Latest Articles

House of Lords Debate Highlights ‘Existential Threat’ Facing UK Horticulture Seeds Supply
04/26/2024
The British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) has welcomed comments from Conservative Peer the Earl of Caithness highlighting the existential threat facing horticulture growers’ access to improved varieties as a result of the increased costs, delays and bureaucracy facing the UK plant breeding and se
Upside Down and Bolt Upright: Aphid Aerial Acrobatics Revealed
04/26/2024
High speed Rothamsted camera shows posture and wingbeat patterns in detail for the first time.A state-of-the-art camera with high frame rates and high resolution has shown the flight dynamics of two aphid species in unmatched detail for the first time, according to a press release from Rothamsted Re
Stakeholders Strongly Support the European Commission’s Biotech Strategy to Position the EU a Global Innovation Leader
04/25/2024
Numerous industry associations and organizations, dedicated to fostering innovation in biotechnology and biomanufacturing, enthusiastically welcomed the European Commission’s latest initiative, according to a press release posted on the Euroseeds website. By embracing the potential of biotechnology
European Parliament Confirms Positive Vote on New Genomic Techniques; EU Council Urged to Embrace Plant Breeding Innovation
04/25/2024
Euroseeds welcomes the European Parliament's confirmation of its positive stance on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) Since the EU Council did not come to a conclusion on the file, yet it is now up to member states to pave the way for Europe embracing agricultural innovation.The post European Parliament
Why Does Europe Struggle to Get a New Seed Law That Still Works for Breeders and Farmers?
04/25/2024
How it started (again)The Commission published its new proposal for an overhaul of the EU’s variety authorisation and seed marketing legislation in June 2023. Main focus, next to improving clarity and avoiding ambiguity, was to (re-)establish a true common seed market with uniform rules and quality
European Parliament’s PRM Report is a Worrying Step Backwards for EU’s Agricultural Future
04/25/2024
Following the European Parliament's plenary vote on a new Regulation for Plant Reproductive Material (PRM), Euroseeds reaffirms its strong concerns in relation to parts of the current text and renews its commitment to constructive engagement and dialogue with the members of the European Parliament a
The Optics of Pest Insect Invasions
04/25/2024
Light-based sensors could offer an early warning system for detecting pollen beetle infestations in oilseed rape crops.Hi-tech optical sensors in fields could provide an effective means of monitoring beetle numbers arriving in oilseed rape (OSR) fields, according to a new study from Rothamsted Resea
Risky Business: Safeguarding Crop Diversity in Genebanks
04/24/2024
Ensuring food security and agricultural resilience in the face of environmental challenges depends on preserving and utilizing crop diversity, according to the Crop Trust. Genebanks serve as the ultimate guardians of this diversity. However, they are susceptible to various risks that could jeopardiz
Regen Ag — Fad or Future?
04/24/2024
We take a look at what regenerative agriculture is, what seed companies are doing towards regenerative agriculture, and how they make sure their practices are a good fit with their intended region.The post Regen Ag — Fad or Future? appeared first on Seed World.A closer look at regenerative agricultu
Bending Your Beliefs
04/19/2024
Ask yourself: when was the last time that you allowed yourself to change your mind on a deep-rooted belief? The key in that question is ‘allowed yourself’ because that is the trouble with those deep-rooted beliefs. They are so deeply and firmly anchored into your convictions, sense of self and view
What are the Key Issues Facing the Seed Industry Around The Globe?
04/18/2024
The Seed World editors — covering Canada, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. — discuss the biggest stories making waves right now in the seed industry.The post What are the Key Issues Facing the Seed Industry Around The Globe? appeared first on Seed World.
New Kid on the Block Revolutionizes GMO Testing
04/15/2024
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) offer huge opportunity in agriculture, but they bring with them significant regulatory, compliance and testing challenges. To meet marketability standards, support international trade, and keep consumers on-side, agriculture needs efficient, cost-effective, scal
Oilseed Rape In Crisis: Can Fresh Approaches To Pest Management Save This Vital Crop?
04/12/2024
The vibrant yellow expanses of oilseed rape are dwindling in western Europe, with growers facing mounting challenges in pest management and a shrinking array of chemical solutions. In regions like the UK, crop cultivation has plummeted by up to 70 per cent. Meanwhile, the demand for seed oils contin
Computomics & ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success Collaborate to Advance Plant Breeding with Machine Learning Methods
04/12/2024
Computomics and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success, overseen by The University of Queensland, will team up to explore machine learning techniques. Their focus: boosting predictions of complex traits and speeding up genetic advancements in plant breeding.In this partnership, Computomics a
Get to Know All Four of Your Seed World Editors
04/12/2024
Today is a great day to get to know YOUR Seed World editors… all four of them. Though you likely already know your own region’s editor, our publications’ consolidation under the Seed World brand and our recent shift to house all of those publications under a single global website means our readers i
Future of EU Farming Depends on Balanced and Effective Legislation on Plant Reproductive Material: A Letter to MEPs
04/11/2024
Ahead of the imminent European Parliament plenary vote on Plant Reproductive Material (PRM), a consortium of stakeholders, notably Copa Cogeca, Euroseeds, Europatat, Coceral, the European Beet Growers (CIBE), and CEPM Maiz’Europe, representing the majority of PRM suppliers and users, has voiced cruc
Glyphosate Ban Could Lead To Difficult Trade-Offs
04/09/2024
A recent modeling study suggests that if glyphosate were banned, it could result in a rise in weed populations and a decline in the yields of certain crops, according to a press release from Rothamsted Research. While such a ban could alleviate environmental risks tied to this herbicide, alternative
Cultivating Connections at the 100th ISF World Seed Congress
04/09/2024
In the heart of Rotterdam, the International Seed Federation (ISF) commemorates a century of shaping the global seeds industry. As the curtains rise on this year’s ISF World Seed Congress, it’s more than just a milestone celebration; it’s a testament to the enduring vitality of seed commerce on the
One-on-One with APSA’s new ED, Francine Sayoc
04/09/2024
Sayoc brings communications experience, seed industry connections and enormous commitment to her new role.Francine Sayoc, the new executive director with the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), is a familiar face to many in the seed sector. Most recently the communications manager at the Internat
A Little of This Goes a Long Way
04/05/2024
One of humanity’s biggest achievements in the last century was making a huge increase in food production. From 1900 to 2000, there was a six-fold increase in crop harvests while the global population increased less than four-fold, meaning that on average people today have around 50% more food availa
Registrations Officially Open for the #Euroseeds2024 Congress
04/05/2024
After the remarkable turnout of more than 1,300 attendees from around the world at the Euroseeds annual meeting in Malta last year, Euroseeds is looking to aim even higher with your participation to surpass this achievement!The annual meeting this year will be held in the city of the ‘Little Mermaid
ICRISAT Welcomes New Chapter as International Year of Millets Concludes
04/05/2024
Food and Agriculture leaders commit to continued collaboration.The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the global community in officially concluding the International Year of Millets (
Cultivating Seed Corporate Culture
04/05/2024
The continuous evolution of companies leads to unavoidable structural and human changes. To support managers in these transitional phases, management tools are often deployed to empower them in their role as team leader or expert.Lidea has experienced several transformations in recent years: the mer
How Biostimulants are Helping our Industry be More Climate-Resilient
04/03/2024
This year has been a pivotal one for climate change, and with the looming El Niño conditions set to impact farms in 2024, the challenges are mounting. Predictable rainfall and stable temperatures are becoming increasingly elusive, and the relentless force of climate change shows no signs of slowing