The Sainsbury Laboratory has secured $2 million from Google.org’s $20 million AI for Science Fund to launch Bifrost, led by Professor Sophien Kamoun. Using DeepMind’s AlphaFold3, Bifrost will predict plant immune receptor–pathogen interactions from genome sequences to speed breeding of disease-resis
Gene editing is accelerating plant breeding across crops and regions, but global regulatory frameworks may determine who gets to innovate. In a recent webinar, regulatory veteran Daniel Jenkins explains how policy decisions in Latin America, Europe and beyond are shaping the future of seed innovatio
Hybrid rye is transforming Danish pig production by improving feed efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability. In this KWS Seed World Visits episode, farmers and experts show how rye performs on poor soils, supports calmer pigs and healthier digestion, and enables 60–70% inclusion in feed. Learn
Sustainability in agriculture starts with seed, argue Ben Rivoire and Khaoula Belhaj-Fragnière of the International Seed Federation. New ISF papers highlight how plant breeding innovation boosts yields, resilience and resource efficiency while reducing environmental impact. From climate-resilient va
phenoLytics won first prize at the 2025 Euroseeds InnovAction Stage for its high-throughput 3D and 4D X-ray CT seed phenotyping solutions. The technology delivers ground-truth data on seed and seedling quality across the entire value chain, enabling faster, objective decisions in breeding, processin
The 2Blades Group at The Sainsbury Laboratory and Bayer won a BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award to develop durable resistance to soybean rust. The £860,000, three-year project will study novel immune gene mechanisms from wild Glycine relatives, aiming to protect soybeans from Phakopsora pachyrhizi,
For decades, seed production relied almost exclusively on bees for managed pollination. Polyfly is rethinking that model by industrializing the mass rearing of hoverflies as an alternative pollinator. Recognized at the 2025 Euroseeds InnovAction Stage, Polyfly offers breeders and seed producers a fl
University of Warwick researchers have identified a rapid, jasmonate-driven early immune response that activates systemic acquired resistance (SAR) within hours of infection. Published in Nature Plants, the study used a new live-imaging reporter, JISS1:LUC, to track fast immune signals spreading to
This two-part interview with Dutch science journalist and filmmaker Dr. Hidde Boersma examines how a 1970s “harmony with nature” narrative came to define sustainability by promoting less growth and less technology. Boersma argues this mindset undermines high-yield agriculture, plant breeding and foo
Researchers from The James Hutton Institute’s International Barley Hub and an INRAE-UCA-led consortium have found genomic evidence of convergent selection in barley and wheat. Published in Nature Plants, the study analysed 1,300+ barley and wheat lines, identifying shared variants linked to developm
A study in Horticulture Research shows that optimized genomic prediction models can accurately forecast flowering time, yield traits and oil content in rapeseed using genome-wide data. By integrating GWAS-linked variants with statistical and machine-learning methods, researchers achieved over 90% ac
Discover Seed World Europe’s most-read seed sector stories of 2025. After a year of coverage on innovation, policy shifts, industry debate and the people driving change, these articles rose above the rest—sparking conversation and topping our traffic charts. Join our countdown from number 10 to the
A Chinese study has identified TaJAZ1 as a key gene behind the wheat yield–nutrition trade-off. Using CRISPR to deactivate TaJAZ1, researchers produced wheat lines with significantly higher grain yield and nearly double the resistant starch content. Published in The Crop Journal (8 November 2025), t
Seed World Europe’s misinformation series tackles the persistent myths that distort public understanding of plant breeding, crop protection, and modern seed systems. Covering topics from hybrids, GMOs, and pollinators to plant breeders’ rights, biologicals, organic agriculture, and misinformation it
Seed World Europe’s crop spotlight series spans 30+ species and shines a light on the vital world of forage and turf breeding. These crops support livestock systems, soil health, carbon storage, and the green spaces around us. Our features explore breeder challenges—boosting resilience, persistence,
Seed World Europe’s ongoing field crop series—now featuring more than 30 spotlighted crops—shows how breeders are pushing the boundaries of innovation in the world’s most important crops. Each article explores the realities of modern breeding, from unlocking new genetic diversity and battling emergi
The 2025 Fight Against Blight (FAB) findings reveal shifting UK late blight strains, including a rise in EU46 resistant to key fungicides. Dry early conditions limited outbreaks, but volunteer potatoes drove infections later. Experts stress rotating fungicides, managing infection sources, and select
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers combined evolutionary mapping and AI to identify redundant genes that complicate crop improvement. By tracing the CLE gene family across 140 million years and thousands of plant species, they trained models to predict which genes share overlapping functions
Researchers have developed hQTL-ODS, a faster statistical method to uncover the genetic interactions behind heterosis—hybrid vigour that boosts crop yield. Instead of testing billions of gene combinations, the approach estimates each gene’s contribution through genome-wide interactions. In a wheat s
The Dutch agricultural sector remains economically strong, generating €77 billion in added value and boosting agricultural exports by 4.8%. But farm structure is shifting fast: since 2010, the number of holdings has fallen by nearly one third, with 700 farms and greenhouses closing in 2023–2024. Lar
A multinational team led by Carlsberg Research Laboratory, including scientists from The James Hutton Institute, has identified how the MKK3 gene complex controls seed dormancy and pre-harvest sprouting in cereals like barley, wheat and rice. Published in Science, the findings could guide breeding o
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists are using CRISPR gene editing to speed up domestication of goldenberry, a nutrient-rich tomato relative long grown in South America. By targeting key genes, researchers produced plants about 35% shorter, improving harvest, maintenance, and potential for dense
NOURISH Food Marketing’s 2026 trend report, The Return of Real, reveals a major shift in food culture toward authenticity, human connection, and transparency. Consumers are rejecting artificial perfection, ultra-processed foods, and impersonal AI-driven experiences, favoring real food, genuine stori
A James Hutton Institute study shows sugar kelp extracts could help crops absorb nutrients more efficiently under fertiliser-limited conditions. The Innovate UK–supported project, led by Algapelago Marine Ltd, tested barley and beans under nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies, revealing promising be
