How Biotechnology Could Save the Banana

Simon Maechling - Innovation Manager at Bayer Crop Science. on 03/20/2026

Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) is devastating banana crops across Africa, threatening food security for over 70 million people. With no cure and limited breeding options, scientists are turning to biotechnology. Genetic engineering and genome editing have produced resistant bananas, offering hope. Ho

Soil Microbes Help Suppress Crop Diseases, Global Study Finds

Seed World Staff on 03/19/2026

A global study has mapped plant pathogen hotspots and found that healthier, more diverse soils can naturally suppress disease. Published in Nature Communications, the research also warns that climate change could expand the range of major bacterial plant pathogens. The findings offer a foundation fo

Study Finds No Clear Link Between GMOs and Health Risks

Seed World Staff on 03/17/2026

A new review of global health data and decades of scientific research found no consistent evidence that GMO consumption is linked to major human health problems. Researchers in South Korea found no causal association between GMOs and cancer, allergies, reproductive disorders, or chronic disease, con

New Gene Discovery Could Help Breed Hardier, Higher-yielding Faba Beans

Seed World Staff on 03/13/2026

Faba bean, an ancient high-protein crop and sustainable European soy alternative, may soon become more frost-resilient. Researchers improved the faba bean reference genome and identified a single gene locus linked to winter hardiness, frost tolerance, and yield stability. The discovery could speed b

Square Wheels and Round Thinking: Why AI in Agribusiness Starts with First Principles

Dawn Ius - Seed World Associate Editor on 03/12/2026

AI consultant Robert Newcombe urges farmers to challenge tradition and use artificial intelligence to rethink farm operations. Drawing on his dairy farm background, he says AI works best for reducing administrative drudgery, improving efficiency, and freeing staff for higher-value tasks. While cauti

Svalbard Global Seed Vault Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Seed World Staff on 03/11/2026

Geir Pollestad, Norwegian MP and former agriculture minister, has nominated the Svalbard Global Seed Vault for the Nobel Peace Prize, together with NordGen, FAO, Crop Trust, and CGIAR. He argued that food security is essential for peace amid climate change and conflict. The nomination highlights see

The Invisible Leak in the Seed Sector

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/10/2026

Illegal seed reproduction is quietly distorting Europe’s vegetable seed markets. New data from the Anti-Infringement Bureau (AIB) reveals where infringement occurs, why reporting has risen 86%, and how training and intelligence are improving detection. By targeting high-risk crops and markets, colle

Let’s Talk: A Critical Moment for New Genomic Techniques in Europe

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/06/2026

Europe is edging closer to a major milestone on New Genomic Techniques. In this Seed World Europe discussion, Petar Madjarac and Marcel Bruins explain where EU NGT regulation stands and why the next political decisions could be decisive for the future of plant breeding.The post Let’s Talk: A Critica

Long-Term Study Shows Soil Imbalances Can Weaken Crop Defenses

Seed World Staff on 03/05/2026

A 70-year long-term experiment shows that nutrient imbalances in soil—especially potassium deficiency combined with nitrogen fertilization—can severely disrupt mycorrhizal symbiosis, the vital partnership between plants and beneficial fungi. The study, led by researchers at the University of Vienna

Biological Seed Treatments: Innovation, Regulation and Market Expansion

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/04/2026

Biological seed treatments are rapidly advancing across global agriculture, driven by innovation, regulatory shifts and growing farmer demand for improved crop performance. Industry leaders from BASF, Bayer, Corteva and Incotec examine market growth, technical challenges, regulatory harmonization an

Study Links eccDNA to Rapid Plant Stress Resistance

Seed World Staff on 03/03/2026

Scientists at Rothamsted and Clemson University have unified fragmented research to show that extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) acts as a genomic “shock absorber” in plants. Their review demonstrates that eccDNA amplifies genes, buffers stress and accelerates adaptation beyond chromosomal limit

Selling Abundance in a World Addicted to Scarcity

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 03/02/2026

Part 2 explores Hidde Boersma’s techno-optimistic vision for sustainable agriculture, highlighting WePlanet, ecomodernism, CRISPR, land sparing and high-yield farming. It examines how storytelling, film and culture reshape debates on biotechnology and the seed sector. The article argues that abundan

