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

Euroseeds Publishes Updated Position on Research

Seed World Staff on 02/11/2026

Euroseeds’ updated position paper calls on the EU to secure dedicated plant breeding research funding under FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund to strengthen sustainable agriculture, the bioeconomy and EU competitiveness. The seed sector reinvests up to 20% of turnover in R&D, yet public supp

Ahead of Leaders’ Retreat, Agri-Food Chain Calls for Stronger EU Support

Seed World Staff on 02/11/2026

Ahead of the EU Leaders’ Retreat on 12 February, 40 agri-food organisations urge EU institutions to put agriculture and food at the heart of Europe’s competitiveness strategy. The €1 trillion EU agri-food value chain underpins food security, resilience and jobs, but faces rising regulatory complexit

Why Does Advocacy Matter for the EU Seed Sector?

César Gonzalez - Manager of Public Affairs at Euroseeds on 02/11/2026

This column explains the long-term nature of EU agricultural policymaking and the essential role of EU associations such as Euroseeds. It highlights stakeholder engagement since the Common Agricultural Policy, the growing power of the European Parliament, and multi-year legislative timelines, using

Government Funding Supports Gene-edited Crops At John Innes Centre

Seed World Staff on 02/10/2026

The John Innes Centre has secured UK government funding for four DEFRA-backed projects advancing precision breeding, including gene-edited disease-resistant crops, vitamin D–enriched tomatoes, and dandelions for sustainable rubber. Enabled by the UK Precision Breeding Act, the initiatives aim to boo

Deadline Extended to Feb 20: Nominations Open for Europe’s Promising Young Plant Breeders

Seed World Staff on 02/10/2026

Seed World Europe is now accepting nominations for its April 2026 “20 Most Promising Young Plant Breeders in Europe” feature. Nominate early-career plant breeders making an impact across Europe, from universities, research institutes, seed companies, and sector organisations.The post Deadline Extend

The Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform Extends to Ornamental and Fruit Crops

Hélène Guillot - Managing Director of the ACLP on 02/09/2026

After three years, the Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform (ACLP) has expanded to include ornamental, fruit, and forest crops, strengthening access to patented traits across Europe. The platform now supports breeders of all crop types with transparent patent disclosure, standardized licensing, fair

Europe Can’t Afford to Fall Behind: Jessica Polfjärd on the EU’s NGT Turning Point

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 02/06/2026

Europe’s new agreement on New Genomic Techniques marks a turning point for plant breeding and seed innovation. Led by MEP Jessica Polfjärd, the NGT dossier balanced science, politics, and national interests to reach compromise. The reform aims to modernise EU regulation, support farmers, strengthen

Closing the Nutrient Loop: How Wastewater Could Power Future Farming

Seed World Staff on 02/05/2026

Researchers at Wageningen University & Research are testing circular fertilizers made from wastewater, including treated human urine, as low-emission alternatives to inorganic fertilizer. Early trials show urine nitrogen can be up to 25% more efficiently absorbed by crops. The research aims to cut g

Multi-Herbicide-Tolerant GM Soybean Passes EFSA Safety Assessment

Seed World Staff on 02/04/2026

EFSA’s GMO Panel has issued a positive safety opinion on GM soybean MON 94313 for food and feed, finding it as safe as conventional and non-GM varieties for human and animal health and the environment. MON 94313 tolerates dicamba, glufosinate, 2,4-D and mesotrione. EFSA found no toxicity or allergen

Watermelon in the Lab and the Field: Breeding the Perfect Bite

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 02/04/2026

Modern watermelon breeding has evolved from boosting yield and sweetness to optimizing the entire value chain. Driven by seedless demand, fresh-cut growth, and quality-focused European markets, breeders now balance flavor, texture, shelf life, transport resilience, and convenience. In this Seed Worl

Gene Discovery Could Unlock New Era of Barley Breeding

Seed World Staff on 02/03/2026

Scientists at The James Hutton Institute have identified HvST1, a “Sticky Telomeres 1” gene that boosts genetic recombination in barley. Mutations reduced chromosome ‘stickiness’ during meiosis, unlocking genome regions and giving breeders more flexibility to combine traits like drought and disease

EU–UK SPS Chapter Negotiations: The Seed Trade Reset We Can’t Afford to Botch

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

After years of post-Brexit disruption, EU–UK SPS negotiations offer a critical chance to simplify seed trade. Reduced border delays, regulatory alignment, and greater predictability could cut costs and restore efficiency. Euroseeds warns success depends on meaningful coverage for seed, mutual recogn

Powdery Mildew Outsmarts Wheat by Masking Key Effector Signal

Seed World Staff on 02/02/2026

University of Zurich scientists uncovered how wheat powdery mildew can bypass genetic resistance without losing its key effector AvrPm4. The fungus deploys a second effector that masks AvrPm4 from the Pm4 resistance protein, yet this suppressor is itself detectable by another wheat resistance gene.

$2M Grant Backs AI Initiative to Protect Crops from Disease

Seed World Staff on 02/02/2026

The Sainsbury Laboratory has secured $2 million from Google.org’s $20 million AI for Science Fund to launch Bifrost, led by Professor Sophien Kamoun. Using DeepMind’s AlphaFold3, Bifrost will predict plant immune receptor–pathogen interactions from genome sequences to speed breeding of disease-resis

What’s Wrong With International Governance These Days?

Niels Louwaars – Seed World Columnist on 02/02/2026

International agreements born in the 1990s era of globalization shaped trade, climate, and biodiversity governance through multilateral cooperation. Three decades later, rising geopolitical tensions, stalled COPs, and growing lobbying have weakened progress. The article argues for smaller, trust-bas

Joint Actions, Resilient Futures: The Global Seed Community’s Next Chapter Unfolds in Lisbon

Seed World Staff on 02/01/2026

Seed sits at the center of food security, sustainable agriculture, and global trade transformation. The ISF World Seed Congress 2026 in Lisbon brings together seed and plant breeding leaders to address climate volatility, innovation, regulation, and markets. Under the theme “Joint Actions, Resilient

The Future of IP in the Regulation of NGTs

Jocelyn Bosse on 01/30/2026

The EU has reached a provisional agreement on New Genomic Techniques regulation, classifying Category 1 NGT plants as equivalent to conventional breeding and outside GMO rules. The framework increases transparency around patents, mandates disclosure, and launches reviews on intellectual property imp

The Regulation Race Is Redrawing Seed Innovation

Aimee Nielson - Seed World U.S. Editor on 01/29/2026

Gene editing is accelerating plant breeding across crops and regions, but global regulatory frameworks may determine who gets to innovate. In a recent webinar, regulatory veteran Daniel Jenkins explains how policy decisions in Latin America, Europe and beyond are shaping the future of seed innovatio