Researchers Identify ‘Sweet’ New Pathways to Seed Growth
Researchers finally better understand key mechanisms plants use to make move sugar to support seed growth.
Top 15 Management Mavericks of North America – United States, Part 2
We asked our readers to nominate leaders in North America with these characteristics. Now, we’re unveiling those who go beyond the ordinary, those who champion employee well-being and inclusion, those who nurture a culture of mentorship and those who excel in talent retention and career development. In alphabetical order, these are the Top Management Mavericks of North America. Next up, the rest of the eight U.S. honorees.
National Association for Plant Breeding Honors Five Outstanding Scientists
The National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) has announced its awardees for outstanding accomplishments in five categories: Early Career Scientist, Lifetime Achievement, Public Sector Impact, Private Sector Impact, and Ann […]
Modern Wheat Has a Diminished Beneficial Root Microbiome
Modern wheat varieties grown with inorganic fertilizers exhibit significantly fewer beneficial root bacteria than those grown without fertilization. However, ancestral wheat varieties do not show this reduction, regardless of fertilization, […]
Top 15 Management Mavericks of North America
A Management Maverick tends to break away from conventional expectations, showing creativity and originality. This trait can be especially valuable in a seed industry that requires innovation and fresh perspectives. Mavericks are usually unafraid to forge new paths or to challenge the status quo, making them pivotal in driving change and progress in their environments.
How Do We Get Quality Seed To Those Who Need It Most?
The United Nations committed to ending world hunger by 2030. With just seven harvests to go, is the goal achievable, and what role must quality seed play?
A New Weapon Against Italian Ryegrass
Donnie Miller, a weed scientist at the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station in St. Joseph, has been experimenting with this approach, detailed in a LSU news release. He’s found that a combination of fall-applied residual herbicides and cereal rye—a common cover crop—can significantly suppress the troublesome Italian ryegrass, a weed that has become increasingly problematic for Louisiana farmers.
Trish Jordan Lays out the Thinking Behind her Draft ISSB Report
In a recent interview at the Seeds Canada annual meeting in Edmonton, Marc Zienkiewicz sat down with Trish Jordan to discuss the progress and challenges of developing the ISSB (Inclusive […]
New Technology Dramatically Improves Long-Range Weather Prediction
Despite advanced technology and the best efforts of leading global organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), long range weather prediction — anything that aims to predict beyond days or, at best, weeks — is often viewed as unreliable… and for good reason.
New Genetic Discoveries in Snap Beans Offer Hope for Herbicide Tolerance
A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) identifies snap bean germplasm that can withstand flumioxazin, a soil-applied herbicide effective against waterhemp. Furthermore, the genomic region responsible for that tolerance seems to act as a master switch controlling multiple stress tolerance genes.
Collaboration Using Light-Based Technology to Improve Inbred Corn Seed Performance
BioLumic is collaborating with Beck’s Hybrids, Peterson Corn Genetics, Peterson Farms Seed, Breeder Direct, and other seed companies.
Legumes and Bacteria Working Together
Researchers from the University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, as part of an international team, have discovered a genetic mechanism that explains how legumes choose specific bacteria to form nitrogen-fixing root nodules. A recent news release details the findings.
Breeders Trust Reaches Settlement with Belgian Farm Saved Seed Grower
During proceedings before the Liège corporate court, Breeders Trust reached a settlement with a Belgian farmer from Gembloux, Wallonia, who had been using farm-saved seeds of the Innovator potato variety […]
Finalists announced for Euroseeds’ 2024 InnovAction Stage
Here are the 12 finalists in Euroseed’s InnovAction Stage competition, to be held during the Euroseeds2024 Congress in Copenhagen Oct 14 & 15.
Applied Microbiology International Introduces 11 Global Ambassadors
These ambassadors bring a diverse range of expertise and knowledge to support the organization’s mission to promote applied microbiology and its potential impact globally. The 11 ambassadors were announced in a recent Applied Microbiology news release.
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner
Well not really a chicken dinner, but … next week we will reveal the results of our Management Mavericks of North America campaign. It’s been hard to keep the winners […]
Corn Study Reveals New Methods for Hybrid Success Prediction
Nebraska researchers received a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an innovative RNA-based approach to predicting the success of corn hybrids in new environments.
This research, detailed in a University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) news release, aims to enhance the productivity and resilience of corn crops, providing valuable insights for the future of agriculture.
