Tunisia Sequences Ancient Durum Wheat Varieties to Boost Climate Resilience

Seed World Staff on 05/15/2026

Tunisian researchers sequenced the complete genomes of Mahmoudi and Chili durum wheat landraces, uncovering valuable traits for drought tolerance, disease resistance and climate resilience. The genomic data, available through OpenDurumGPT on Zenodo, supports global wheat breeding efforts while prese

Biotech Just Hit Fast Forward. Is Europe’s Seed Sector Ready?

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 05/15/2026

AI, CRISPR, genomic prediction and speed breeding are transforming plant breeding at unprecedented speed. Wageningen University’s Richard Harrison says Europe’s seed sector faces a defining moment as New Genomic Techniques reshape regulation, investment and innovation access. Faster breeding tools,

Where Gene Editing in Agriculture Meets Consumer Value

Aimee Nielson - Seed World U.S. Editor on 05/14/2026

Pairwise CEO Tom Adams says gene editing’s next opportunity may come from crops where the benefits are easy for consumers and growers to see.The post Where Gene Editing in Agriculture Meets Consumer Value appeared first on Seed World.As investment has long centered on corn and soy, one company is wo

Why Portugal Matters to the Global Seed Sector

Aimee Nielson - Seed World U.S. Editor on 05/14/2026

From global seed trade to next-generation leadership, the 2026 ISF World Seed Congress arrives in a city built for international connection. Lisbon sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, a gateway city that has connected continents for centuries. It’s a fitting stage for the 2026 ISF World Seed Con

Breakthrough Crop Research Creates Fusarium-Resistant Wheat Hybrids

Seed World Staff on 05/13/2026

Researchers identified a novel Fusarium Head Blight resistance locus in Elymus repens, a wild wheat relative, and successfully transferred it into cultivated wheat. The new locus, Fhb.Er-1StL, reduced diseased spikelets by up to 69% in greenhouse trials and 60% in field trials, offering a valuable n

Scientists Build First Watermelon Super-Pangenome to Advance Crop Breeding

Seed World Staff on 05/13/2026

Scientists have developed a comprehensive watermelon super-pangenome integrating 138 wild and cultivated genomes, revealing genetic variants linked to sweetness, flesh colour, and disease resistance. Published in Nature Genetics, the research provides a powerful new resource for genomics-assisted br

Communications Manager Opportunity Opens at Euroseeds in Brussels

Seed World Staff on 05/12/2026

Euroseeds is recruiting a Manager Communications to join its Brussels-based team and support strategic communication, digital engagement and EU advocacy for the European seed sector. The role includes media relations, stakeholder outreach and event coordination. Candidates with experience in communi

Rothamsted Research Spin-Out SugaROx Secures £2.5M Investment from Mosaic

Seed World Staff on 05/12/2026

Rothamsted Research and University of Oxford spin-out SugaROx has secured £2.5 million from The Mosaic Company to advance precision crop biostimulants. The Series A investment will support field trials, regulatory work, commercial scale-up, and development of SugaROx’s T6P-based platform, designed t

Scientists Use Genome Editing to Develop Healthier Lettuce Crops

Seed World Staff on 05/11/2026

Researchers used genome editing to alter flavonoid production in red-leaf lettuce, removing red pigmentation while increasing beneficial compounds such as quercetin. The modified lettuce maintained normal growth, highlighting a potential crop breeding strategy for developing functional lettuce varie

Loss of Pollinators Threatens Crop Yields and Human Nutrition Worldwide

Seed World Staff on 05/11/2026

New University of Bristol research published in Nature finds that pollinator decline threatens crop production, human nutrition and farm incomes. Studying smallholder farms in Nepal, researchers found pollinators support 44% of farming income and more than 20% of key vitamin intake, highlighting the

NordPheno Boosts Nordic Crop Breeding

Seed World Staff on 05/08/2026

Representatives from eight leading Nordic research institutions gathered at the University of Helsinki in late March to officially launch NordPheno, the Nordic Research Infrastructure Hub for Digital Plant Phenotyping.The five-year NordForsk-funded network (2026–2030) brings together partners from F

Agri-Food Leaders Call for Stronger EU Innovation Funding

Seed World Staff on 05/07/2026

Five European Technology Platforms and nine agri-food organisations are urging EU policymakers to recognise agriculture, aquaculture and food systems as strategic priorities in the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe. The groups call for dedicated agri-food research funding, stronger st

