Let’s Talk: A Critical Moment for New Genomic Techniques in Europe Europe is edging closer to a major milestone on New Genomic Techniques. In this Seed World Europe discussion, Petar Madjarac and Marcel Bruins explain where EU NGT regulation stands and why the next p...

Europe may be getting closer to a key milestone for NGTs.
Seed World Europe's Petar Madjarac & Marcel Bruins discuss where EU regulation stands & why the next political decisions could be pivotal for plant breeding.

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Let’s Talk: A Critical Moment for New Genomic Techniques in Europe Europe is edging closer to a major milestone on New Genomic Techniques. In this Seed World Europe discussion, Petar Madjarac and Marcel Bruins explain where EU NGT regulation stands and why the next p...

A major milestone for NGTs in Europe may be within reach — but the process isn’t over yet.

Seed World Europe's Petar Madjarac & Marcel Bruins explain where EU regulation stands & why the next political decisions matter for plant breeding. #NGTs #PlantBreeding

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

CO₂ and Crops: The Yield Driver EU Policy Rarely Talks About Satellite data reveal rising CO₂ has significantly boosted crop yields, especially wheat, more than many EU climate models acknowledge. An NBER study links real-world CO₂ variation to higher maize, so...

Rising yields are not only a story of genetics, agronomy and machinery. A new NBER paper suggests rising CO₂ may also have played a larger role in crop productivity, especially for wheat, than many models assume.
#Agriculture #Seeds #PlantBreeding #Wheat #Climate

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Time for Change — PRM and The Wider Context The EU is advancing a new Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) regulation to modernize seed laws, improve traceability, and support biodiversity and food security. Trilogue discussions highlight division...

The EU is advancing a new PRM regulation to modernize seed laws, boost food security & improve traceability. Discussions continue as stakeholders weigh innovation, sustainability & market fairness.
#EU #Seeds #AgPolicy #FoodSecurity

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

For The Love of Carbs Carbohydrates are diverse compounds central to energy, industry, and biology, from sugars and starches to cellulose and DNA components. This overview highlights their chemical complexity, everyday app...

Carbohydrates helped launch Seed World Europe columnist Joe Schwarcz’s scientific career—and sparked a lifelong passion for chemistry in everyday life.

From fermentation to cellulose to modern food science, the story of “carbs” is far bigger than we think.

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Ukraine’s Seed Sector During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Production, Exports and EU Integration Ukraine’s seed sector faces disruption from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including energy shortages, mined farmland, logistics barriers, and labour gaps. Despite producers maintain output, invest ...

Ukraine’s seed sector continues to adapt under the Russian invasion of Ukraine — facing energy, labour and logistics challenges while investing in resilience, EU standards and global market growth.
#Ukraine #Seeds #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #EUIntegration

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Euroseeds Joins Call to Preserve Agriculture and Bioeconomy in EU Research Programme Euroseeds and more than 20 stakeholders have welcomed MEP Christian Ehler’s draft ITRE report on Horizon Europe 2028–2034 but urge lawmakers to keep agriculture and the bioeconomy explicitly named in ...

Euroseeds joins 20+ stakeholders: agriculture and the bioeconomy must stay explicit in Horizon Europe 2028–2034. Reject Amendments 48 & 51.
#HorizonEurope #Bioeconomy #Agriculture

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

20 Most Promising Young Plant Breeders in Europe 2026 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 genom...

The wait is over — Seed World Europe’s 20 Most is live.

Meet the 20 Most Promising Young Plant Breeders in Europe—innovators and leaders shaping the future of plant breeding.

Congratulations to all nominees.
#SeedWorldEurope #20Most #PlantBreeding

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Supporting Genebanks: Enlightened Self Interest Genebanks are essential public infrastructure that conserve crop diversity and support breeders, food security, and climate resilience. While governments and the Crop Trust provide core funding, priva...

What if the crops we depend on disappeared tomorrow?
Genebanks are the backup plan for global food security—protecting the genetic diversity breeders need to feed the future. Supporting them isn’t optional. It’s essential.

#FoodSecurity #Genebanks #CropDiversity

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Watermelon breeding today is about more than traits—it’s about delivering taste, resilience, & consistency under climate & disease pressure. Field expertise still matters, but genomics and multi-location testing are becoming essential.
#PlantBreeding #Watermelon

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Biological Seed Treatments: Innovation, Regulation and Market Expansion Biological seed treatments are rapidly advancing across global agriculture, driven by innovation, regulatory shifts and growing farmer demand for improved crop performance. Industry leaders from BASF,...

Biological seed treatments are shifting from add-ons to essential tools for resilience and sustainability—alongside conventional chemistries. A deep dive on innovation, performance, regulation, and farmer adoption, with insights from BASF, Bayer, Corteva, and Incotec.

