F inding the next generation of talent is becoming a key chal lenge for the seed and plant breeding sector. The Euroseeds Congress NextGen Forum initiative was developed to help addressing this challenge by bridging the gap between academia and the seed sector and connecting master’s students, PhD can didates and postdoctoral researchers with technical and business leaders from across the sector. When Euroseeds gathers in Valencia this October, a new generation will once again be invited into the room. Following a successful debut in 2025, the NextGen Forum returns to the Euroseeds Congress on 26 and 27 October this year at the Valencia Conference Centre. Designed as a bridge between academia and the seed sector, the initiative aims to do something both simple and ambitious: connect emerging talent with the people shaping the future of seeds. The format reflects that ambition. Building up from the success of last year’s edition, the event will bring together around 50 mas ter’s and PhD students, along with postdoctoral researchers from leading universities in Valencia and across Spain. They will meet CEOs, breeders, researchers and technical experts in an open, infor mal setting. The goal is not just exposure, but connection, creating meaningful conversations that may lead to mentorships, internships or even future careers. At its core, the Forum is about access. As Euroseeds puts it, it is “a unique opportunity to step inside the European seed sector, meet its leaders, and explore career paths you may not have considered.” A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONFERENCE For many participants, that step inside reveals a world quite different from academia. Maud de Kinderen, a PhD candidate in mechanistic biology at the University of York, recalls her first impression of the 2025 Forum. Accustomed to scientific confer ences, she found herself in an unfamiliar territory. “Seeing people in suits, negotiation tables, and booths where companies or institutions display their products or purpose was new to me,” she explains. “There were fewer science talks than at a typical academic conference, and more dis cussions regarding the political landscape of the sector.” Yet, it was precisely this difference that made the experience valuable. The NextGen Forum itself stood out for its accessibility. “It felt very easy to talk with each other as well as the professionals, which created a very safe and accessible environment,” she says. That sense of openness is central to the Forum’s design. With guided discussions and direct interaction, participants are encour aged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and explore where they might fit within the sector. DISCOVERING PATHWAYS AND POSSIBILITIES For early career researchers, one of the most powerful outcomes is a broader view of what a career in seeds can look like. Coming from a background in animal science, de Kinderen had limited exposure to plant breeding before attending. The Forum helped change that. “I learned about the concepts of seed colouring and coating, adding nutrients to optimise growth,” she says. “Euroseeds con tributed positively to my knowledge, generating a holistic view of seed production.” More importantly, it expanded her sense of possibility. “I had particularly interesting conversations with people working in R&D, since this would be the logical trajectory for me with a research background. However, it was good to see that also many other career paths are possible.” That message resonates with Mollie Langdon, a postdoctoral researcher at Rothamsted Research, an agricultural research insti tute based in Hertfordshire in the UK. Her work focuses on under standing the genetic control of seed size and number in oilseeds, firmly rooted in academia. Yet she saw the Forum as an opportunity to connect beyond it and strengthen links between the academic and seed sectors. “I was excited to participate… to build my network of sector and policy contacts and learn how academics and the seed sector can work more harmoniously,” she says. For Langdon, the value lay in dialogue. Hearing directly from sector leaders and discussing how academic research might align with real world needs, offered a fresh perspective. “The discussions were enlightening to hear directly from experts, and it was fantastic to network with panel members who were company directors, executive managers, and Euroseeds board WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION MEETS THE SEED SECTOR – INSIDE THE EUROSEEDS NEXTGEN FORUM EUROSEEDS’ NEXTGEN FORUM RETURNS IN 2026, GIVING YOUNG SCIENTISTS DIRECT ACCESS TO LEADERS, INSIGHTS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. BY: MARCEL BRUINS 34 I SEED WORLD EUROPE I SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | MAY 2026
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