Architect for hybrid barley Portrait: Sandra Dunckel directs our hybrid barley breeding

From architecture to hybrid barley 🏠🌾
Sandra Dunckel once dreamed of designing theaters. Today, she leads our Barley Breeding team at KWS, developing crops that tolerate the changing climate 🌍
Read her story: www.insidekws.com/dunckel-25/
#seedingthefuture #insideKWS

🍌 New @plants4thefuture.bsky.social series starts with banana: From wild ancestor to modern crop - how human selection shaped our food, and why continued breeding supports climate resilience and disease resistance 🌍
🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/plants...

Field Trials and Baking Studies of Ultra‐Low Asparagine, Genome Edited (CRISPR/Cas9) and Mutant (TILLING) Wheat Field trials were conducted of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Cadenza in which asparagine synthetase gene, TaASN2, had been knocked out, either on its own or together with a partial knockout of the re...

🍞 Acrylamide forms from asparagine in wheat during baking and toasting and is linked to increased cancer risk. @rothamsted.bsky.social researchers used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to reduce asparagine in wheat, cutting acrylamide by up to 93%🌾
doi.org/10.1111/pbi....

Field trials with NGT potatoes to start in 2026 In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), Wageningen University & Research (WUR) will start new field trials with genetically modified potatoes in ...

🌱 This year, @w-u-r.bsky.social together with @ministerielvvn.bsky.social will start field trials of #GenomeEdited potatoes with improved disease resistance.
More resilient potatoes could help reduce the use of pesticides.
www.wur.nl/en/news/fiel...

Joint call for an EU Biotech Act II to strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness - Euroseeds With the bioeconomy and biopharma sectors contributing more than €3 trillion to the European economy in 2022/2023, biomanufacturing is increasingly recognised as a strategic pillar of the EU’s knowledge-driven economy. It plays a key role in building resilient and sustainable supply chains while supporting high-quality jobs across European regions. Despite its importance, the EU remains […]

Euroseeds joined the 40+ organisations urging an ambitious EU Biotech Act II. Europe needs a strong biomanufacturing strategy to turn scientific excellence into real innovation for seeds and plant breeding. 🌱🧬

🔗Full statement: euroseeds.eu/news/joint-c...

Developing a robust multiplex CRISPR/Cas12i3‐5M system for trait stacking in soybean The high-efficiency multiplex gene editing technology based CRISPR-Cas12i3-5M is capable of simultaneously editing 13 target sites in soybean, and was used to generate germplasm with high oleic acid ...

Researchers developed multiplex #CRISPR to stack traits in soybean, cutting unwanted flavors while also boosting healthier oils 🌱
A practical approach toward developing better soybeans without compromising yield:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

🍅 Less food waste, better tomatoes?
Researchers at CRAG used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to better understand how ripening speed is controlled, potentially enabling breeding for longer shelf life and improved fruit quality, beyond ethylene‑based approaches.
www.cragenomica.es/crag-news/26...

Spring brings us Easter traditions and shared meals across cultures. 🌾
Wheat and other crops are part of these stories — and plant breeding helps keep them resilient.
Wishing everyone a peaceful season 🐣

Rothamsted Research (@rothamsted.bsky.social) Rothamsted gene-edited barley crop becomes first to receive a UK Precision Bred Organism marketing notice 🎉 By increasing lipid content in plant tissues, the barley provides a high-energy forage crop for ruminant livestock, improving feed efficiency👇 https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/rothamsted-gene-edited-barley-crop-becomes-first-receive-uk-precision-bred-organism-marketing

🌱Researchers at Rothamsted Research used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to develop high-energy barley for livestock feed that may help cut methane emissions. 👇
https://ow.ly/o3xj50Yzzv5

Traditional breeding methods have limits, and transgenic tools face regulatory barriers. Transgene‑free #GenomeEditing with #CRISPR offers a more precise path to improved crops 🌱
Check out the review 👉 https://ow.ly/9yEt50YzxqW

‘Super‑pangenomes’ could provide new tools for a warming climate 🌍
A new review maps how these datasets reveal hidden crop diversity, helping breeders develop more climate‑tolerant, productive varieties.
👉 https://ow.ly/wLSV50YzbvY

A good summary from @seedworldeu.bsky.social on Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) regulation: reform is needed, but exemptions risk weakening traceability and uniform standards. 🌱

🙌🎉

NGT-1 solanaceae plants are blooming in the Italian spring A groundbreaking season for NGT-1 crops in Italy Concetta Licciardello (CREA) Italy has initiated a coordinated national initiative on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), aimed at positioning field validat...

🌱 Italy launches a national push on #NGTs to strengthen traditional crops while preserving their identity.
With the €9M #TEA4IT project led by #CREA and Dr. Licciardello, innovation supports farmers, consumers and iconic Italian foods. 👇
tomatonews.com/ngt-1-solana...

🌾How seed innovation supports better animal nutrition:
Our KWS SEED2FEED team is working on solutions for more sustainable feed, which is also good for animal welfare🐄
📄 Read the whole story: www.insidekws.com/seed2feed-25/

OsWRI1a coordinates systemic growth responses to nitrogen availability in rice Nitrogen (N) deficiency–induced increases in the root-to-shoot biomass ratio in plants are adaptive in nature but suboptimal for agriculture. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing this dev...

