Seed Sector 2045: Why NGTs Make the EDV Question More Important Than Ever

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 10/22/2026

As genome editing transforms plant breeding, essentially derived varieties are becoming a critical intellectual property issue. From UPOV's EDV rules to the 2026 Nadorcott ruling, this Seed Sector 2045 analysis examines how breeders can balance innovation, genetic ownership and licensing.The post Se

What Vylor Needs From Policy to Meet its Innovation Ambition

Madeleine Baerg - Seed World Executive VP - Operations on 10/22/2026

Vylor is putting gene editing at the centre of its regulatory strategy as the company prepares to operate independently from Corteva. Teresa Babuscio, Head of Government and Industry Affairs for EMEA and APAC, discusses Europe's evolving NGT framework, international trade, biofuels and the policy pr

Field Beans Before Barley Could Cut Environmental Impact

Seed World Staff on 10/21/2026

Growing field beans before spring barley could reduce environmental impacts by approximately 25%, according to long-term Scottish research. The study found that bean–barley rotations reduced nitrogen fertiliser requirements and improved barley yields in most years, highlighting the benefits of inclu

How Pieter van Kesteren’s Career Traces the Transformation of Vegetable Seeds

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 10/21/2026

Pieter van Kesteren spent more than four decades helping shape the international vegetable seed industry. From Cold War markets and early trade with China to California seed enhancement and the rise of global breeding companies, his remarkable career reflects the transformation of a once largely fam

Building Vylor: An Inside Conversation on What Comes Next

Madeleine Baerg - Seed World Executive VP - Operations on 10/21/2026

Jean-Philippe Riffat, President, EMEA-APAC at Vylor, reflects on building an independent seed company, the opportunities emerging in genetics and gene editing, and what success should look like for Vylor over the next five years.The post Building Vylor: An Inside Conversation on What Comes Next appe

BIOCRAFT Project Uses AI to Develop Resilient Crops

Seed World Staff on 10/21/2026

The EU-funded BIOCRAFT project will combine artificial intelligence, biotechnology and soil microbiome research to develop more resilient potato and rice varieties. The four-year, €3.81 million initiative will also explore plant-based biomanufacturing and technologies to support sustainable crop pro

Euroseeds 2026: Global Seed Innovation and Collaboration

Seed World Staff on 10/20/2026

Euroseeds 2026 will bring seed industry leaders to Valencia, Spain, to explore plant breeding innovation, emerging technologies and global collaboration. Euroseeds Secretary General and CEO Garlich von Essen discusses the Congress's international reach, opportunities for emerging businesses and enga

Better Nitrogen Management Could Cut Farm Carbon Emissions

Seed World Staff on 10/20/2026

Improved nitrogen management could reduce energy-related carbon emissions on English farms by up to 13%, according to Rothamsted Research. The study highlights the role of fertiliser production in agriculture’s carbon footprint and explores how green ammonia could support further emissions reduction

Plant-based Proteins: An Opportunity for Farmers and the Seed Sector

Franco Brazzabeni – Seed World Columnist on 10/19/2026

Plant-based proteins could create new opportunities for European farmers and the seed sector as the EU works to reduce its dependence on imported animal feed. A new European protein strategy aims to boost domestic production, support protein crops and strengthen agricultural sustainability.The post

Thousands of Seed Samples Added to Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Seed World Staff on 10/19/2026

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault received thousands of seed samples from 21 institutions in October 2026, including Ukraine's national genebank, six CGIAR research centres and a first-time contributor from Italy. The deposits strengthen global efforts to safeguard crop genetic diversity for future bre

Are Plant Genetics Only Half of Europe’s Soybean Story?

Burcin Dilci - Seed World Group Contributor on 10/16/2026

Europe’s soybean ambitions depend on more than plant genetics. Protealis CEO Benjamin Laga explains how soybean inoculant MagNfix is designed to support nodulation, nitrogen fixation and regional adaptation as production moves into new European growing areas.The post Are Plant Genetics Only Half of

Biologicals’ Hardest Test Comes After Discovery

Dawn Ius - Seed World Associate Editor on 10/16/2026

A biological seed treatment can show strong trial results and still fail commercially if it cannot survive formulation, storage, transport and application. Frontera CEO Matti Tiainen explains why successful products must be built around seed treatment realities from the start.The post Biologicals’ H

