b'7. What Makes the Vegetable Seed Sector So4. Building Trust for Fair Access toUnique? Patented TraitsApril 2025 October 2025Few parts of the seed sector are as diverse, fast-moving and closelyFair access to patented traits sits at the heart of todays plant breed-connected to consumers as vegetable seeds, making this segmenting debate, raising questions about innovation, competition and unlike any other in global agriculture. In this article we dive intocollaboration. This article tackles the complex challenge of ensur-the distinctive dynamics of the vegetable seed sector, highlightinging fair access to patented traits in plant breeding, a topic at the its complexity, high economic value and crucial role in food securityintersection of innovation, competition and sector trust. It high-and nutrition. Europe leads global innovation, with breeders work- lights how patented technologies can drive crop improvements, ing across more than 50 species to improve traits like disease resist- but also how unclear licensing practices and limited transparency ance, climate tolerance and crop quality. Vegetable seeds often gorisk disadvantaging smaller breeders and weakening collaboration. straight from seed to the consumers plate, creating tight links withVoices from industry, legal experts and associations argue that growers, retailers and consumers. The sectors diversity, interna- clearer frameworks, better communication and equitable licens-tional trade and regulatory challenges shape how breeders responding models are needed to maintain a competitive, innovative seed to evolving climates, consumer preferences and sustainability goals,sector. Ultimately, building trust around trait access is presented as underlining why this segment stands apart in the seed world. essential for sustaining innovation while keeping the sector open https://tinyurl.com/4cbtv3vx and fair for all players.https://tinyurl.com/4h2hdbvn6. Rooted in Progress: Reinventing the Carrot for a Changing World 3.The Future of Potatoes: True Seeds, Hybrid November 2025 Breeding and a New Commercial EraCarrot breeding is undergoing a quiet reinvention, driven by climateApril 2025pressure, changing consumer preferences and rapidly advancingPotato innovation is entering a new commercial era, driven by breeding tools. Breeders from leading companies including BASFhybrid breeding and true seed technologies that promise greater effi-| Nunhems, Bakker Brothers, Bejo, Vilmorin-Mikado and Bayerciency, uniformity and easier global distribution. Traditional potato explain how theyre using data-driven techniques, expanded ger- propagation via tubers has long constrained breeding progress and mplasm and advanced breeding strategies to boost yield, diseaseincreased disease risk, but hybrid approaches overcome these lim-resistance, sustainability and sensory traits across a range of carrotitations by enabling uniform, robust plants from true seed. This types. This article highlights carrots global importance, the sciencearticle highlights the science behind hybrid potatoes, their potential behind breeding cycles, and how innovation keeps this humble cropto reduce costs and carbon footprints, and the early commercial resilient and relevant in a changing world. players bringing these advances to market. For growers, processors https://tinyurl.com/mr45k84t and breeders alike, these developments could reshape how potatoes are bred, sold and grown in the years ahead.5.How Cover Crops Could Change Everythinghttps://tinyurl.com/yeyrphtafor Ukraines FieldsSeptember 2025 2.Stop Penalizing Breeders for TheirOwn SuccessSeptember 2025Outdated interpretations of novelty rules in a handful of UPOV countries are putting breeders rights at risk, by treating the com-mercialisation of a hybrid variety as destroying the novelty of its parent lineseven when those lines were never sold or disclosed. This article explains why this approach contradicts UPOV 1991 guidance, scientific reality and global practice. Hybrids and parent lines are legally and biologically distinct and should qualify inde-pendently for protection. Without legal clarity, innovation is dis-couraged. The piece calls for legislative updates, clearer guidance and better alignment to ensure breeders are rewardednot penal-isedfor successful hybrid development.https://tinyurl.com/ujmwvcv61. Denmarks EU Council Presidency Puts PRM and NGT in the SpotlightCover crops are emerging as a potential game-changer for UkrainesAugust 2025fields, offering a practical way to rebuild soil health, improve mois- As Denmark took over the EU Council Presidency, two pivotal ture retention and boost long-term resilience. Visiting farms withseed-sector files moved to centre stage: Plant Reproductive Material agronomists and soil experts, the author highlights how intensive(PRM) and New Genomic Techniques (NGT). Building on pro-tillage and lack of cover crops have left soil compacted, biologicallygress made under Poland, Denmark was tasked with steering both depleted and reliant on synthetic inputs. Demonstrations showeddossiers through complex trilogue negotiations. PRM reform aims how simple soil cover dramatically improved moisture retention andto modernise long-standing seed legislation, while NGT talks reduced evaporation, pointing to cover crops as a tool to rebuild soilfocussed on enabling gene-editing innovation amid unresolved structure, boost biodiversity and support more sustainable systems.debates on IP, traceability and oversight. With competitiveness, With Ukraines agricultural landscape facing climate pressures andfood security and climate resilience at stake, Denmarks success resource constraints, cover crops offer a promising path to long-termdepended on brokering pragmatic compromises that translate polit-productivity and resilience. ical momentum into innovation-friendly regulation.https://tinyurl.com/yv5k29kk https://tinyurl.com/mvtf53ehFEBRUARY 2026|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 29'