What Does Being “BRAVE” Look Like in 2026?

Shawn Brook - Seed World Group President on 11/12/2026

Courage in leadership isn't always about bold decisions. Sometimes it's asking an uncomfortable question or making sure a quiet voice gets heard. One seed industry meeting shows why challenging the status quo and creating space for honest conversations can lead to meaningful change.The post What Doe

Euroseeds InnovAction Stage Showcases Seed Innovation

Seed World Staff on 11/12/2026

The Euroseeds InnovAction Stage at the 2026 congress in Valencia gave innovators an opportunity to showcase emerging seed technologies, earn recognition and connect with potential customers and partners. Participants and award winners share their experiences and discuss the value of the platform.The

CPVO Opens New Headquarters in Angers

Seed World Staff on 11/12/2026

The Community Plant Variety Office has inaugurated its new CPVO headquarters in Angers, France, bringing staff together in one location. European and French officials attended the ceremony, highlighting the importance of plant variety rights in supporting breeding innovation, competitiveness and agr

Plant Immune Memory Offers New Potential for Crop Breeding

Seed World Staff on 11/12/2026

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have uncovered how plant immune memory can persist while protecting genome stability. The findings, alongside early results in rice, point to potential applications in epigenetic crop breeding, offering new ways to develop disease resistance, stress toleran

Why Seed Sector Development Needs an Enabling Environment

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 11/10/2026

Seed sector development depends on more than good legislation. Comparing hunger levels with international seed frameworks and African seed sector performance reveals why effective institutions, predictable regulations and investment are essential to getting improved varieties into farmers' hands.The

Euroseeds Congress 2026: Connections Beyond the Stage

Seed World Staff on 11/10/2026

Euroseeds Congress 2026 in Valencia brought together seed industry leaders, innovators and policymakers from across Europe and beyond. Participants share how networking, fresh perspectives and opportunities for collaboration make the annual gathering valuable to the international seed community.The

Europe’s Seed Production is on the Move

John Larsen, EVP Europe, DLF on 11/10/2026

European seed production is gradually shifting north as rising temperatures, drought and unpredictable weather reshape growing conditions. DLF's John Larsen examines how the 2026 harvest highlights the need for resilient varieties, diversified production systems and greater security of supply.The po

Unlocking Wild Plant Traits Could Help Breed More Resilient Crops

Seed World Staff on 11/10/2026

New chromosome recognition research at Aberystwyth University aims to help plant breeders access valuable traits from wild relatives. The three-year project will combine artificial intelligence, DNA sequencing and chromosome painting to investigate barriers to conventional breeding and identify oppo

Pea and Bean Varieties Could Shape Soil Health and the Next Harvest

Seed World Staff on 11/09/2026

New research suggests differences in crop residues could give breeders another selection criterion: how a variety supports soil processes and the crop that follows.Selecting pea and field bean varieties could influence more than the pulse harvest. New research suggests the stems, leaves and roots le

Improved Crop Varieties Highlight Value of Long-Term Research

Seed World Staff on 11/06/2026

Long-term agricultural research investment is essential to developing improved crop varieties and delivering practical benefits for farmers. A new UK report highlights Aberystwyth University's forage breeding work while examining how sustained funding, industry partnerships and farmer-focused resear

Does Modern Plant Breeding Reduce Flavour and Diversity?

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 11/05/2026

Does modern plant breeding threaten flavour and crop diversity? From colourful vegetables and Basmati rice to disease-resistant apples and potatoes, scientific evidence challenges common assumptions about breeding and highlights its role in expanding culinary choice, improving food quality and prese

China and the Netherlands Discuss Plant Breeders’ Rights, AI and Robotics

Seed World Staff on 11/05/2026

Plant breeders' rights, artificial intelligence and robotics were central to discussions between Chinese and Dutch industry representatives at the Kunming International Flower Expo. Experts explored how stronger variety protection, international cooperation and advanced cultivation technologies coul

Breeding Against the Clock

Michelle Cornu - Global Brand & Communications Lead, Limagrain Field Seeds on 11/03/2026

Genome editing is expanding the plant breeder's toolbox as European farmers face increasing climate, disease and pest pressures. With a new EU regulatory framework in place, Limagrain sees opportunities to accelerate the development of resilient, high-performing crop varieties.The post Breeding Agai

Breeding for a Climate That Won’t Hold Still: What Every Seed Professional Needs to Understand

Enid Perez-Lara on 11/02/2026

Climate-resilient varieties are only as reliable as the environments in which they're tested. As Europe's climate changes faster than traditional breeding cycles can respond, plant breeders must rethink field trials, incorporate envirotyping and use better climate data to predict future performance.

