The eight-year Physics for Food project has demonstrated how plasma and other physical technologies can boost sustainable agriculture and food production. Led by Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences and INP, the initiative showed plasma can improve seed health, enhance crop resilience, enab
ChatGPT said: Europeâs seed sector welcomes the positive conclusion of trilogue negotiations on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), as EU co-legislators agreed a new Regulation for NGT plants. The deal largely preserves the Commissionâs intent to enable conventional-like NGT crops, supporting farmers wit
EU institutions have struck a provisional agreement on regulating New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), creating a two-tier system for plant breeding. Category 1 NGTs, equivalent to conventional plants, get streamlined approvals and no product labelling, with seed-level identification. Exclusions (e.g., he
A new study from IBMCP (CSICâUPV) reveals that agricultural biostimulants and controlled saline stress can significantly reshape the endophytic microbiome of lettuce and tomato. Published in Foods, the research shows these treatments boost microbial diversity and increase beneficial genera linked to
A new international study led by Queensland University of Technology shows global farmland could become a powerful climate solution. Published in Plant Physiology, the research outlines a framework comparing carbon-mitigation strategies â from reduced nitrogen fertiliser use to advanced synthetic bi
A three-year field study in Gansu, China found that returning green manure after wheat improves soil moisture and early-season soil temperature, strengthening maize roots and canopy cover. These gains raise chlorophyll (SPAD), net photosynthesis, and PSII efficiency while limiting NPQ, boosting biom
Technopolis has published a new study examining how the EU intellectual property framework influences innovation in the bioeconomy, with a focus on agricultural biotechnology and new genomic techniques (NGTs). Combining legal, economic and market analysis, the report highlights patent complexity, li
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
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
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
