frustrating.an increased understanding of the role that seed has in our world. Theres no replacement for personal interaction. Despite Keller says now more than ever with the war in Ukraine,this frustration, I dont think ISF has ever achieved more positive getting the message out that seed is life is imperative.change or dealt with such challenging issues, Coles says. Our job is to give our members the best support and giveThe three biggest issues Coles has seen over his presidency them the license to operate and freedom to operate, he says.that he highlights is:Were not saying what weve done in the past is not goodbut1.Major changes to the structure and operation of ISF2.The UN Food Systems Summit3.Surviving two financial years without an in-personWorld Seed CongressParticularly, while he expected the structural changes to be the most difficult challenge, it was an effort that went rather smoothly.I expected much more concern from members regard-ing the structural change, but to my surprise, very few issues were raised with me, he says. Most were either addressed by a change or more detailed explanation.Keller says the biggest change when it comes to the new ISF structure is the broader participation of experts at different levels of the ISF workflow as well as the ability to showcase the diversity of members within the association.We needed the best brains within the seed sector to work together on the topics that are critical to our sector, and which are outlined in our key strategic objectives, Keller says. Within that workflow, we also needed a representative body where you could find the diversity of membersfrom traders, producers, breeders and seed sellers. The new board of directors of ISF reflects this diversity. Twenty-five new members were approved by the general assem-bly, and those 25 members come from around the world and represent both geographic diversity and crop diversity. This body has a vital role in the future work of ISF, Keller says. We speak in the name of one, unified seed sector. We need one body who is defining our position and allows us as ISF to speak in the name of everyone.52IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'