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EU–UK SPS Chapter Negotiations: The Seed Trade Reset We Can’t Afford to Botch After years of post-Brexit disruption, EU–UK SPS negotiations offer a critical chance to simplify seed trade. Reduced border delays, regulatory alignment, and greater predictability could cut costs an...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Europe Can’t Afford to Fall Behind: Jessica Polfjärd on the EU’s NGT Turning Point Europe’s new agreement on New Genomic Techniques marks a turning point for plant breeding and seed innovation. Led by MEP Jessica Polfjärd, the NGT dossier balanced science, politics, and national int...

EU agreement on NGTs marks a key step for plant breeding & innovation.
As rapporteur, MEP Jessica Polfjärd led a complex file, balancing science, patents & food security.
In our interview, she explains why modernising EU rules matters for farmers, competitiveness & climate resilience.
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Selling Abundance in a World Addicted to Scarcity Part 2 explores Hidde Boersma’s techno-optimistic vision for sustainable agriculture, highlighting WePlanet, ecomodernism, CRISPR, land sparing and high-yield farming. It examines how storytelling, fi...

Sustainability can be a story of abundance, not restraint.

Hidde Boersma talks about WePlanet, land sparing, & why high-yield agriculture and the seed sector need a confident place in the sustainability debate.

#Sustainability #FoodSystems #AgInnovation #SeedSector

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The Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform Extends to Ornamental and Fruit Crops After three years, the Agricultural Crop Licensing Platform (ACLP) has expanded to include ornamental, fruit, and forest crops, strengthening access to patented traits across Europe. The platform now ...

ACLP expands to ornamental, fruit & forest crops, broadening access to patented traits across Europe. With ~95% of patented ag traits covered and transparent disclosure via PINTO, the platform continues to strengthen fair, secure plant breeding licensing.

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Same focus: business-critical updates, in-depth storytelling, and forward-looking insight for the global seed sector. We’re here for informed, constructive dialogue.

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Beware Misinformation at School: Who’s Speaking to Our Kids? Recently, I was shocked to learn that the school of my children had invited Vandana Shiva as a guest speaker. For those of you who are unfamiliar with

www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/...

30 Years of Safeguarding Innovation in a Changing World Amid climate change and resource pressures, the EU breeding sector relies on the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) to drive innovation and develop resilient, high-performing plant varieties.

www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/...

Fun Facts on Grasses You may think grass doesn’t affect your daily life too much, but grass actually affects a lot of things in your life, from air to alcohol. Here at Seed World Europe, we thought you’d enjoy reading som...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/...

Rooted in Progress: Reinventing the Carrot for a Changing World Carrot breeding is evolving to meet modern challenges — from climate resilience and disease resistance to colour diversity and consumer appeal. Today’s breeders combine advanced genetics, grower colla...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/...

Filmmaker Hidde Boersma: Why High-Yield Innovation Belongs at the Centre of Sustainability 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 le...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Seeds of Change, Part II – Breeding, Footprints and Future Pathways In Part 2 of Seed World Europe’s Seeds of Change series, leaders from Bayer, Semillas Fitó, RiceTec and Syngenta explain how sustainability in the seed sector goes beyond field traits to include opera...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

EU–UK SPS Chapter Negotiations: The Seed Trade Reset We Can’t Afford to Botch After years of post-Brexit disruption, EU–UK SPS negotiations offer a critical chance to simplify seed trade. Reduced border delays, regulatory alignment, and greater predictability could cut costs an...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Watermelon in the Lab and the Field: Breeding the Perfect Bite Modern watermelon breeding has evolved from boosting yield and sweetness to optimizing the entire value chain. Driven by seedless demand, fresh-cut growth, and quality-focused European markets, breede...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

Europe Can’t Afford to Fall Behind: Jessica Polfjärd on the EU’s NGT Turning Point Europe’s new agreement on New Genomic Techniques marks a turning point for plant breeding and seed innovation. Led by MEP Jessica Polfjärd, the NGT dossier balanced science, politics, and national int...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

CO₂ and Crops: The Yield Driver EU Policy Rarely Talks About Satellite data reveal rising CO₂ has significantly boosted crop yields, especially wheat, more than many EU climate models acknowledge. An NBER study links real-world CO₂ variation to higher maize, so...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

#linkedin | Marcel Bruins | 12 comments For years I have been trying to build a space where professionals in plant breeding and plant science, seeds, agriculture, horticulture, farming and related fields can find each other more easily, and...

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Stop Penalizing Breeders for Their Own Success In a number of UPOV member countries, outdated interpretations of the novelty requirement mean that commercializing a hybrid variety may invalidate novelty for its parent lines — even if those lines w...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/...

What The Selfish Gene Can Teach the Seed Sector Over the holidays, I finished re-reading Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene, a book that reshaped our understanding of evolution. Nearly 50 years after its 1976 publication, its insights remain relevan...

www.seedworld.com/europe/2025/...