Study: European Agricultural Competitiveness Falls Behind Rivals

Seed World Staff on 10/15/2026

A new study finds that European agricultural competitiveness is under pressure as crop production growth trails major global markets. The research highlights climate-related losses, regulatory barriers and slower access to seed technologies and agricultural innovations as challenges for European far

How One Wild Peanut Changed Breeding Around the World

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 10/15/2026

Wild peanut breeding has a remarkable global legacy. Researchers traced disease resistance from a single wild peanut collected in Bolivia in 1959 into 251 peanut lines and cultivars across 30 countries, revealing the enduring value of crop genetic diversity, pre-breeding and international seed excha

A New Phoma Threat Raises the Stakes for Oilseed Rape Breeders

Seed World Staff on 10/13/2026

With 95% of UK P. biglobosus isolates resistant to two SDHI fungicides in laboratory tests, the discovery puts renewed focus on genetics, surveillance and fungicide stewardship working together to protect oilseed rape yields.Scientists have confirmed the world’s first cases of resistance to SDHI fun

The Traits Sunflower Breeders Need May Already Be Growing in the Desert

Seed World Staff on 10/12/2026

The HelEx project is crossing wild sunflower material from arid regions into European breeding lines to develop drought tolerant sunflower varieties. Researchers are also targeting pollinator appeal and higher protein content for future markets.The post The Traits Sunflower Breeders Need May Already

Arevo: Can a Thin Red Coat Change How a Crop Uses Nitrogen

Seed World Staff on 10/12/2026

Arginex seed treatment is designed to deliver nitrogen from germination in a form plants can use directly. Arevo CEO Niklas Åström explains what trials in corn and wheat reveal about yield, nitrogen efficiency and early root development.The post Arevo: Can a Thin Red Coat Change How a Crop Uses Nitr

Seed Coating Technologies: A Strategic Enabler of Innovation in a Rapidly Evolving Industry

Clara Vernay, Seed Care Center Manager, Agricultural Specialties, Syensqo on 10/09/2026

Seed coating technologies are evolving as regulatory requirements, sustainability goals and more complex treatments reshape the industry. Syensqo is developing microplastic-free coatings and formulation solutions designed to support biologicals, new active ingredients and the next generation of seed

Could AI Speed Up Pheromone Discovery for Emerging Crop Pests?

Seed World Staff on 10/09/2026

Researchers identified the lily moth sex pheromone by starting with insect scent receptors rather than the pheromone itself. The AI-supported approach could help speed pheromone discovery for emerging and invasive crop pests.The post Could AI Speed Up Pheromone Discovery for Emerging Crop Pests? app

Great Wheat Traits Are Being Found. Why Aren’t More Reaching Breeders?

Seed World Staff on 10/08/2026

Niab will lead a three-year wheat pre-breeding project funded by BBSRC to move promising traits into elite European winter wheat backgrounds. The work will involve commercial breeders and international IWYP hubs across the UK, Europe, Mexico and the United States.The post Great Wheat Traits Are Bein

The Flavour Tomato Breeders Lost May Still Be Hiding in the Wild

Seed World Staff on 10/08/2026

Research from the Boyce Thompson Institute shows how wild tomato relatives may help breeders recover flavour and nutritional traits without sacrificing yield, fruit size or shelf life. The study maps regulatory switches tied to tomato fruit quality.The post The Flavour Tomato Breeders Lost May Still

What Genomic Prediction is Worth to Your Program

Computomics on 10/08/2026

Genomic prediction pricing has turned into a rumor market. The figures you hear at breeding conferences, and will hear in Valencia at Euroseeds, span two orders of magnitude — and both extremes can be true. Neither helps you, because genomic prediction isn’t one product.What you’re actually buyingVe

What Agricultural Innovation Looks Like Up Close

Petar Madjarac, Head of Business Development, EMEA, Seed World Group on 10/07/2026

Agricultural innovation cannot eliminate uncertainty, but it can help farmers manage it. A visit to Bayer’s Crop Science headquarters in Monheim shows how advances in plant breeding, crop protection and biologicals are being developed with reliability in the field as the ultimate test.The post What

Seed Sector 2045: Why Plant Breeding IP Matters for Europe’s Future

Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 10/07/2026

Plant breeding IP is becoming central to Europe’s seed innovation debate. This article explains how plant breeders’ rights, patents, licensing platforms and transparency tools can support both investment incentives and practical access to breeding material.The post Seed Sector 2045: Why Plant Breedi