Latest Articles

Silver Linings Amid Vandalism: A Turbulent Year for Italy’s First Gene-Edited Crop
11/06/2024
In Europe, rice is produced in eight EU Member States (IT, ES, EL, PT, FR, BG, RO, HU), with Italy representing 50% and Spain 30% of EU rice area and production. But the crop is suffering more and more from a nasty fungus: rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae). It evolves rapidly and has gained resistance
Launch of EU IPMorama Project for Integrated Pest Management in Wheat, Potatoes, and Grain Legumes
11/05/2024
The kick-off meeting for the Horizon Europe IPMorama project took place in Dublin, Ireland, on Oct. 3-4, 2024, hosted by Teagasc | Agriculture and Food Development. This four-year project, valued at €5 million, unites 17 partners from 10 European countries, aiming to enhance variety-centric Integrat
Innovation: We All Win
11/05/2024
Each time when we’re approaching the print date of a new issue of Seed World Europe, the question arises as to what topic I should write my Editorial column about. I have come to learn that in Europe, with its many legislative proposals, regulatory roadblocks, deviations and policy hiccups, there is
Innovation in Seed Production
11/04/2024
The coming challenges regarding food security, biodiversity and climate change highly rely on seed science and accurate prescient view of both agronomic and operational future production conditions.Genome understanding and selection technologies have incredibly increased the efficiency in go-to-mark
Growing Together: Hazera’s Global Vision for the Future of Agriculture
11/04/2024
As the new CEO of Hazera Seeds, I am excited about the future of our industry and how we help to shape global agriculture. Our company’s journey is built on innovation and customer-focused solutions.Putting Growers FirstThe core of Hazera’s strategy is our total commitment to our growers. They are n
A Helping Gene for Healthier Plants
11/01/2024
Researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) have identified a new gene that regulates plants’ sensitivity to threats such as fungi and drought. By eliminating this gene, known as Parakletos (meaning “helper”), plants exhibit increased resilience, potentially reducing the nee
You Don’t Have to be a Superhero to Declare Your Origin Story
11/01/2024
NOTE: For a PDF download of this article click here!In my conversations with companies across the seed industry, one question keeps resurfacing: “How do we define our mission and vision in a way that truly unites our team?” For many, it comes down to writing a mission statement, but I often find tha
Embracing Technology to Breed Better Pulses
11/01/2024
It’s amazing how quickly new technologies come along and make a huge impact.When I first started working in the seed industry in 2021, we would manually pick all the green peas from a bag of seed. It was labor intensive and time consuming. Now I work with a color sorter that automatically separates
Researchers Develop Breakthrough Technique for Breeding Genetically Identical Hybrid Crops with Parent Traits
11/01/2024
When different varieties of a plant species are crossbred, their hybrid offspring often exhibit greater vigor and faster growth than the parent plants. However, this effect typically fades in subsequent generations. New methods now allow scientists to retain these beneficial traits in hybrid plants
Grass Seed Market Resilient Despite 2024 Challenges
11/01/2024
Despite the hurdles presented by extreme weather across Europe in 2024, the grass seed market has shown remarkable resilience, with key sectors posting positive results. While news of heavy rains in central and northern regions and intense heat in the south created concerns, several bright spots ind
European Legume Breeding Advances for Competitive Seed Market and Sustainable Protein Production
11/01/2024
Launched in October 2023, the BELIS innovation project aims to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of European legume breeding. Its key objectives include developing cost-effective breeding tools, improving the economic and regulatory landscape for legume breeding, and facilitating effici
Scientists Examine Wheat Genes to Boost the Crop’s Disease Resistance
10/31/2024
New research that could increase the natural resistance of wheat to a devastating fungal disease has begun at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.The research will examine why some wheat varieties are more resistant than others to this disease, according to a press release. Dr Angela Feechan, a plan
The Future of Breeding: Erez Atzmon on Phenome Networks’ Next-Gen Platform
10/31/2024
What does the future of plant breeding look like? Marcel Bruins, Editorial Director of Seed World Europe, sits down with Erez Atzmon, Vice President of Business Development at Phenome Networks, to discuss their Next Generation Platform and how it’s revolutionizing data management for breeders and va
New Crop Innovation Centre Opens to Enhance Food Security, Futureproof Crop Production
10/31/2024
The Crop Innovation Centre (CIC), officially opened by UK Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney MSP, is located at The James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie. It aims to futureproof crop production and enhance food security for the UK and beyond.The
Are You Registered for the Seeds Canada Semi-Annual Meeting?
