From Data to the Field: How Innovation Becomes Performance

Benoît Pétiard - Head of Research And Development at Mas Seeds on 09/29/2026

MAS Seeds breeding combines climate modelling, genomics, advanced phenotyping and field testing to anticipate future growing conditions. The approach aims to deliver maize and sunflower hybrids with more reliable performance across changing environments.The post From Data to the Field: How Innovatio

8 AI Players to Watch in Crop Breeding

Treena Hein – Seed World Contributor on 09/28/2026

Eight companies and research organizations are advancing AI crop breeding through predictive genomics, crop modeling, gene editing and automated marker analysis. Public researchers are also testing approaches that could shape the next generation of breeding programs.The post 8 AI Players to Watch in

Could 240 Million Smallholders Feed the World’s Next 1.5 Billion People?

Seed World Staff on 09/28/2026

Smallholder farmers could help meet rising global food demand while restoring soils and strengthening rural livelihoods, a new book argues. Whole Earth Farming proposes helping 240 million farming families adopt regenerative agriculture and agroforestry.The post Could 240 Million Smallholders Feed t

Early Heat Hurts Wheat Most but Could Build Resilience

Seed World Staff on 09/25/2026

Wheat heat stress causes the greatest yield losses when heat waves strike before flowering, field experiments show. However, early exposure may also prime wheat to better withstand a second heat wave later in the growing season.The post Early Heat Hurts Wheat Most but Could Build Resilience appeared

Why Is Europe Still Importing So Much of Its Livestock Protein?

Seed World Staff on 09/23/2026

European protein crops are the focus of a new €5.5 million Horizon Europe project aimed at reducing reliance on imported livestock feed. PROCEED will connect growers, processors and livestock farmers to develop viable local routes from grain and forage legumes to feed.The post Why Is Europe Still Im

The Next Soybean Breakthrough May Be Underground

Seed World Staff on 09/22/2026

Deeper-rooted soybeans are being tested to determine whether they can improve drought resilience and store more carbon underground. Field trials will also examine yields, nutrient capture and the potential trade-offs of changing soybean root systems.The post The Next Soybean Breakthrough May Be Unde

Precision Pollination Could Improve Fruit Crops

Seed World Staff on 09/22/2026

Precision pollination research led by the James Hutton Institute and AgriSound will use in-field sensors and artificial intelligence to monitor pollinator activity across fruit crops. The project aims to help growers identify pollination gaps and support fruit breeding for improved yield and quality

Seed Size Signal Could Support Bigger Crop Seeds

Seed World Staff on 09/21/2026

Seed size research has identified a peptide signal that helps coordinate communication between the embryo and endosperm during seed development. Early crop proof-of-concept work suggests boosting the pathway could support larger seeds.The post Seed Size Signal Could Support Bigger Crop Seeds appeare

Crop Side Streams Could Become Consumer Foods

Seed World Staff on 09/17/2026

Crop side streams from rapeseed, legumes and potatoes could become new foods for human consumption through the VASCO research project. Wageningen researchers will explore protein extraction, fermentation and supply chain barriers to bring products closer to market.The post Crop Side Streams Could Be

Seed Sector 2045: The Future Seed Sector May Be More Layered Than Larger

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 09/17/2026

The seed sector of 2045 may be shaped less by size alone and more by layered innovation networks. Consolidation, specialist breeders, start-ups, public-private partnerships, IP frameworks and technology platforms could all influence how new varieties reach farmers.The post Seed Sector 2045: The Futu

18% More Maize, 27% Less Nitrogen Loss?

Seed World Staff on 09/16/2026

G&E maize varieties could help increase global maize production while reducing reactive nitrogen losses, according to new research. The study maps priority genomic regions and highlights the need to combine yield, stress tolerance and nutrient efficiency traits at scale.The post 18% More Maize, 27%

One Tomato. Two Eggs’ Worth of Vitamin D?

