Defining Seed and Food Security Food security is understood differently across cultures, with China prioritizing it as a core national security issue while Western societies often take it for granted. This contrast shapes attitudes ...

Seed security is food security.
The way we define and prioritize it today will shape the resilience of tomorrow’s food systems. Seeds are the foundation of agriculture—and innovation starts there.
Read our column by @riskmonger.bsky.social

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

Euroseeds Welcomes Member States’ Backing of NGT Regulation Deal Euroseeds welcomes EU Member States’ formal adoption of the Council’s first-reading position on the new Regulation on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The decision confirms the trilogue compromise with ...

Euroseeds welcomes Member States backing the NGT Regulation deal 🌱

Another milestone toward enabling innovation, competitiveness, and productivity in European agriculture. Now awaiting final European Parliament votes.

#NGTs #EUAgri #PlantBreeding #Innovation

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/...

WUR & LVVN to launch 2026 field trials with disease-resistant NGT potatoes—aiming to cut pesticide use and test real-world performance.

#NGTs #PlantScience #SustainableAg #Potatoes #AgInnovation

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/...

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/...

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/...

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/...

Study Finds No Clear Link Between GMOs and Health Risks A new review of global health data and decades of scientific research found no consistent evidence that GMO consumption is linked to major human health problems. Researchers in South Korea found no ca...

No consistent evidence links GMO consumption to major human health risks, according to a new review from researchers in South Korea.
#GMOs #FoodScience #PublicHealth #Biotech #AgTech #FoodSafety #Research #Science

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/...

New Gene Discovery Could Help Breed Hardier, Higher-yielding Faba Beans Faba bean, an ancient high-protein crop and sustainable European soy alternative, may soon become more frost-resilient. Researchers improved the faba bean reference genome and identified a single gene...

Faba bean research just took a big step forward: scientists improved the reference genome and identified a single gene locus tied to both winter hardiness and yield stability. A promising route to tougher, higher-yielding beans in Europe. #FabaBean #CropGenomics

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

Square Wheels and Round Thinking: Why AI in Agribusiness Starts with First Principles AI consultant Robert Newcombe urges farmers to challenge tradition and use artificial intelligence to rethink farm operations. Drawing on his dairy farm background, he says AI works best for reducing ...

For growers, AI isn’t about replacing people — it’s about challenging old assumptions and freeing up time for higher-value work. As Robert Newcombe puts it: the question isn’t “How have we always done it?” but “Is this still the best way?”

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

Svalbard Global Seed Vault Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize Geir Pollestad, Norwegian MP and former agriculture minister, has nominated the Svalbard Global Seed Vault for the Nobel Peace Prize, together with NordGen, FAO, Crop Trust, and CGIAR. He argued that ...

Geir Pollestad has nominated the Svalbard Global Seed Vault for the Nobel Peace Prize, alongside NordGen, FAO, Crop Trust, and CGIAR. Food security is peacebuilding. #SeedVault #FoodSecurity #NobelPeacePrize #NordGen #ClimateResilience

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

An int. research team, incl. @leibnizipk.bsky.social, has discovered a small yet significant genetic difference in faba beans. Whether a plant survives the winter hinges on a single location in the genome. Results in @natgenet.nature.com.

➡️PR: tinyurl.com/ytcf3d5y
➡️Paper: tinyurl.com/28828rst

Study Links eccDNA to Rapid Plant Stress Resistance Scientists at Rothamsted and Clemson University have unified fragmented research to show that extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) acts as a genomic “shock absorber” in plants. Their review demonstr...

Scientists at Rothamsted & Clemson say extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) may act as a plant “genomic shock absorber.” Their review shows these mobile DNA circles can amplify useful genes, boost stress tolerance, & speed plant adaptation.. 🌱🧬

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

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...

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/...

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/...

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.

bit.ly/4cns10p

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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.

bit.ly/4b15Pa6

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

bit.ly/4aKghDT

After ten years with the organisation, Niab Chief Executive Professor Mario Caccamo will leave this summer to pursue a global opportunity ➡️https://ow.ly/8TMl50YmSjb

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.
bit.ly/4sfm8Hk

Early Release of EuroBlight Blight Monitoring Results for the 2025 Potato Crop EuroBlight’s first 2025 potato season results show Europe’s late blight population remains dominated by the aggressive EU36 genotype, while EU43 and EU46 strains continue shifting regionally. More tha...

EuroBlight has released its first results from the 2025 potato season.
EU36 remains dominant across Europe (34% of samples), while EU43 has stabilised at 12% with a sharp rise in France. EU46 increased to 7% and expanded to new countries, including England and France
bit.ly/3MVjdUZ

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/...

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/...

Dirty Ships, Lifted Embargoes and the Hidden Power of Grain This article examines how climate-driven famine and uninspected grain trade helped spread the Black Death, drawing parallels to today’s risks from illegal and counterfeit seeds. It highlights how unce...

Our editorial director @marcelbruins.bsky.social links new Black Death research to a modern risk: illegal and counterfeit seeds bypassing inspection and traceability. Clean systems protect agriculture; dirty shortcuts don’t.

bit.ly/4aDT1Yg