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 — a sector hit hard by disease and climate change. Wells explains how Tropic us
Syngenta’s Mathieu Boulay reveals how true agricultural innovation happens through collaboration — 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 Germany’s 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 Zurich’s study of the historic Swiss ‘Hative des Alpes’ 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 Europe’s 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 Ukraine’s 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 UK’s 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 agriculture’s 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 Muminović clarifies how glo
The turfgrass seed market is finally stabilizing after years of dramatic swings in supply and demand. Mountain View Seeds’ Brett Freeborn offers a rare, global view of emerging opportunities, key demand drivers, and crucial lessons from recent turbulence. His insights help industry leaders better pl
Agriculture is at a critical turning point, says CropLife International CEO Emily Rees. A new report from CropLife International and NTT DATA shows how farmers worldwide are boosting productivity, restoring ecosystems, and building climate resilience. From Brazil’s ILPF systems to Cambodia’s soil re
Naktuinbouw’s symposium, “To Divide Is to Multiply,” gathered breeding experts to explore how DNA technologies can enhance DUS testing and breeding efficiency. Speakers from CropXR, Dümmen Orange, CPVO, and Naktuinbouw emphasized collaboration, data sharing, and legal clarity as key to innovation. T
Modern crops aren’t products of nature but of thousands of years of selective breeding.The post Almost Everything You Eat Has Been Modified by Humans appeared first on Seed World.
Project Opportunity has completed its first CRISPR-Cas field trials in Sweden and Denmark, developing starch potatoes with improved resistance to late blight. The 12-partner European consortium is advancing sustainable potato breeding and preparing for expanded 2026 trials. The initiative showcases
Researchers from the South China Botanical Garden discovered a rare allele, PC08Ins, that boosts soybean seed protein content but was lost during domestication. Found through GWAS and published in PNAS, the gene enhances abscisic acid levels, increasing storage proteins. Reintroducing PC08Ins into m
At the Belém Climate Summit, FAO urged greater climate finance for agrifood systems, calling the current funding gap a “lost opportunity” for a sector that can cut one-third of global emissions. Ahead of COP30, FAO promoted integrated fire management, resilient food systems, and science-based agrifo
The Gates Foundation launched a $1.4 billion, four-year initiative at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to boost climate adaptation for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The program expands access to climate-smart innovations—digital tools, resilient crops, and soil health solutions—to
A collaboration between Rothamsted Research, Bosch, Chafer Machinery, and Xarvio has developed an AI-powered precision spraying system to combat black-grass in UK farms. Using camera-equipped sprayers, it identifies and targets weed-infested zones, cutting herbicide use and costs. Funded by DEFRA an
A large-scale study of over 500 rye plants reveals that nutrient deficiency reduces genetic recombination during meiosis. Conducted at Martin Luther University’s “Eternal Rye Cultivation” site, researchers found recombination is governed by many small genetic regions, not one master switch. These in
As governments prepare for GB11 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Euroseeds is calling for a more inclusive, flexible, and practical Multilateral System (MLS). The organization proposes multiple payment options, clearer alignment with the Conv
