Biochar May Protect Soil Health in Vegetable Crops
Seed World Staff on 07/23/2026

Biochar May Protect Soil Health in Vegetable Crops

A new review examines how biochar may help protect soil health in continuously cropped solanaceous vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and potatoes. Researchers say biochar may improve soil structure, support beneficial microbes and reduce disease pressure.The post Biochar May Protect

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Seed Sector 2045: How Low-Input Farming Is Changing Plant Breeding
Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 07/23/2026

Seed Sector 2045: How Low-Input Farming Is Changing Plant Breeding

Low-input farming is becoming a strategic priority for European seed companies as farmers face tighter input constraints, reduced plant protection options and rising biodiversity expectations. The shift is increasing demand for varieties with nutrient-use efficiency, durable resistance and stronger

M Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director
Mung Bean Pan-Genome Reveals Key Crop Traits
Seed World Staff on 07/22/2026

Mung Bean Pan-Genome Reveals Key Crop Traits

International study maps more than 66,000 structural variants linked to yield, nutrition, insect resistance and other breeding priorities.Researchers have developed the world’s first graph-based pan-genome for mung bean, uncovering previously hidden genetic variation that could accelerate developmen

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HARVEST Aims to Make Agricultural Data AI-Ready
Seed World Staff on 07/22/2026

HARVEST Aims to Make Agricultural Data AI-Ready

HARVEST will bring together more than 60 participants from 19 countries to make agricultural data AI-ready for crop breeding, research and farm decision-making. The European initiative will use barley as a model crop to improve data integration and climate resilience.The post HARVEST Aims to Make Ag

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Netherlands Invests in Crop Phenotyping Facility
Seed World Staff on 07/21/2026

Netherlands Invests in Crop Phenotyping Facility

The Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre will receive €5.4 million for a five-year upgrade of its crop phenotyping facility, adding advanced imaging, drones, AI tools and field research capacity to support crop resilience and sustainable food production.The post Netherlands Invests in Crop Pheno

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Hutton Launches Potato Virus Testing for 2026 Campaign
Seed World Staff on 07/21/2026

Hutton Launches Potato Virus Testing for 2026 Campaign

Hutton Scientific Services has launched a potato virus testing service for the 2026 seed potato campaign, following SASA’s withdrawal from commercial testing. The service will screen for PVY and PLRV to support seed certification, marketing and crop management decisions.The post Hutton Launches Pota

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Euroseeds Names 2026 InnovAction Stage Finalists
Seed World Europe on 07/20/2026

Euroseeds Names 2026 InnovAction Stage Finalists

Euroseeds has named 10 finalists for the Euroseeds InnovAction Stage at its 2026 Congress in Valencia. The selected companies will present seed treatment, enhancement, biological input and crop resilience technologies to the European and international seed community.The post Euroseeds Names 2026 Inn

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EFSA Opinion Could Streamline Stacked GM Crops
Seed World Staff on 07/20/2026

EFSA Opinion Could Streamline Stacked GM Crops

EFSA’s GMO Panel says stacked GM crops may not always require additional comparative field trials or some dietary exposure assessments when previously assessed traits are combined and no new metabolic effects are expected.The post EFSA Opinion Could Streamline Stacked GM Crops appeared first on Seed

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Nordic Melons Project Tests Historic Varieties
Seed World Staff on 07/20/2026

Nordic Melons Project Tests Historic Varieties

Nordic Melons is testing 12 heritage melon varieties to determine whether historic genetics can support locally grown, commercially viable production. The NordGen project aims to revive regional cultivation knowledge while supporting sustainability, food security and premium local markets.The post N

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Wheat Salt Tolerance Traits Could Improve Yields
Seed World Staff on 07/17/2026

Wheat Salt Tolerance Traits Could Improve Yields

Wheat salt tolerance could be improved by selecting for potassium retention, lower sodium accumulation and proline content. Researchers say these traits are linked to stronger grain yield under sodic stress.The post Wheat Salt Tolerance Traits Could Improve Yields appeared first on Seed World.Resear

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Plant Sensors Could Detect Crop Stress Earlier
Seed World Staff on 07/17/2026

Plant Sensors Could Detect Crop Stress Earlier

Tufts University researchers have developed battery-free plant sensors that attach to leaves and stems to monitor water loss, growth and crop stress. The technology could help farmers detect water shortages, salt stress or other problems before visible symptoms appear.The post Plant Sensors Could De

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Barley Genes Linked to Stress and Grain Quality
Seed World Staff on 07/16/2026

Barley Genes Linked to Stress and Grain Quality

Barley genes identified by International Barley Hub researchers help control protective surface traits linked to environmental stress protection and grain quality. The findings could support future work on drought tolerance and grain skinning in malting barley.The post Barley Genes Linked to Stress

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Euroseeds Urges Agri-Food Role in EU Fund
Seed World Staff on 07/16/2026

