FAO Photographs the Global Agri-Food Industry
Franco Brazzabeni – Seed World Columnist on 04/03/2025
At the end of 2024, FAO published its Statistical Yearbook about World Food and Agriculture, referring to facts updated to 2022. It is a very rich collection, a valuable tool for commercial operators, analysts and macroeconomics scholars.The Yearbook provides global information on many topics concer
Report: Food as the “Silent Weapon”— Russia’s Gains and Ukraine’s Losses
Compiled by Staff on 04/02/2025
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reveals that agriculture and food security are central to Russia’s war strategy. Ukraine’s agricultural sector has been a major target of Russia’s attacks since February 2022. Ukraine’s agricultural production, exports, and GDP have de
Euroseeds 2025 Registrations Open Now
Compiled by Staff on 04/01/2025
The seed sector stands at a crossroads, shaped by evolving regulations, technological breakthroughs, and shifting global trade dynamics. As challenges grow, so do opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Euroseeds 2025 will bring together industry leaders, experts, and policymakers to tackle
Microclover: A Keystone for Urban Biodiversity and More Sustainable Solutions
Anne Mette Dahl Jensen on 04/01/2025
In search for sustainable urban landscaping solutions, microclover, when combined with turfgrass, is emerging as a popular and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional grass lawns. This tiny clover is gaining attention not just for its low maintenance needs and natural soil enrichment thr
Protecting Crops: Researchers Open Up New Avenue to Combat a Widespread Plant Virus
Compiled by Staff on 04/01/2025
Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have developed new RNA-based active agents that effectively protect plants from Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), one of the most widespread and destructive viruses in agriculture and horticulture. These agents work by enhancing the plant’s i
Europe’s Vision: Building a Sustainable Agri-food System for Future Generations
Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 04/01/2025
Mid-February, the EU Commission presented its Vision for Agriculture and Food, an ambitious roadmap on the future of farming and food in Europe. This roadmap sets the stage for an attractive, competitive, resilient, future-oriented and fair agri-food system for current and future generations of farm
What Happens When Farmers Lead a Global Seed Business?
Michelle Cornu - Global Brand & Communications Lead, Limagrain Field Seeds on 04/01/2025
In an industry dominated by global giants, decisions are often made that are far removed from the realities of farming. But when farmers are the ones leading the discussions, a different paradigm takes shape — one that is more grounded, long-term, and connected to the field.That difference was on fu
New Discovery Boosts Wheat’s Fight Against Devastating Disease
Compiled by Staff on 03/31/2025
A new study published in Science by a team of scientists from five continents, led by KAUST Associate Professor Brande Wulff, reveals a previously unknown molecular event that triggers the immune response to a major wheat disease. The discovery offers new strategies for engineering wheat with enhanc
To Worry or Not to Worry? That Is the Question.
Joe Schwarcz - Seed World Columnist on 03/30/2025
“Three thousand six hundred food packaging chemicals detected in human bodies: How reheating food is killing us.” That was the headline that greeted me last week from one of the news services to which I subscribe. There were many others in the same vein. I knew that a slew of emails from worried peo
“Smart” Roots Make Strategic Use of Water
Compiled by Staff on 03/28/2025
Plants are able to modify their root hydraulics to maintain water status and strategically use soil water, according to a new study published today. When soils are drying, plants can decrease water use from topsoil whilst boosting uptake at greater depths. Conversely, when topsoil is rewetted, the
The 10th Seed Congress of the Americas is a Can’t-Miss Event of 2025
Compiled by Staff on 03/28/2025
Diego Risso wants you to experience something unforgettable next fall—not just a world-class event, but a moment of convergence that could change the future of the seed business in the Americas.Registration for the 10th Seed Congress of the Americas is open now, with a Limited Edition registration o
More Than 115 Organizations Support Global Agricultural Initiative to End Hunger
Compiled by Staff on 03/27/2025
More than 115 organizations have supported the call from 153 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates for a “moonshot” initiative to combat rising hunger worldwide. Released earlier this year, the letter highlights the urgent need for agricultural innovation to prevent a hunger crisis in the next 25 yea
Olivér Várhelyi: The New EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/27/2025