Seed World Staff on 09/15/2026

Sunshine tomato, a precision-bred crop enriched with pro-vitamin D3, has passed a key regulatory milestone in England. Researchers say the biofortified tomato could support public health while moving closer to commercial sale.The post One Tomato. Two Eggs’ Worth of Vitamin D? appeared first on Seed

Ukraine’s New GMO Law: What It Means for the Seed Sector and EU Integration

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 09/14/2026

Ukraine GMO law will introduce a broader framework for genetic engineering, GMO registration, labelling, traceability and enforcement. For the seed sector, the reset raises practical questions about implementation, crop restrictions and future alignment with EU rules.The post Ukraine’s New GMO Law:

AgRI 2040 Sets EU Agri-Food Innovation Priorities

Seed World Staff on 09/10/2026

AgRI 2040 and Food 2040 will guide EU-funded research, innovation and market deployment across agriculture, forestry, rural areas and food systems, with Euroseeds calling for sustained investment in plant breeding and seed innovation.The post AgRI 2040 Sets EU Agri-Food Innovation Priorities appeare

Millet Adoption Expanded Bronze Age Farmland

Seed World Staff on 09/10/2026

New research led by Vilnius University found that millet adoption helped Bronze Age communities in Central Europe expand farming onto drier, poorer soils. The findings suggest the crop spread locally rather than through large-scale migration.The post Millet Adoption Expanded Bronze Age Farmland appe

Salt Stress Germination System Identified in Seeds

Seed World Staff on 09/09/2026

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem identified a salt stress germination system that helps seeds retain potassium while limiting sodium buildup. The finding could support future work on crop establishment in saline soils.The post Salt Stress Germination System Identified in Seeds appea

Plant Hormones Reveal Crop Disease Resistance Pathway

Seed World Staff on 09/07/2026

Technical University of Munich researchers have identified a hormone-controlled mechanism that regulates the trade-off between plant growth and crop disease resistance. The finding could help future breeding programs develop resilient, high-yielding varieties.The post Plant Hormones Reveal Crop Dise

How Plant ETP Supports Plant Breeding Innovation

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 09/07/2026

Plant ETP connects researchers, breeders, farmers and seed sector stakeholders to align priorities for European plant breeding innovation. Its work spans NGT implementation, future EU research funding, COLiBRI, climate resilience, skills development and communication across Europe’s plant innovation

Molecular Switch Helps Crops Handle Heat Stress

Seed World Staff on 09/03/2026

Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism that could support crop heat stress resilience by keeping stomata open during high temperatures. The discovery offers new insight into plant cooling, heat resilience and future crop improvement.The post Molecular Switch Helps Crops Handle Heat Stress

Seed Sector 2045: Is Europe Competitive for Plant Breeding Innovation?

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 09/03/2026

Europe has strong plant breeding talent, public research and seed systems, but plant breeding innovation depends on more than ambition. NGT regulation, PRM reform, research funding, intellectual property and policy coherence will shape whether new varieties reach farmers fast enough.The post Seed Se

Wolfson Foundation Funds Plant Research Facilities

Seed World Staff on 09/02/2026

The Wolfson Foundation is investing £1.6 million in plant research facilities at the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory. The funding will support LED lighting for a new glasshouse, insectary and horticultural research facility in Norwich.The post Wolfson Foundation Funds Plant Research F

EU PPWR: What Seed Companies Need to Do Now

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 09/01/2026

The EU PPWR now applies to packaging used across the seed sector. Seed companies and exporters need to understand their roles, EPR duties, recyclability rules, recycled content requirements and possible future reuse obligations for seed bags and other formats.The post EU PPWR: What Seed Companies Ne

One Rye Chromosome Has Already Changed Wheat. What Else Is Hiding There?

Seed World Staff on 08/28/2026

A new high quality rye reference genome reveals far greater diversity in a chromosome region already used to improve disease resistance, stress tolerance and yield in wheat.Rye shares a long evolutionary history with barley and wheat, but its development as a major crop began considerably later.Whil

Three Degrees Warmer, Three Times the Wheat Price?

Seed World Staff on 08/27/2026

New research shows that severe water scarcity across major wheat-growing regions is closely linked to global wheat prices, with climate models suggesting that worsening compound droughts could create major risks for markets, food systems and consumers.The post Three Degrees Warmer, Three Times the W