Industry Coalition Calls for Swift Approval of EU New Genomic Techniques Law

Seed World Staff on 05/05/2026

Thirty-one agri-food organisations are urging MEPs to adopt the EU Regulation on new genomic techniques without amendments. According to a Euroseeds press release, the compromise text would support innovation, sustainability, competitiveness and resilience in European agriculture while distinguishin

Healthy Soils, Resilient Harvests: Regeneration in Action

François Harambat - Head of Marketing and Communication at MAS Seeds on 05/04/2026

MAS Seeds is advancing regenerative agriculture to help farmers build healthier soils, stronger crops and more stable harvests. Through reduced tillage, cover crops, diversified rotations and field-tested innovations such as MAS4COVER, MAS Seeds supports resilience in changing climates while reducin

New Report Highlights Trust Gap in Agricultural Innovation

Seed World Staff on 05/04/2026

A new report by Leaps by Bayer, Boston Consulting Group and Ipsos UK examines public trust in agricultural innovation, including new genomic techniques and cultivated meat. Based on interviews in China, Germany and the United States, and a 2025 survey of more than 13,000 people across 13 countries,

Hops and Cannabis Share Genetic Sex Switch, Scientists Discover

Seed World Staff on 05/04/2026

University College Dublin researchers identified a genetic sex switch in cannabis that may also control sex in hops. The study, published in New Phytologist, found key genes on the X chromosome that influence male, female and monoecious development, offering potential benefits for cannabis and hop b

Maize Under Siege Attracts More Pests

Seed World Staff on 05/04/2026

New research finds maize under simultaneous root and leaf pest attack releases distinct root chemicals that strongly attract wireworms. Scientists recreated the cue as a synthetic blend, effective in lab, semi-field and field tests. The discovery highlights the rhizosphere’s role in crop protection

OECD Seed Schemes Explained | Seed Certification & Global Seed Trade

Seed World Staff on 05/04/2026

OECD seed certification strengthens trust in global seed systems by harmonising standards for quality, identity, and purity across more than 60 countries. This video explains how OECD Seed Schemes support international seed trade, farmer confidence, market access, capacity building, and food securit

Denmark’s Oat Strategy Could Transform Sustainable Agriculture

Seed World Staff on 05/04/2026

Denmark’s AVENUE project is testing 200 oat varieties to develop climate-resilient, nutritious crops for sustainable organic farming. By studying yield, quality, adaptability and health traits, researchers aim to create 'super oats' that support food security, lower climate impact and future plant b

UPOV Launches Global PVP Certificate

Seed World Staff on 05/01/2026

UPOV has launched a new PVP Certificate for private sector professionals in plant variety protection. The internationally recognized program validates expertise in the UPOV system, supports career advancement, and strengthens professional standing across seed and plant breeding sectors. Open globall

From One Breeder’s Vision to a Global Legacy

Aimee Nielson - Seed World U.S. Editor on 04/30/2026

With 170 years of independence, KWS combines scientific expertise, long-term thinking and farmer partnerships to advance modern plant breeding. From sugar beet origins to a global portfolio spanning 20+ crops, the company invests heavily in research, delivering resilient, high-yield varieties. Its f

Climate-Smart Farming: Study Shows How Biochar Can Improve Yields and Soil

Seed World Staff on 04/30/2026

A new global biochar model helps predict how biochar affects crop yields, soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions across farming systems. Tested with data from 48 field sites, the study shows biochar can support climate-smart agriculture, but results depend on climate, soil type and applica

Scientists Use CRISPR to Strengthen Grapevines in African First

Seed World Staff on 04/28/2026

African researchers used CRISPR to successfully edit grapevine DNA for the first time in a woody crop on the continent. By switching off the VvDMR6.1 gene, the study reduced susceptibility to downy mildew and improved drought response, highlighting genome editing’s potential for climate-resilient gr

CRISPR Study Unlocks Precision Chromosome Editing in Wheat

Seed World Staff on 04/28/2026

IPK researchers used CRISPR/Cas to reduce or remove chromosomes in wheat and other large-genome plants by targeting satellite DNA. Published in Plant Communications, the breakthrough shows how precise chromosome editing can create new genetic variants, accelerate wheat breeding and support the devel