Antibacterial Pesticides?
Researchers discover crucial role of a new enzyme that could be a plant disease breakthrough. Plant diseases significantly impact agricultural productivity, leading to reduced yields and economic losses. Identifying the […]
Corteva Appoints New Executive VP and CFO
Transition aimed at continuity and strategic growth. According to a Corteva news release, the company announced the appointment of David Johnson as its new executive vice president and chief financial […]
Is South American Agtech Facing a “Funding Winter” … or a Phase of Big Opportunity?
A highlight of World Agri-Tech South America (June 24 – 25, 2024) was a panel discussion about ag-tech funding challenges and opportunities.
Singing for the Seed Industry
Anton van Doornmalen, Rijk Zwaan’s co-owner and chairman, shares his passion for the seed industry through song.
Something Exciting is Happening in Carbon Sequestration, and it’s Going to Have a Big Impact on Plant Breeding
Tim Ulmasov, chief scientific officer at Cquesta, is on a mission to revolutionize agriculture — and by extension, the world. He sat down for an interview at the recent meeting […]
California’s $59 Billion Agriculture Sector Urged to Adapt to Climate Change
A report from University of California-Riverside (UCR) researchers calls for urgent and innovative measures to address declining water availability due to climate change. In a UCR release the researchers said […]
Seed Corn Crop Facing Wide Variability
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress Report through July 29 showed that more than 60% of the top 18-corn producing states are in the silking stage. Those 18 states […]
Turning Weeds into Winners: The CoverCress Success Story
Pennycress is a flowering plant in the cabbage family Brassicaceae. Kevin Cook is part of the breakthrough in transforming it into a viable crop. As VP of breeding for the […]
Are You Blinded By the Light?
There’s a surprising gap between how leaders view their innovative abilities and how others perceive them. I’m guiding a multi-company organizational leadership initiative using a 360-degree feedback instrument as a […]
Hidden Mechanisms in Plant Resilience
Texas A&M scientists unveil unexpected complexities in plant microRNA production, challenging existing knowledge and opening new doors for crop innovation and improvement. MicroRNAs can enhance plant resilience to drought, salinity, […]
Could Bioengineered Plants Produce Their Own Nitrogen?
New research identifies how plants might create their own nitrogen, thanks to help from bacteria. Nitrogen fertilizers are crucial for feeding the world’s expanding population. However, given nitrogen’s drawbacks of […]
Japan Confirms No Cross-Contamination Between GM and Non-GM Crops
Recent finding address public concerns of ‘accidental spillage’ of GM crops. To address public concerns about potential “accidental spillage” of GM crop seeds, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries […]
How is ISTA Clearing the Path for Tomorrow’s Seed Technologies?
While ‘safety’, ‘quality’ and ‘compliance’ might be the first word one thinks of in connection to the International Seed Testing Association, advanced technology and innovation are top of ISTA’s mind […]
Collaborating to Improve Peanuts in Africa
University of Georgia scientists are collaborating with African Farmers and Global Scientists for Agricultural Resilience. Together, they formed the Groundnut Improvement Network for Africa to develop disease-resistant and climate-adaptive peanut […]
Corn Growers Want Standards for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credits
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urged the Biden administration to establish fair and reasonable criteria for farming practices for farmers and refineries seeking tax credits for sustainable aviation fuels. […]
Which Biofuels Crops Work Best and Where?
Researchers assessed the financial and environmental impacts of four biofuel crops used to create sustainable aviation fuels in the United States. They discovered that each feedstock—corn stover, energy sorghum, miscanthus, or switchgrass—performed best in specific regions of the rainfed United States.
Don’t Overlook the Growing Power of Latin America’s Seed Industry
From World Seed Congress to AOSCA to Seeds Canada and a ton of meetings in between, I’ve been on the road more than home for the last few months. One […]
Precision and Practicality: On Day 3 of its Conference, the NAPB Seeks to Reinvent Breeding
Reinventing plant breeding can encompass a variety of innovations and advancements aimed at addressing contemporary challenges and leveraging new technologies. While integration of advanced technologies is important, consumer-centric approaches are […]
“Forever Chemicals” Increasing in U.S. Pesticides
Study shows alarming trends. A peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Health Perspectives reveals that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” are increasingly being incorporated into U.S. […]