46 I SEED WORLD EUROPE I SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | MAY 2026 INTERNATIONAL NEWS GLOBAL SEED WATCH ARGENTINA STREAMLINES GMO REGULATIONS, CUTS PUT CANADA’S WHEAT BREEDING AT RISK, AND CLIMATE TO SHIFT COLOMBIA’S COCOA ZONES. technological transformation, encourage investment and value cre ation, and strengthen Argentina’s position in production-oriented biotechnology. STATUS CANADA The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition says AAFC funding reductions threaten variety development and long-term competi tiveness of Canada’s $11.5B cereal export sector. A new report released by the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) warns that Canada’s wheat breeding innova tion system is facing “critical gaps and risks” following historic and recent federal budget cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The report, Securing the Future of Wheat in Canada, concludes that the backbone of Western Canada’s wheat breed ing system — AAFC’s breeding program — is under increasing pressure, potentially jeopardizing the long-term competitiveness of Canada’s largest field crop. AAFC-developed varieties dominate Canadian wheat pro duction. On average, 80% of all wheat acres in Canada are seeded STATUS ARGENTINA Argentina has updated and simplified its regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms through Resolution 255/2026, replacing the previous rules established under Resolution 763/11. The new framework applies to both experimental and commercial activities involving GMOs for agricultural, agri-food, and agro-in dustrial use. According to the government, the changes are intended to provide a clearer regulatory environment, improve predictability for investment, and reflect scientific and technological developments in the sector. The revised rules also introduce more precise tech nical criteria, shorter evaluation timelines, lower costs, and fewer administrative requirements. The updated system is designed to organize procedures accord ing to the type of organism and its intended use, while maintaining oversight of agroecosystem safety, food suitability for humans and animals, and the protection of export markets. Argentina says the reform builds on its longstanding role in agricultural biotechnology regulation, where it has approved 134 genetically modified products since 1996, including 38 under the current administration. The gov ernment presents the reform as part of a broader effort to support
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