Euroseeds Urges Agri-Food Role in EU Fund

Euroseeds has joined 39 European agri-food organisations in urging policymakers to keep agriculture and food central to the European Competitiveness Fund for 2028–2034, citing the sector’s role in security, resilience, innovation and economic growth.The post Euroseeds Urges Agri-Food Role in EU Fund

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Climate Stress May Lower Soybean Seed Quality
Seed World Staff on 07/15/2026

Climate Stress May Lower Soybean Seed Quality

Soybean seed quality could decline under combined climate stress from elevated CO₂, heat and drought, according to an AI-supported study. Researchers found potential yield gains but lower starch and protein levels in seeds.The post Climate Stress May Lower Soybean Seed Quality appeared first on Seed

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AI Model Maps Hidden Grammar of Plant Genomes
Seed World Staff on 07/15/2026

AI Model Maps Hidden Grammar of Plant Genomes

Plant genomes contain regulatory patterns that help control traits such as flowering time, disease resistance and heat stress response. IPK researchers used deep learning to predict how transcription factors bind to DNA and influence gene activity.The post AI Model Maps Hidden Grammar of Plant Genom

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Europe Warned Pollinator Loss Threatens Crops
Seed World Staff on 07/14/2026

Europe Warned Pollinator Loss Threatens Crops

Pollinator loss could pose a serious risk to European crop production, food security and agricultural resilience. EU-funded researchers say stronger pollinator stewardship is needed across farming, land use, pesticide regulation and policy.The post Europe Warned Pollinator Loss Threatens Crops appea

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EU Excludes Soybean Seed from Deforestation Rules
Seed World Staff on 07/14/2026

EU Excludes Soybean Seed from Deforestation Rules

The European Commission has excluded soybean seed for sowing from the EU Deforestation Regulation. Euroseeds says the decision provides legal certainty for breeders, supports variety development and helps strengthen European plant protein production.The post EU Excludes Soybean Seed from Deforestati

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Climate Change Threatens Crop Nutrition, Researchers Warn
Seed World Staff on 07/14/2026

Climate Change Threatens Crop Nutrition, Researchers Warn

Crop nutrition is becoming a growing concern as climate change affects both food production and the nutritional value of major crops. Ghent University researchers say future crop improvement must address yield, nutrition and climate resilience together.The post Climate Change Threatens Crop Nutritio

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European Crop Breeding Research Project Launches
Seed World Staff on 07/13/2026

European Crop Breeding Research Project Launches

The Horizon Europe-funded COLiBRI initiative will bring together 17 organizations to strengthen crop breeding research coordination across Europe. The project will develop a shared roadmap, implementation strategy and recommendations for future research investment and collaboration.The post European

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Scientists Warn EU Pesticide Reform Could Weaken Safety
Seed World Staff on 07/10/2026

Scientists Warn EU Pesticide Reform Could Weaken Safety

EU pesticide reform proposals could reduce oversight of active substances and weaken safety safeguards, according to researchers from 27 European institutions. The scientists say efficiency gains should not come at the expense of biodiversity, human health or sustainable crop protection.The post Sci

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Five Ways Crop Diversity Strengthened Food Systems
Seed World Staff on 07/10/2026

Five Ways Crop Diversity Strengthened Food Systems

Crop diversity delivered practical benefits for food systems in 2025, from new seed deposits at Svalbard to disease-free sweet potato vines, opportunity crops and climate-resilient varieties reaching farmers.The post Five Ways Crop Diversity Strengthened Food Systems appeared first on Seed World.Fro

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The Seed Sector 2045: Climate Adaptation Becomes Breeding’s New Baseline
Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director on 07/10/2026

The Seed Sector 2045: Climate Adaptation Becomes Breeding’s New Baseline

Climate adaptation is becoming a central priority for plant breeding as weather extremes reshape crop performance. The seed sector is responding with resilience traits, expanded testing, genomic tools and new strategies for stable yields under unpredictable conditions.The post The Seed Sector 2045:

M Marcel Bruins - Seed World Europe Editorial Director
Low-Asparagine Wheat Gains U.K. Precision-Bred Status
Seed World Staff on 07/09/2026

Low-Asparagine Wheat Gains U.K. Precision-Bred Status

A genome editing milestone in the U.K. seed sector, low-asparagine wheat has received precision-bred status and will move toward food and feed evaluation for potential use in reducing acrylamide formation.The post Low-Asparagine Wheat Gains U.K. Precision-Bred Status appeared first on Seed World.The

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European Parliament Rejects Soybean Oil ILUC Label
Seed World Staff on 07/08/2026

European Parliament Rejects Soybean Oil ILUC Label

The European Parliament’s objection to the soybean oil ILUC classification has been welcomed by agricultural and biofuel groups. The coalition says the vote supports evidence-based policymaking and gives Europe’s soy value chain greater certainty.The post European Parliament Rejects Soybean Oil ILUC

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