Euroseeds 2026: Key Highlights from Valencia Congress

Seed World Staff on 11/02/2026

Euroseeds 2026 brought the international seed community to Valencia, Spain, for discussions on NGTs, PRM reform, plant variety rights and innovation. Watch the video recap highlighting key conversations, emerging technologies and industry connections from this year's Congress.The post Euroseeds 2026

Preparing European Agriculture For a Climate it Can’t Predict

Pascal Basta, Head of Business Development – EU Seeds, Staphyt on 11/02/2026

Staphyt says European agriculture needs stronger climate resilience as heat, drought and weather volatility reshape crop performance. Its European seed trial network helps breeders and seed companies test varieties, stress responses and production systems across diverse local conditions.The post Pre

Scientists Target Photosynthesis Efficiency for Better Crops

Seed World Staff on 10/30/2026

Researchers at Sweden's KTH Royal Institute of Technology have identified Rubisco enzyme mutations that could improve photosynthesis efficiency by reducing unwanted oxygen reactions. The findings offer new possibilities for crop improvement, although further testing is needed to determine whether th

Svalbard Seed Vault Prize to Protect At-Risk Collections

Seed World Staff on 10/29/2026

Svalbard Seed Vault partners will direct €50,000 from the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award toward protecting vulnerable seed collections. The funding will help genebanks safeguard crop diversity and preserve valuable genetic resources for future plant breeding and global food security.The post Svalba

3 Game Changers: InnovAction Winners Announced

Seed World Staff on 10/29/2026

PEWAS Innovative Chemistry claimed the top prize at the Euroseeds 2026 InnovAction Stage in Valencia, Spain, for its Aquaholder seed coating technology. SeedForward and Ensemo earned runner-up honours for innovations supporting crop establishment and seed performance.The post 3 Game Changers: InnovA

Euroseeds Congress 2026: What Will We Take Home from Valencia?

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 10/28/2026

As Euroseeds Congress 2026 draws to a close in Valencia, the conversations point to challenges and opportunities that extend far beyond the event. From seed sector resilience and InnovAction finalists to the NextGen Forum, the focus turns to translating promising ideas into practical progress for pl

Live at Euroseeds: What’s Ahead for Vylor?

Seed World Staff on 10/27/2026

Vylor is entering a new chapter as an independent seed and genetics company. At Euroseeds 2026, Jean-Philippe Riffat discusses its ambitions for gene editing, hybrid wheat and industry partnerships, and how Vylor plans to compete and collaborate across the seed sector.The post Live at Euroseeds: Wha

Alexander Döring on Breeding Better Protein for Feed

Seed World Staff on 10/27/2026

Alexander Döring, Secretary General of FEFAC, explains how plant breeding can better meet the nutritional needs of Europe's animal feed sector. Speaking at the Euroseeds Congress 2026, he highlights protein digestibility, amino acid composition, anti-nutritional factors and crop resilience.The post

Euroseeds Congress 2026: Different Challenges, One Common Question

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 10/27/2026

At Euroseeds Congress 2026, two very different discussions revealed a shared challenge for Europe's seed sector. From patent transparency and access to new genomic techniques to policy contradictions affecting oil and fibre crops, the question remains whether Europe is making innovation easier or ha

Is Keeping Up With Technology Taking Too Much Time From Plant Breeding?

Seed World Staff on 10/26/2026

Plant breeding technology is advancing rapidly, but keeping up with AI, genomic data and new tools can strain breeding programs. Gene-G co-founder and CEO Dagan Mor explains how specialized technology partners can help seed companies make better breeding decisions without adding complexity.The post