Scottish farmers and growers are being urged to prepare for water scarcity as climate change brings longer and more frequent dry periods. CREW says drought could affect river flows twice as often by 2050, creating new risks for crops, livestock and water supplies.The post Scottish Farmers Urged to P
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Underutilised crops are the focus of a new UK-wide research and innovation network designed to strengthen crop diversity, food resilience and local value chains by connecting researchers, farmers, plant breeders, food businesses and policymakers.The post Underutilised Crops Network to Boost UK Food
A new AI-supported study suggests climate change could increase soybean production while reducing soybean seed quality. Researchers found that higher CO₂, heat and drought may lower starch and protein content, raising questions for feed value, crop breeding and food security.The post Climate Change
Seed Sector 2045 is a new editorial series exploring the trends shaping plant breeding and the seed sector over the next two decades, from climate adaptation and gene editing to AI, regulation, public trust and new business models.The post Seed Sector 2045: Future of Plant Breeding in Europe appeare
New research shows that virus-induced gene editing using potyviruses could help scientists deliver CRISPR guide molecules into plants. The approach may expand crop genome editing tools for tomato, tobacco and other species that are difficult to modify.The post Plant Viruses Advance Virus-Induced Gen
A sorghum wax gene discovery is helping researchers understand how the BM-SZ gene controls the crop’s protective wax layer. The findings may support future breeding for drought-tolerant sorghum and other resilient crops.The post Sorghum Wax Gene Could Aid Drought-Tolerant Crops appeared first on See
New research shows how plant immune receptors can evolve through molecular mimicry, opening a potential path to more durable disease resistance in cereal crops. Scientists have found new evidence showing how plant immune receptors can evolve to recognize disease threats by mimicking the targets that
Salk Institute researchers have identified a plant-specific DNA repair protein called YAF9B that helps protect growth tissues after DNA damage. The discovery may support future advances in crop resilience, stress tolerance and more precise genome editing.The post Plant DNA Repair Discovery Could Hel
The Svalbard Seed Vault has surpassed 1.4 million seed samples after receiving 15,387 new deposits from 11 genebanks during its second opening of 2026, including first-time contributions from Burkina Faso and Niger.The post Svalbard Seed Vault Surpasses 1.4M Seed Samples appeared first on Seed World
A new seed development map from Whitehead Institute could help researchers study crop yield, nutrient storage and resilience.The post New Seed Development Map Could Improve Crop Yield appeared first on Seed World.A new gene expression atlas could help researchers better understand how seeds develop,
Researchers developed low-cost 3D-printed devices to study bacterial movement along fungal “highways” in soil and plants. Created by Rothamsted Research and collaborators, the scalable platform reveals how fungal networks transport bacteria under varying conditions, improving understanding of microb
Rothamsted Research has planted the UK’s first crop under a Precision Bred Organism Release Notice, marking a milestone for gene-edited field trials. The CRISPR-Cas9 Camelina sativa trial will test increased seed size, yield and oil content, supporting future oilseed crop innovation, sustainable agr
Representatives from eight leading Nordic research institutions gathered at the University of Helsinki in late March to officially launch NordPheno, the Nordic Research Infrastructure Hub for Digital Plant Phenotyping.The five-year NordForsk-funded network (2026–2030) brings together partners from F
Denmark’s AVENUE project is testing 200 oat varieties to develop climate-resilient, nutritious crops for sustainable organic farming. By studying yield, quality, adaptability and health traits, researchers aim to create 'super oats' that support food security, lower climate impact and future plant b
A new global biochar model helps predict how biochar affects crop yields, soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions across farming systems. Tested with data from 48 field sites, the study shows biochar can support climate-smart agriculture, but results depend on climate, soil type and applica
Agrovoltaic tomato systems could help agriculture save water while producing renewable energy on the same land. Research in Spain found that combining solar panels with deficit irrigation cut water use by about 50%, with roughly a 20% yield penalty. The findings highlight new opportunities for breed
Seed World Europe’s April 2026 edition highlights the 20 Most Promising Young Plant Breeders in Europe, showcasing innovators shaping the future of agriculture. Combining classical breeding with genomics, AI, and data science, these young experts are advancing crop resilience, sustainability, and pr
