Rephonic
Artwork for State of Seed

State of Seed

Foreign Policy
Climate Change
Food Security
Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Seed Access
Seed Banks
Counterfeit Seeds
International Cooperation
Crop Diversity
Global Food Security
Seed Trade
Agriculture
Seeds For Food Coalition
Smallholder Farmers
Agricultural Biodiversity
Plant Genetic Resources
Farmer-Led Research
Cary Fowler
International Treaty On Plant Genetic Resources For Food and Agriculture
Seed Innovation
Seed Quality

On State of Seed, you’ll find out how seeds feed and sustain the planet. Though more than half of what we eat comes from seeds, most of us know very little about them—and how the sector contributes to our world and the future of food security. Host Laura Rosbrow-Telem talks to the innovative players advancing this vital resource, including leaders of multinational companies and NGOs, UN and govern... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes9Foundeda year ago
Categories
ScienceNatureEarth Sciences

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for State of Seed

Latest Episodes

This is a big year for the U.N. International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), which ensures that seeds in most countries’ public seed or gene banks are widely available to farmers, scientists, and plant breeders ... more

The constantly changing tariffs from the Trump administration are directly

impacting the global seed community. How are seed officials grappling with this unpredictable regulatory environment as well as other key challenges in 2025?

In this episode,... more

Lately, it can feel as if the world is falling apart, with war, climate change, and global instability rising—to name just a few existential threats. But the world is not ending. And seeds are a big part of ensuring our future.

 In this season of St... more

Season 2 of State of Seed launches Friday, June 27th. This time around, we examine how seeds are playing a critical role in protecting the planet during this moment of global uncertainty. Recorded at the World Seed Congress in Istanbul, host Laura Ro... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Ones and Tooze
Ones and ToozeForeign Policy
The Political Scene | The New Yorker
The Political Scene | The New YorkerWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

Recent Guests

Cary Fowler
Co-founder of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Episode: How Cary Fowler Co-Founded the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Michael Keller
Secretary General of the International Seed Federation
International Seed Federation
Episode: Increasing Seed Access
Elizabeth Nsimadala
President of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation
Eastern Africa Farmers Federation
Episode: Increasing Seed Access
Sonja Vermeulen
Managing Director of Genetic Innovation at Cgiar
Cgiar
Episode: Increasing Seed Access
Andrew Mushita
Head of Community Technology Development Trust in Zimbabwe
Community Technology Development Trust
Episode: Increasing Seed Access
Andrew Brait
Co-owner of Full Belly Farms, an organic farm in California.
Full Belly Farms
Episode: The Seed Business
J.D. Rossouw
Oversees Vegetable Research and Development at Bayer.
Bayer
Episode: The Seed Business
Sam Crowell
Senior Director for International Programs and Policy at the American Seed Trade Association.
American Seed Trade Association
Episode: The Seed Business
Beth Bechdol
Deputy Director General at the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Episode: How Seeds Feed the World

Host

Laura Rosbrow-Telem
Host and advocate for sustainable agriculture and seed innovation.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Informative deep dive into an important yet little-known topic

    We all have assumptions about the seed industry and seed companies, whether good or bad. I think this podcast shows the nuances in the discussions — the complexities, yes, but also the clear paths forward. Highly recommended for ag/food experts and everyone who cares about seeds!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Foodies456!
    Spain3 months ago
  • State of Seed

    This podcast was so interesting and informative. And startling. Who knew that 2/3 of those around the world with food insecurity were actually farmers who cannot make a decent living? Laura Rosbrow Telem takes the audience through a good introduction to how seeds play an enormous role in feeding and sustaining our planet. I will definitely listen to the full series of episodes. Thank you.

    Episode 2 was interesting in describing why modifying seeds is important, different methods of doing that w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Womencandoit
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative podcast about something most take for granted

    The podcast dives deep into the world of seeds and offers an informative yet accessible overview of the politics and economics of the seed business. We take for granted that farmers plant seeds to grow food, but don’t realize that so many things have to go into that seed (and soil) to make sure farmers successfully grow crops that can withstand diseases, climate shocks and hopefully everything else that can go wrong. Great narration!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    atcad
    Switzerlanda year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the informative content, which explores complex seed industry issues with clarity.
Viewers emphasize the podcast's relevance in addressing food insecurity and the crucial role of seeds in agriculture.
Many find that the discussions are nuanced and bring to light important topics often overlooked in conventional conversations about food systems.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Seed Trade Officials Are Navigating 2025
Q: What's on your agenda for the rest of the year?
It will be dedicated to WTO reform discussions to ensure that global food security does not become a casualty of current trade tensions.
How Seed Trade Officials Are Navigating 2025
Q: So why is seed trade so important to global food security?
The seed industry is extremely global and plays a crucial role in ensuring food where it can be produced most efficiently.
How Seed Trade Officials Are Navigating 2025
Q: How's 2025 been going for the American Seed Trade Association?
We've been managing to stay positive and we've got a lot of really exciting activities going on here at the Congress.
How Cary Fowler Co-Founded the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Q: How did you convince Norway to fund the Svalbard project?
I laid out a feasibility study and explained the importance of conserving crop diversity, which led to Norway's tentative approval pending funding from various ministries.
How Cary Fowler Co-Founded the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Q: Why are seed banks important for biological diversity and for the future of food on the planet?
Seed banks are crucial because they preserve the genetic diversity of crops, allowing species to adapt and evolve in response to changing environmental conditions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About State of Seed

What is State of Seed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the crucial role of seeds in global food security, episodes present in-depth discussions on how seeds sustain the planet and contribute to agricultural innovation. Listeners gain insights from a diverse range of guests including industry leaders, scientists, farmers, and policymakers, addressing vital topics such as seed access, climate change, agricultural practices, and economic dynamics affecting the seed market. Unique aspects of the content include a deep exploration of often overlooked issues in the seed industry, such as the complexities of trade, food insecurity intricacies, and innovative practices in seed development and distribution. This podcast is likely to appeal to those interested in agriculture, environmental sc... more

Where can I find podcast stats for State of Seed?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for State of Seed. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to State of Seed and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does State of Seed get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for State of Seed, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for State of Seed?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for State of Seed, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does State of Seed have?

To see how many followers or subscribers State of Seed has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to State of Seed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with State of Seed:

1. Ones and Tooze
2. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. Fresh Air
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of State of Seed are there?

State of Seed launched a year ago and published 9 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact State of Seed?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for State of Seed?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for State of Seed from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for State of Seed?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of State of Seed. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on State of Seed?

Recent guests on State of Seed include:

1. Cary Fowler
2. Michael Keller
3. Elizabeth Nsimadala
4. Sonja Vermeulen
5. Andrew Mushita
6. Andrew Brait
7. J.D. Rossouw
8. Sam Crowell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days