Discover the science, systems, and people working to safeguard the future of food — and why the world is only just beginning to pay attention.
The Super-Seeders reveals the architecture of a quiet global movement – a living system of seed banks, scientists, plant breeders, and farmers working across borders to secure the future of food.
It’s a story few have heard, yet it touches every one of us. From the wheat in our bread to the rice in our bowls, the resilience of our crops, and the survival of the people who grow them, depends on systems that remain largely invisible.
This book explores the Plant Genetics Revolution — from its seven foundational pillars, through today’s breakthroughs in genomics and gene editing, to the urgent question: are these advances reaching the farmers who need them most?
More than a story about seeds, this is about people: Ethiopian farmers reviving ancient grains, researchers decoding genomes in high-tech labs, and global institutions quietly cooperating to move genetics from vaults to fields.
This project exists to make these systems visible. To honour the quiet heroism behind them. To tell the story of the science that might just feed the future.
The world of plant science is undergoing a transformation. Inspired by breakthroughs in human genomics, like the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine, scientists are now applying the same technologies to agriculture. From conserving rare crop varieties to editing genomes for resilience, the plant genetics revolution is here.
This project follows the researchers, seed curators, and innovators leading the way – The Super-Seeders.
The plant genetics revolution isn’t held up by a single discovery — it stands on seven interconnected breakthroughs.
These are the Seven Pillars: the foundations of a global system that protects crop diversity, accelerates innovation, and delivers real-world impact for farmers across the Global South and beyond.
Each pillar plays a unique role — from preserving ancient seeds, to sharing genomes between nations, to ensuring that smallholder farmers can actually access the crops they need.
They don’t exist in isolation. Together, they form a living framework — the quiet architecture behind one of the most ambitious and necessary revolutions of our time.
Gene Banks
Conserving the raw material of plant breeding
International Agricultural Research Stations
Unpacking the tools that build better crops
The Science behind the New Genetics
Unlocking Nature’s Defences to Build Better Crops
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
Protecting Biodiversity Through Global Cooperation
Gene Sequencing
From DNA data to accelerated discovery
Sustainable Seed Systems, Market Impact and Legislation
Their importance in plant breeding
Three major developments have revolutionised plant genetics since the era shaped by the seven foundational pillars.
First, genomics has transformed our ability to understand and harness the immense genetic diversity stored in gene banks. With advanced sequencing and data analysis, researchers can now explore vast collections of genetic material, unlocking traits that were previously hidden or underutilised.
Second, gene editing, coupled with the easing of regulatory constraints, has opened up new frontiers in precision breeding. Tools like CRISPR allow scientists to make targeted changes to plant DNA, speeding up the breeding process and enabling the development of crops with improved traits such as disease resistance, yield, and climate resilience.
The third, less often acknowledged but absolutely crucial to the success of gene editing, is “the gift”: GRF technology. The process begins with transformation, which allows CRISPR (the gene editing tool) to enter plant cells. GRF, or Growth Regulating Factor, is then introduced to dramatically enhance the cells’ ability to regenerate, a key step that makes gene editing truly effective. Without this regenerative boost, many plant cells would simply not survive the editing process.
From improved yields to climate resilience, Part Three of Super-Seeders explores whether innovation is reaching the farmers who need it most – particularly in the Global South, where food insecurity and climate shocks are most acute. These aren’t just moonshots, they’re real-world tests of science in action. But how can we ensure the breakthroughs in plant genetics make it beyond the lab?
The story of The Super-Seeders is just built not on personalities or single discoveries, but on the alignment of seven global forces. These are the Seven Pillars of the plant genetics revolution.
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Miles Hillmann has spent a lifetime in business; from agriculture to pollution control and international innovation and export. The Super-Seeders is the result of a personal journey to understand the systems and people working to protect the future of food.
“This isn’t about breakthroughs. It’s about systems — and the quiet revolution that might just feed the future.”
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