A major four-year study on English arable farms has found that agroecological practices can boost biodiversity and improve certain crop yields — but remain economically unviable without public support.Conducted across 17 commercial farms, the research examined how reducing reliance on agrochemicals
The National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) has developed potato cultivars resistant to major diseases, aiding local seed production. However, quality seed remains scarce—especially for small farms—due to high costs, limited access, and frequent need for renewal. This is worsened by the u
A new international partnership is investing in vegetable seed research tailored to desert and arid environments. With a focus on boosting food production in challenging climates, the collaboration will establish a research center in the UAE to develop resilient, high-performing seed varieties using
Chili peppers are under attack from invisible enemies—and one scientist is building a disease-proof future for the farmers who depend on them.The post Asia and Africa Grow the Most Peppers. So Why Are Their Yields the Lowest? appeared first on Seed World.Plant breeders are leading a global effort to
Wheat research from the University of Hohenheim shows how variety selection and baking technique shape the nutrition in your bread.Wheat is a staple in diets worldwide — not just as a source of carbohydrates and protein, but also for fibre, minerals, and essential trace elements. Yet, despite its gl
The global food system is increasingly at risk from climate change, even as farmers work to adapt, according to a June 18 study in Nature.Contrary to earlier research suggesting warming might boost food production, the new study estimates that each additional degree Celsius of global warming could r
Researchers at Tel Aviv University's School of Plant Sciences and Food Security have created a crop-specific gene editing method that successfully modifies key traits in tomato plants, including fruit flavor and shape. This innovative approach to plant genome editing could be applied to a wide varie
The James Hutton Institute is a global leader in potato research and breeding, pioneering the development of new potato varieties with improved agronomic traits and greater resilience to challenges such as diseases, drought, and extreme temperatures. Their cutting-edge work supports more sustainable
Yellow rust poses a serious threat to wheat production, but researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered traditional Asian wheat varieties with multiple resistance genes. These could offer long-term protection for commercial wheat, underscoring the value of genetic diversity in ensuring g
Researchers have discovered a new molecular recycling process that helps plants endure prolonged stress. The study, published in PNAS, shows how trafficking proteins gather at tiny “contact sites” between the cell’s plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum.The post Recycling Signalling Molecules He
The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP) has received £9.1 million (around €11 million) from the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to support SyncSol, a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at optimizing plant genomes. The project could pave the way for c
The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP) secured £9.1 million (€11 million) from the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to fund SyncSol, an innovative project focused on optimizing plant genomes. This research aims to develop crops that can capture more CO₂ or
They called them "orphan crops" — ignored, underfunded, forgotten. Now Rita Mumm is turning them into weapons in a war against hunger.The post One Woman. One Mission. And a Movement That’s Rewriting Africa’s Future appeared first on Seed World.Rita Mumm needs no introduction. She was the first presi
A Finnish study with 264 participants found that bitterness and a dry, astringent mouthfeel are the main reasons people dislike faba beans. These traits were strongest in protein-rich faba bean products and persisted even after processing, affecting the taste of finished foods.The post Scientists Wo
Phoma stem canker, a major threat to global oilseed rape yields, is becoming harder to control due to genetic changes in fungal populations that reduce fungicide effectiveness. This raises urgent concerns about the sustainability of current disease management in European agriculture.The post New Res
Gene editing should be allowed in organic crop cultivation to boost yields and promote more sustainable farming practices, according to an international research team led by scientists at the University of Bayreuth. In a recent article published in Cell Reports Sustainability, the team advocates for
The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has awarded a significant international grant to researchers at Australia’s Macquarie University to help develop synthetic chromosomes for agricultural crops — an initiative aimed at transforming global food production.Leading the Australian con
A new study led by researchers from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University and the Volcani Institute is transforming how scientists identify wheat varieties that can withstand hot, dry climates. By using drones equipped with advanced thermal and hyperspectral imagi
A new project led by Dr. Joshua James and Professor Patrick Cai of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, in collaboration with the John Innes Centre and the Earlham Institute, aims to harness engineering biology to boost global food security. Focusing on potatoes—a vital staple crop—the initiat
In a new study, Enrique Gonzalez-Duran and Ralph Bock from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology have revealed how DNA repair mechanisms play a central role in safeguarding plant genomes from unwanted gene insertions. Their research sheds light on endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT)—a
A newly published study in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions reveals that the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum uses a specialized protein to weaken plant immune defences, leading to Fusarium head blight (FHB) — a major disease that damages wheat and barley crops around the world. These findin
Efforts to combat a plant disease that increasingly threatens lettuce production have taken a significant step forward, thanks to €1.5 million in funding for a new research initiative. The project will investigate the molecular interactions between lettuce and Fusarium oxysporum, the soil-borne fung
To meet the European Green Deal’s target of reaching 25% organic agriculture by 2030, researchers advocate for permitting new genomic techniques (NGTs) — such as gene editing — without requiring pre-market authorization, both in organic and conventional farming. While NGTs are currently classified a
Sorghum millet is increasingly regarded as a crop of the future due to its ability to generate high biomass and thrive under harsh environmental conditions. Some varieties even demonstrate enhanced sugar production in saline soils. In a recent study published in Scientific Reports (DOI: 10.1038/s415
