From Waste to Yield: Biochar Innovation Supports Crop Growth

Seed World Staff on 03/28/2026

Researchers developed an engineered sewage sludge biochar paired with Bacillus velezensis that boosts cabbage growth by improving nitrogen uptake and soil microbial activity. The biofertilizer increased plant biomass by up to 40%, while enhancing root colonization and soil health. This sustainable a

Climate-Ready Wheat Could Secure Future Pasta Production

Seed World Staff on 03/27/2026

Researchers from Skoltech, CIMMYT, Italy’s Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops, and global partners developed new durum wheat lines with improved freezing tolerance and strong gluten quality for premium pasta. Published in Frontiers in Plant Science, the study uses genomic selection and

Scientists Discover a New Plant Immune Complex in Wheat

Seed World Staff on 03/25/2026

Researchers discovered a new plant immune defense in wheat, where the WAI3 protein forms an eight-part resistosome that triggers calcium flow and activates disease resistance. Published in Cell, the study shows this mechanism also exists in Arabidopsis, suggesting a conserved immune strategy across

For The Love of Carbs

Joe Schwarcz - Seed World Columnist on 03/25/2026

Carbohydrates are diverse compounds central to energy, industry, and biology, from sugars and starches to cellulose and DNA components. This overview highlights their chemical complexity, everyday applications, and health impacts. It also traces their role in teaching chemistry through engaging exam

UK Food System Under Pressure as Report Urges Shift to Sustainable Farming

Seed World Staff on 03/25/2026

A new Demos report, backed by McCain Foods, says sustainable farming could strengthen the UK food system, raise farm profits, cut fertiliser imports and unlock billions in economic value by 2035. With public support growing, the report urges government action to help farmers adopt regenerative pract

Legacy Project to Support National Food Bank ahead of World Seed Congress 2026

Seed World Staff on 03/24/2026

Ahead of the World Seed Congress 2026 in Lisbon, the new Legacy Project aims to create lasting local impact by uniting the seed sector, students and civil society to grow crops for donation to Portugal’s National Food Bank. Supported by multiple partners, the initiative will cultivate 1.6 hectares a

Study Finds Crops Store Wastewater Drugs Mainly in Leaves

Seed World Staff on 03/23/2026

A Johns Hopkins study found that crops irrigated with treated wastewater, including tomatoes, carrots, and lettuce, tend to accumulate psychoactive pharmaceutical residues mainly in their leaves. Published in Environmental Science & Technology, the research improves understanding of how these compou

Time for Change — PRM and The Wider Context

Franco Brazzabeni – Seed World Columnist on 03/23/2026

The EU is advancing a new Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) regulation to modernize seed laws, improve traceability, and support biodiversity and food security. Trilogue discussions highlight divisions over exemptions, seed exchanges, and heterogeneous materials. The proposal aims to harmonize rules

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