Early Release of EuroBlight Blight Monitoring Results for the 2025 Potato Crop

Seed World Staff on 02/27/2026

EuroBlight’s first 2025 potato season results show Europe’s late blight population remains dominated by the aggressive EU36 genotype, while EU43 and EU46 strains continue shifting regionally. More than 1,200 samples were genotyped, revealing rising diversity in northern and eastern Europe. Adjusted

Genebanks from Africa, Asia and Europe Safeguard Crops in Svalbard

Seed World Staff on 02/26/2026

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault marked its first 2026 deposit, securing 7,864 seed samples from 10 genebanks across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. First-time contributions came from Guatemala and Niger, alongside the vault’s first-ever olive seeds. The deposit brings the total conserved crop

Dirty Ships, Lifted Embargoes and the Hidden Power of Grain

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 02/25/2026

This article examines how climate-driven famine and uninspected grain trade helped spread the Black Death, drawing parallels to today’s risks from illegal and counterfeit seeds. It highlights how uncertified seed trade bypasses biosecurity, inspection and traceability, threatening agriculture, farme

Study Warns of Rising Heat Risks for Global Wheat Yields

Seed World Staff on 02/24/2026

New research from Rothamsted Research suggests heatwaves during wheat flowering may soon pose a bigger threat to yields than drought. Using climate projections and the Sirius wheat model, researchers found drought impacts at flowering may ease slightly, while heat stress damage rises sharply. By 205

From Kernel to Code: Apply to the InnovAction Stage 2026

Seed World Staff on 02/24/2026

Euroseeds is launching the InnovAction Stage 2026—calling visionary start-ups and public–private partnerships to showcase game-changing seed sector innovations. Under “From Kernel to Code,” applicants can submit solutions in seed treatment, sustainable packaging, labelling, traceability, and digital

Boosting Soil Carbon Through Smarter Miscanthus Selection

Seed World Staff on 02/24/2026

Aberystwyth University researchers report new Miscanthus traits that could boost soil carbon storage, helping climate change mitigation. Published in Frontiers in Plant Science, the study analysed leaves, roots, and rhizomes from 11 varieties. Results suggest woody rhizomes can push carbon deeper in

Large-Scale DNA Variants Drive Cucumber History, Study Finds

Seed World Staff on 02/23/2026

A new Nature Genetics study led by Boyce Thompson Institute’s Zhangjun Fei reveals that large DNA “structural variants” play a major role in cucumber evolution and breeding. Using a graph-based pangenome built from 39 high-quality genomes, researchers identified nearly 172,000 variants affecting tra

Harnessing Technology to Protect the World’s Crop Diversity

Seed World Staff on 02/20/2026

The Crop Trust has launched Securing Our Seeds (SOS), a USD 2 million Google.org-backed initiative to modernize global crop diversity conservation. The project will digitize genebanks using GRIN-Global software, integrate data with the Genesys portal, and strengthen digital skills. SOS will also exp

New Research Reveals Camelina’s Climate Adaptation Potential

Seed World Staff on 02/19/2026

EU-funded UNTWIST research shows camelina (Camelina sativa) could help climate-proof agriculture as heatwaves and droughts intensify. Scientists tested 54 camelina lines across controlled environments and European field trials, finding wide variation in stress responses despite limited genetic diver

Empowering Africa, One Seed at a Time

Hanro Steenekamp, Head of Seedcare and Biologicals - Africa and Middle East, Syngenta on 02/19/2026

African farmers are central to regional and global food security. The Syngenta Seedcare Institute in Brits, South Africa, develops locally tailored seed treatment solutions to improve crop emergence, soil health and sustainable yields. By combining global innovation with African expertise, the insti

CO₂ and Crops: The Yield Driver EU Policy Rarely Talks About

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 02/13/2026

Satellite data reveal rising CO₂ has significantly boosted crop yields, especially wheat, more than many EU climate models acknowledge. An NBER study links real-world CO₂ variation to higher maize, soybean and wheat productivity. Ignoring CO₂ fertilisation may overstate climate damage, misguide EU p

Discovery May Help Barley Growers Better Manage Seed Dormancy

Seed World Staff on 02/13/2026

University of Adelaide researchers, partnering with Carlsberg Research Laboratory, mapped a key barley MAPK enzyme–substrate complex that regulates seed dormancy. Published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the work clarifies how MKK3 activates downstream MAPK signaling and helps e