Decisions we make about what to grow and how to grow it shape the future of food, local and global economies and even our social fabric. Take seeds. For Indigenous Peoples, traditional seeds and plants are inseparable from Country. Science, on the other hand, takes a more pragmatic view, using innovations like genomics to breed hardier, higher-yield, pest-resistant plants that thrive even in environments ravaged by climate change. And then there’s who to feed - the many or the few, the prosperous or the hungry? And what about heritage - balancing small-scale farming with the industrial production increasingly vital to feeding the world. Does it matter? Well, it does to the seeds - or rather to their fate and diversity.

Join moderator Dr Peter Crisp from University of Queensland's (UQ's) School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability as he moderates a fascinating panel discussion on the future of food, told through the story of seeds. Then make up your own mind if it matters. 

About the moderator and panellists

Moderator: Dr Peter Crisp

Dr Peter Crisp is an expert in crop genomics, epigenomics and molecular genetics. He is a Group Leader and Senior Lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability at The University of Queensland. 

Panellist: Professor Jaquie Mitchell

Professor Jaquie Mitchell has spent many years exploring how science can help build more productive, sustainable and resilient agricultural systems in various South-East Asian countries. Her research explores how crops respond to challenges such as heat, cold, drought, and soil salinity. 

Professor Brad Sherman

Professor Brad Sherman is a UQ Laureate Fellow at The University of Queensland. His research focuses on the intersection of intellectual property and science and technology studies, as well as the impact of intellectual property on food and agriculture. 

More panellists to be announced and confirmed.