b'time for germplasm donor countries to see us as allies, not ene-mies. However, it is obvious that too much bureaucracy [hinders germplasm acquisition].The access to gene banks plus landraces and accessions coming from countries protected by biodiversity agreements is regulated by the Nagoya Protocol, says Abad. This can be somehow reducing the possibilities to make full use of these resources and therefore provide fast solutions to growers needs. We need to continue looking for [versatile] solutions to this always-existing need for new traits coming from natural variability.Bal shares a concern: Access to germplasm is still workable, but it takes more administration, and sometimes legal advice is needed.THE INNOVATION PIPELINEFor us, the use of molecular markers, resistance-bioassays and in-vitro culture technology are methodologies that Meridiem Seeds is currently implementing in all its breeding programs, says Gonzlez-Cabezuelo. He adds that all the breeding staff receive continuous updates, including the knowledge of new plant breeding techniques, bioinformatics, crop management and data management.For oligogenic traits it is clear that genome editing can be really making a difference, so Abads company is waiting for a clear situation where the EU is not blocking this technology. A block would create differences between regions or even between different codes of conduct within the companies. On the other hand, we are also entering into the digital era of plant breeding with significant possibilities for generating, processing and ana-lysing massive amounts of data points. Rijk Zwaan invests approximately 30 per cent of its revenue back into research and development, says Bal. On the genetic side we invest in numerous items, like snack cucumbers and more differentiation in types in development, but also in the dark leaf concept. Besides this, [we also invest in] developing a more sustainable plant; creating an indoor high-tech segment for winter cultivation gherkin; in small cavity cucumbers for the convenience market; in specific varieties for organic cultivation with maximum disease resistance; in the wok-cue, especially for stir-frying and we try to improve the shelf-life without the use of plastic. On the technical side, we work on digital phenotyping; response to LED-light and speed breeding. And on the molecular side we invest in the use of marker-assisted backcrossing.The costs for genotyping are decreasing dramatically, and Marker Assisted Back Crossing (MABC) is incorporated in the breeding process. High-density genotyping will change our way of breeding completely. Our selection methods will take less time, and we will be able to select more precisely to the goal we want. Next to that there is an increased demand for diversification, says Suelmann. According to Aust, cucumber breeding techniques today can rely on molecular procedures for assessing gene materials. Unfortunately, for sexual expression, which is a determining factor in cucumbers, gene identification is not yet well developed, and there is scope for further research in this regard. Similarly, CRISPR methods for directed mutagenesis could yield interest-ing results.NEW PLANT BREEDING TECHNIQUESNew breeding techniques will provide benefits, give more chal-lenges and will accelerate the introduction of new varieties, says Bal. In its current assortment, Rijk Zwaan has not included any varieties obtained by techniques to which the GMO directive isMini Beith Alpha cucumber variety Kalimero F1. Source: Moravo Seedapplicable. Moreover, the regulation and qualification of products EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 33'