In its updated position paper, Euroseeds underscores the strategic importance of plant breeding research for sustainable agriculture and for strengthening Europe’s bioeconomy, biotechnology, and competitiveness. It urges the EU to secure dedicated plant breeding funding under FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
Europe’s plant breeding and seed sector is among the most research-intensive parts of the agri-food value chain, with Euroseeds members reinvesting up to 20% of annual turnover into research and development. Ongoing innovation in plant breeding is essential to maintain high-quality yields while tackling climate change, resource constraints, and growing plant health challenges.
Despite this central role, public support for plant breeding research has not kept pace with overall EU research budgets. Funding through key instruments such as the Framework Programme (FP), the European Research Council (ERC), and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) has declined, putting the innovation base at the start of the agricultural value chain at risk, according to a press release.
As the voice of Europe’s plant breeding and seed sector, Euroseeds calls for FP10 and the ECF to include a robust, dedicated research budget for plant breeding. This should be backed by partnerships and mechanisms that enable effective deployment across the innovation chain — from genetic resources and plant science to breeder uptake and measurable value chain impact.
Sustained investment in plant breeding research is essential to support food security, biodiversity, and public health, and to reinforce Europe’s food and strategic sovereignty — while enabling farmers to produce more and better biomass within planetary boundaries.
Read the Euroseeds Position on Research here.
Read our article ISF Papers Outline a Roadmap for Climate-Resilient, High-Yield Agriculture here.
