ISF World Seed Congress 2026: what we noticed in Lisbon
From SeedSoft’s perspective, one of the most interesting aspects of ISF 2026 was how often data, reporting and AI appeared in informal conversations. Not as abstract trends, but as very concrete business challenges.
Many discussions focused on how to use trial results more effectively, how to prepare reports faster, how to compare data from different locations and how to translate technical knowledge into product, sales and communication decisions.
This shows that digitalization in the seed industry is no longer only an IT project. Increasingly, it is becoming part of how companies manage knowledge.
Three observations stood out to us in particular.
First, AI is becoming a practical topic in conversations about analysis and reporting. Companies are no longer asking only what artificial intelligence is. They are asking where it can shorten processes, organize data and help teams draw conclusions faster.
Second, transparency is becoming more important. Trial data, reports and product materials are no longer just internal documentation. They are becoming part of communication with partners, distributors and customers. The way a company presents results and explains product value increasingly influences its credibility.
Third, the need to connect perspectives is becoming more visible: R&D, product management, sales and the market. Many companies already have deep expert knowledge. The challenge is how to make this knowledge easier to access, keep it up to date and make it useful for different teams.
For us, it was also meaningful to hear potential clients refer to trial reports with the SeedSoft logo that they had seen in conversations with other seed companies. It showed that the way data and results are presented is becoming part of the professionalization of the sector — not only within organizations, but also in business relationships.
But the broader insight was even more important: the seed industry seems ready for a more strategic conversation about data. It is no longer only about automating individual tasks. It is about building organizations that learn faster from their own experience and use their knowledge better.
This is also why we see a natural connection with the development of PlantInput. The industry is moving from thinking only about individual products towards broader management of data, trial results, analysis and product knowledge across agri-inputs from seeds to fertilizers and biostimulants.
Resilient futures start with seeds but depend on better decisions
ISF World Seed Congress 2026 showed that the future of the seed industry will require more than innovative varieties. It will require collaboration, responsibility, trust and the ability to make better decisions in an increasingly complex world.
Seeds remain the foundation of food security. But the way the industry manages knowledge, data, technology and communication will determine how effectively it responds to the challenges of the coming years.
This year’s congress in Lisbon was therefore not only an industry meeting. It was a clear signal that the seed sector is entering its next stage: more connected, more aware and more data-driven.
Resilient futures start with seeds. But they are built through the decisions we make today.