10/30/2024
As we prepare for for our Semi-Annual Meeting on Nov. 15 and 18, I think it’s important to highlight the theme, “Pressing for Progress.” We’ve been talking about it for a long time, but this year feels different. It’s not just about discussing ideas; it’s about seeking feedback, acting, and addressi
Questioning DUS to Better Adapt to Population Varieties
10/30/2024
European regulations are now allowing new types of plant reproductive material to be marketed for organic agriculture, characterized by their high diversity, which poses challenges for DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability) testing. Victor Nelaton, a trainee at GEVES from March to August 2024
Poland Delays GM Feed Ban for Five Years
10/30/2024
The Polish Parliament has extended the exemptions to the provisions of the 2006 Feed Act, allowing the continued use of genetically modified (GM) feed ingredients until January 1, 2030. Poland is a significant importer of soybean meal, including GM meal, with annual imports totaling $1.5 billion, ac
Cultivating Tenacity and Teamwork: Klaus Koehler’s Advice for Young Plant Breeders
10/29/2024
Asked to pinpoint the top two skills young plant breeders need, the consensus is clear as far as Corteva’s Global Talent Development Lead Klaus Koehler is concerned. He sat down with Seed World at the recent meeting of the National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) in St. Louis, MO.“Tenacity mig
Strengthening Africa’s Seed Certification: An OECD and G7 Initiative
10/29/2024
How can seed certification revolutionize agriculture in Africa? Marcel Bruins interviews Aurelia Nicault, Programme Officer from the Trade and Agriculture Directorate at OECD, to discuss an exciting new project aimed at boosting Africa’s capacity for seed certification. With the support of the G7 co
Support Association for the Swiss Plant Breeding Center Formed
10/28/2024
Switzerland faces a significant demand for new, robust plant varieties with stable yields to promote sustainable agriculture, particularly in light of challenges such as climate change and emerging plant diseases. To enhance plant breeding and foster innovation in the country, organizations includin
Nottingham Team Receive Funding to Bring Gene-Edited Cereals a Step Closer to Farms
10/25/2024
Researchers from the University of Nottingham are part of a team awarded £2.2 million to trial a precision-bred wheat variety that could lead to more sustainable farming systems. The team is involved in the PROBITY project—A Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Traits and Yield—led by the Br
Historic Deposit at Svalbard Seed Vault Bolsters Food Security in Crisis
10/24/2024
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has welcomed a new deposit of over 30,000 seed samples from 23 depositors representing 21 countries, including seven international genebanks. This is the largest number of contributors since 2020, when a record 35 genebanks made contributions, highlighting the growing
Where is Variety Testing Headed? A Closer Look at the INVITE Project
10/24/2024
How is climate change affecting plant variety testing? Marcel Bruins, Editorial Director of Seed World Europe, interviews Francois Laurens, Coordinator of the INVITE Project, to discuss how this ambitious EU-funded initiative aims to transform plant breeding and variety testing across Europe. The I
Strengthening Plant Breeders’ Rights: Insights from CPVO Vice President Nuria Urquia Fernandez
10/23/2024
Join Marcel Bruins, Editorial Director of Seed World Europe, as he interviews Nuria Urquia Fernandez, Vice President of the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO). In this engaging discussion, Nuria shares her perspectives on the latest developments in plant breeders’ rights, the evolving landscape o