🌾 Researchers screened rice cultivars and found a natural allele that helps keep root and shoot growth in balance under low nitrogen.
This highlights traits #GenomeEditing could help breeders introduce for more efficient fertilizer use.
📄 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Pesticide reduction ranks highest for Spanish consumers when evaluating benefits of #CRISPR #GenomeEditing tomatoes, followed by water saving and health. 🍅💧
Two preference groups appear: sustainability focused and health/taste focused.
🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Allelic variation at a single locus distinguishes spring and winter faba beans - Nature Genetics An improved faba bean reference genome and resequencing of winter and spring faba bean accessions identify genetic determinants of winter hardiness.

🌱❄️ Stronger winter survival can be key to better yields.
Researchers mapped genetic variation in faba beans and found a locus linked to frost tolerance that could help boost resilience and support sustainable local protein production.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

💮🥬 Using #GenomeEditing #CRISPR in petunia and lettuce, researchers fine‑tuned the regulation of terpenoids that are important for pollinators, flavor and fragrance.
📄International Journal of Molecular Science:
doi.org/10.3390/ijms...

‘A map that’s green everywhere’: ISF chief pushes for global alignment on gene‑edited seeds The International Seed Federation (ISF) advocates for globally consistent regulations for gene-edited seeds, arguing they should be treated like conventional breeding if no foreign DNA is introduced. ...

Fragmented rules = slower progress🌱
@seedfed.bsky.social warns that different regulations for #GenomeEditing #CRISPR are slowing climate‑resilient crop development and making competition harder for smaller breeders.
www.agtechnavigator.com/Article/2026...

#ngts #plantbreeding #aginnovation #cropinnovation #cerealscience | Plants for the Future 🛡️ 𝗡𝗚𝗧 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 | 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 🌾 Continuing our weekly series on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), this time we’re highlighting a breakthrough with huge potential for public health: 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗱...

🌾 Researchers in Spain used #GenomeEditing #CRISPR to develop wheat with significantly lowered gluten levels, supporting food options for gluten‑sensitive consumers
@plants4thefuture.bsky.social 👇

www.linkedin.com/posts/plants...

Researchers Develop Gene-Edited Tomato with Popcorn-Like Fragrance Researchers from China and Australia have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to create a new tomato variety with a distinct

Tomatoes with more flavour? 🍅
Researchers in China and Australia used #GenomeEditing #CRISPR to boost natural aroma, enhancing taste without affecting yield or nutritional qualities.
www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiote...

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...

“We can’t afford to fall behind.”
MEP Jessica Polfjärd speaks with @seedworldeu.bsky.social about steering the EU’s #NGT negotiations and why science and innovation are essential for Europe to tackle food and climate challenges 👏
www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...

🌾Curious about the latest safety insights on plant NGTs?
EFSA’s new horizon scan reviews recent scientific literature and finds no new hazards or risks. 👇
efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/...

🌱Contributions from plant #research and #innovation to Future-Proofing EU Agri-Food - EPSO submission and position paper to the European Commission’s consultation on the AGRI R&I Strategy. 👉https://bit.ly/4bzrQi2
#PlantScience #EUAgriVision #FoodforEurope #HorizonEU #EUAgriFoodDays

Unlocking the potential of barley breeding: how the HvST1 gene can increase genetic diversity Scientists are working on developing potato waste into ingredients for skincare products.

🌾 Scientists at @hutton.ac.uk identified a barley gene with a key role in the development of new varieties that can better adapt to environmental change.
www.hutton.ac.uk/unlocking-th...

🌱 Welcome Seed World Europe to KWS Denmark in Vejle! Did you know that… | KWS Group 🌱 Welcome Seed World Europe to KWS Denmark in Vejle! Did you know that feeding pigs with high-rye diets can improve animal health and significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in livestock farming? With the...

🌾KWS hybrid rye performs reliably even on poorer soils.
On Danish farms, it is fed to pigs for calmer behaviour and healthier digestion — while also cutting nitrogen and water use & overall CO₂ emissions!
www.linkedin.com/posts/kwsgro...

Frontiers | Consumer choices regarding genome-edited food crops: lessons from Japan Japan has rapidly deregulated certain types of agricultural genome editing, yet the societal integration of these products warrants further investigation. Th...

Japan has approved four #CRISPR #GenomeEditing crops, with one on the market. 🍅
This study highlights that a shared vision and open risk communication are key for informed consumer choice; useful lessons for the EU.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/gen...

Global status of genome editing versus transgenesis legislation in plants and the current EU situation - npj Science of Plants npj Science of Plants - Global status of genome editing versus transgenesis legislation in plants and the current EU situation

🌍 A new study maps how the 196 UN member states regulate #NGTs.
It outlines 8 differing regulatory approaches and finds that countries allowing transgenic plants are about 23% more likely to approve #GenomeEditing #CRISPR
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Frontiers | Editorial: Advancing plant defense: genome editing, RNAi, and synthetic biology for sustainable pest control high in the main agricultural systems, thereby putting at risk global food security in the face of climate change (Oerke, 2006;Savary et al., 2019). This sit...

Pests & diseases threaten yields as chemical control loses effectiveness and faces tighter regulation.
🌱 Editorial in Frontiers Plant Sci highlights how #GenomeEditing, RNAi, synthetic biology and AI help develop resistant crops & sustainable pest control 👇
www.frontiersin.org/journals/pla...