Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series on corn breeding in the European seed sector. As explained in Part 1 of this series, corn (also known widely as maize) is a critical global crop with diverse food, feed and industrial uses. Indeed, its importance is expected to grow as the global popu
Ukraine, known as one of the world’s key breadbaskets, boasts a rich diversity of agricultural plants. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 dealt a significant blow to its national genebank system, which safeguards thousands of unique plant varieties. For the first time, a comprehensive
In 2019, MAS Seeds significantly enhanced its global research and development capabilities by establishing a new R&D platform in Mexico. This expansion strategically aims to accelerate innovation in temperate corn and sunflower breeding programs.The Mexican platform, which spans sites in Puerto Vall
At Lidea, safeguarding the health and safety of our teams is a top priority, and to that end, we’ve made the decision to implement ISO 45001 standard across all our operational sites. This voluntary initiative—uncommon within our sector—brings structure and standardisation to our approach, creating
Member companies share their impression about CropLife International. Why It Matters: CropLife International (CLI) represents the world’s leading R&D companies – BASF, Bayer, Corteva Agriscience, FMC, Sumitomo Chemical, and Syngenta – who are actively working to address some of our world’s biggest c
WHY IT MATTERSCropLife International is the global voice and leading advocate for the plant science industry. The organization aims to champion innovative technologies that help farmers grow more food on less land and in a sustainable way. Representing six of the world’s leading multinational R&D co
Cheese producers were cheesed off. People were just not eating enough veal. Slaughterhouses were running short of calf stomachs and the cheese industry was feeling the pinch. There was not enough rennet to meet the demands of cheese lovers around the world.Rennet is critical to the cheese-making pro
The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) and the European and Mediterranean Cereal Rust Foundation (EMCRF) have announced a new partnership to strengthen global efforts against cereal diseases. This collaboration aims to improve food security by fostering research, sharing knowledge, and developing
Seventeen European Technology Platforms (ETPs) have released a Joint Statement addressing the European Commission, calling on “the European Commission to reaffirm their support for the strategic role of ETPs in the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation succeeding Horizon Europe (FP
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