Olivér Várhelyi has assumed the role of European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, placing him at the forefront of regulatory decisions impacting agriculture and the EU seed sector. With a background in law and European affairs, Várhelyi will oversee policies on food safety, plant health, and
New Wheat Wild Relative Genome Research Unlocks Potential for Crop Improvement
Compiled by Staff on 03/26/2025
Scientists have successfully mapped the genome of Aegilops mutica, a wild relative of wheat, revealing its genetic diversity and potential for improving breeding programs.Researchers at the University of Nottingham created a chromosome-level, haplotype-resolved genome sequence of Aegilops mutica. Th
Tariff Turbulence and a World of Uncertainty
Aimee Nielson - Seed World U.S. Editor on 03/25/2025
What does it all mean to the seed industry? Seed World sat down with ASTA’s Sam Crowell to talk about the current climate. The word “tariff” might seem like a vague policy buzzword, but for those in the seed industry, it now comes with a steep price tag and a daily dose of uncertainty.“In the short
Jonathan Jones of Sainsbury Laboratory Named 2025 Wolf Prize Laureate in Agriculture
Compiled by Staff on 03/25/2025
Professor Jonathan Jones, Group Leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), has been named a 2025 Wolf Prize Laureate in Agriculture “for groundbreaking discoveries in the immune system and disease resistance in plants.” He shares the prestigious award with Professors Jeffery L. Dangl and Brian J. Sta
Bayer Opens Maize Seed Facility in Zambia to Support Food Security for 30 Million People
Compiled by Staff on 03/24/2025
Seed output from Zambia will supply 6.4 million Sub-Saharan African smallholders with high-yielding maize seeds in 2025, and up to 10 million by 2030.Bayer has announced the opening of a new maize seed facility in Kabwe, Zambia. Through the 32-million-euro facility alongside further investments in o
Fear, Misinformation, and Vine Vandalism Continue to Hinder Progress
Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/24/2025
Only a few months have passed since, in early October 2024, the first European vineyard with downy mildew-resistant plants, obtained using new genomic techniques (NGTs), was inaugurated in San Floriano in Valpolicella, Italy. The country had celebrated this step forward in viticulture research, than
A New Era for EU Policy: Christophe Hansen Named European Commissioner for Agriculture & Food
Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/21/2025
Christophe Hansen has been appointed as the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, a role that places him at the centre of European agricultural policy at a time of significant challenges. As a member of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and a seasoned politician with a backgro
Breakthrough in Sorghum Science: Advancing Drought-Resilience and Breeding for a Sustainable Future
Compiled by Staff on 03/20/2025
In a recent trio of studies, a team led by CSIC researcher Ana I. Caño-Delgado at CRAG has made remarkable strides in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind sorghum’s resilience and improving its breeding. Sorghum, the world’s fifth most cultivated cereal, plays a vital role in arid and semi-
Newly Discovered Pathway Helps Plants Precisely Control Seed Germination
Compiled by Staff on 03/19/2025
A team of plant physiologists, led by Dr. Guillaume Née and Prof. Iris Finkemeier at the University of Münster, has uncovered the molecular basis behind the balance between seed dormancy and stress resistance. The timing of seed germination is crucial for a plant’s survival, determining its growth p
Hutton Researchers Discover Key Ingredient in Eco-Friendly Spray to Fight Cereal Disease
Compiled by Staff on 03/18/2025
Scientists at The James Hutton Institute are making significant progress toward developing a spray that could “silence” genes responsible for Fusarium head blight, a disease affecting various cereal crops. This disease, which has been increasing in both frequency and severity in recent years, is cau
AGRI4POL: Advancing Sustainable Agriculture for Pollinators
Compiled by Staff on 03/17/2025
The AGRI4POL project, part of Horizon Europe, seeks to transform agriculture from a threat to pollinators into a driver of biodiversity, ecosystem health, and crop pollination services.Pollinators and the vital pollination services they provide for agriculture and human well-being face global threat
Euroseeds Welcomes Coreper Outcome and Calls for a Forward-looking Approach on NGTs
Compiled by Staff on 03/14/2025
Euroseeds applauds the outcome of the March 14 Coreper meeting, a significant milestone for the future of plant breeding innovation in Europe. The Council’s decision to begin trilogue negotiations with the EU Parliament and Commission on the New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) proposal sets the stage for