A new Nature study reveals how plants naturally adapt to compacted soil â a growing global problem intensified by heavy machinery and climate-related drought. Researchers found that ethylene triggers the OsARF1 gene, reshaping root structure to act like a biological wedge. This breakthrough opens op
A new Nature Communications study finds European farmers could cut agricultural climate emissions by 40% while protecting biodiversity â without reducing food production. Led by NTNU and CICERO, the research shows that relocating crops away from suboptimal land and restoring it to natural vegetation
Elica ASMâs new Galaxy and Globe optical sorters deliver advanced multispectral 4K vision, AI-driven analysis, and precision ejection for superior seed and material purity. Powered by the ARGOS system and SophIA software, they detect defects, contaminants, and non-germinating seeds in real time. Des
Scientists at The James Hutton Institute and partner universities have discovered how the destructive crop pathogen Phytophthora infestans disables plant immune systems. Published in Nature Communications, the study reveals that AA7 oxidase enzymes help the microbe silence plant alarm signals. Disab
An international research team has produced the first complete eggplant pan-genome and pan-phenome, published in Nature Communications. By analysing 3,400 varieties and 368 key accessions, scientists traced eggplantâs origins to India and Southeast Asia and identified thousands of geneâtrait associa
Canada is in a race against time to safeguard one of our most precious resources: waterThe post We Assumed Water Was Endless. Scientists Say That Era is Over appeared first on Seed World.
NordGen is in Lima for the Eleventh Session of the International Treatyâs Governing Body, joining global delegates to advance conservation and fair access to plant genetic resources. Peruâs rich crop diversity sets the stage for discussions on climate resilience, food security and equitable benefit-
Europeâs agriculture is rapidly transforming under climate pressure, shifting regulations, and fast-advancing technologies. In this fast 5-Questions-in-5-Minutes interview, Syngentaâs Matthew Pickard breaks down the rise of biologicals, the impact of precision tools, and the importance of cross-valu
Post-Brexit, the UK has embraced new genomic techniques (NGTs), breaking from the EUâs strict biotech rules. Seed Worldâs expert panelâJan Gottlieb, Nigel Moore and Katie Davisâexplores how this regulatory shift will impact Europeâs competitiveness, farmers, researchers and global trade. A must-watc
A coalition of 25 EU food and feed organisations urges policymakers to swiftly finalise New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) rules without adding new burdens. With agriculture facing climate pressures and reduced crop protection tools, the groups warn extra restrictions risk undermining innovation and EU c
Researchers from TUM and IPK have identified genetic and root-growth traits that help Arabidopsis thaliana tolerate boron deficiency, a growing challenge under climate change. By analysing 185 datasets, they found seven boron-efficient ecotypes with enhanced lateral root growth and key genomic regio
Scientists at Rothamsted Research uncovered saponarin, a natural flavonoid in ancestral einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) that powerfully deters the destructive English grain aphid. Published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study shows this innate resistance could reduce pestici
CRISPR is reshaping agriculture. Can regulation and public trust keep up?In this episode, we talk with Richard Wells, Senior Patent Attorney at Tropic Biosciences, about how gene editing is transforming crops like banana â a sector hit hard by disease and climate change. Wells explains how Tropic us
Syngentaâs Mathieu Boulay reveals how true agricultural innovation happens through collaboration â from farmers in the field to scientists in the lab and product teams bringing solutions to market. In this exclusive Seed World interview, he shares how grower feedback shapes development, what derails
An international team led by Germanyâs Leibniz Institute has mapped the complete oat pangenome, compiling genetic data from 30 varieties to unlock traits for nutrition, sustainability, and climate resilience. Featuring ETH Zurichâs study of the historic Swiss âHative des Alpesâ oat, the research off
Twenty-four agri-food organisations urge the European Commission to simplify EU risk assessment processes ahead of NGT trilogue negotiations. They warn that regulatory delays, complexity, and administrative burdens are damaging Europeâs competitiveness and slowing innovation. Their joint letter call
A global study by INRAE and China Agricultural University analyzed over 3,600 field trials and found that crop rotation boosts yields and farm revenue by 20% compared to monocultures. Rotations with legumes improve nutrition and stability, increasing protein, energy, and micronutrients. The findings
The FAO and EU, together with global partners, have opened Ukraineâs new Duplicate Centre for Plant Genetic Resources, securing 51,000 seed samples relocated after the Kharkiv gene bank attack. The state-of-the-art facility strengthens long-term preservation, research, and international cooperation,
The UKâs Precision Breeding Act has officially taken effect, creating a science-based regulatory framework that separates gene-edited crops from GMOs and accelerates innovation. Research leaders at NIAB and Rothamsted Research hailed the law as a historic milestone, enabling faster development of di
Euroseeds, Copa and Cogeca urge the EU to adopt a science-based, innovation-friendly framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). They stress that NGT 1 plant verification must remain purely technical, with minimal traceability and labelling burdens. A proportionate, globally aligned approach would
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered a molecular mechanism that could enable cereal crops like wheat and maize to fix nitrogen naturally, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. By altering two amino acids in a plant receptor, the team reprogrammed plants to form symbiotic relationsh
Seed innovation is emerging as a critical climate solution ahead of COP30 in Brazil. The International Seed Federation highlights how climate-ready seeds boost resilience, protect farmer livelihoods, reduce agricultureâs footprint, and strengthen food security. ISF urges smarter policy, stronger sup
Global negotiations this November in Lima will determine how countries share and benefit from plant genetic resources, shaping the future of crop innovation, biodiversity, and food security. In a Seed World INSIGHT panel, leaders from ISF, Bejo Zaden, and Corteva examine fair ABS systems, DSI govern
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources is entering major renegotiation in Nov. 2025, where more than 150 countries will decide how to update funding, benefit-sharing, and rules for rapidly evolving genetic technologies. In a Seed World EXPLAINS video, Jasmina MuminoviÄ clarifies how glo
