To Worry or Not to Worry? That Is the Question.
“Three thousand six hundred food packaging chemicals detected in human bodies: How reheating food is killing us.” That was the headline that greeted me last week from one of the […]
Pushing for Progress – Amanda Patin
Seed World is celebrating the wonderful women in the seed industry.
Amanda Patin serves on the editorial board of Seed World U.S. She holds a master’s degree in agricultural education and a thesis in entomology from the University of Arizona. In 2000, following her work in insecticide resistance with a publication in Nature, Amanda began working with seed testing at SGS North America, Inc. as the Contract Laboratory research director.
Representation Matters – Lesley Nakonechny
Seed World continues to celebrate women in the seed industry during Women’s History Month. Lesley Nakonechny is the one who puts together all those beautiful Seed World magazines. She’s an […]
“Smart” Roots Make Strategic Use of Water
Plants are able to modify their root hydraulics to maintain water status and strategically use soil water, according to a new study published today. When soils are drying, plants can […]
The 10th Seed Congress of the Americas is a Can’t-Miss Event of 2025
Diego Risso wants you to experience something unforgettable next fall—not just a world-class event, but a moment of convergence that could change the future of the seed business in the […]
Planting Partnerships: Why Collaboration is the Future of Canada’s Seed Trade
When it comes to Canada’s seed industry, most of what’s grown stays local. But don’t mistake that for isolationism. There’s a quiet, high-stakes choreography happening at the border—one that moves half […]
Contributing in a Unique Way – Melissa Shipman
Melissa Shipman is a Seed World Contributor. You might recognize her name from some really great content in our magazines for more than 10 years. She says her passion is […]
More Than 115 Organizations Support Global Agricultural Initiative to End Hunger
More than 115 organizations have supported the call from 153 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates for a “moonshot” initiative to combat rising hunger worldwide. Released earlier this year, the letter highlights […]
Olivér Várhelyi, The New EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Olivér Várhelyi has assumed the role of European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, placing him at the forefront of regulatory decisions impacting agriculture and the EU seed sector. With […]
Leading Authentically – Caroline Currie
Seed World continues celebrating Women’s History Month. Caroline Currie is the Regional Strategic Marketing Lead for BASF Seeds & Traits North America. With a strong background in agricultural marketing and […]
UC Davis Joins CRISPR Powerhouse to Tackle Climate and Food Crises
From low-methane cows to resilient crops, UC Davis and the Innovative Genomics Institute are rewriting the DNA of global solutions. UC Davis is now officially a campus partner of the […]
New Wheat Wild Relative Genome Research Unlocks Potential for Crop Improvement
Scientists have successfully mapped the genome of Aegilops mutica, a wild relative of wheat, revealing its genetic diversity and potential for improving breeding programs. Researchers at the University of Nottingham created […]
Tariff Turbulence and a World of Uncertainty
The word “tariff” might seem like a vague policy buzzword, but for those in the seed industry, it now comes with a steep price tag and a daily dose of uncertainty.
“In the short term, I think the hardest part for us all is navigating the uncertainty around timelines and scope of coverage,” says Sam Crowell, senior director of international programs and policy for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).
U.S. Corn Exports Exceed Standards in 2024 Quality Report
“It’s difficult to understate the role of transparency in building trust between business partners, and the Council seeks to make detailed, accurate information about the quality of U.S. corn available to buyers around the world and facilitate international trade,” said Verity Ulibarri, U.S. Grains Council chairwoman. “As always, we acknowledge the tremendous work done by the analysts that contribute so much to the report and to the Federal Grain Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for providing samples for study.
Limitless Possibilities – Lisa Branco
Lisa Branco is the General Manager of Radicle Seed, where she leads strategic initiatives and day-to-day operations for the company’s independent seed business. With deep roots in California agriculture, Lisa […]
Manitoba Student Helping Lead International Food Science Group
Chamali Kodikara of the University of Manitoba is the newly elected president-elect of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Student Association (IFTSA) and represents a rising generation of globally minded […]
Nutrien Ag Solutions Opens New Facility at Innovation Farm in Illinois
New on-site building supports agronomic research and technology adoption across North America. Nutrien Ag Solutions® opened a new facility at its Innovation Farm in Champaign, Illinois, furthering its commitment to […]
Paving the Way for the Next Generation – Keely Brook
Keely Brook is the Client Services Coordinator at Seed World Group, where she plays a key role in supporting client relationships and ensuring smooth communication between teams. Whether it’s filling client requests, offering timely feedback or coordinating with internal departments, Keely is committed to delivering thoughtful, solution-driven service for all stakeholders.
Bayer Opens Maize Seed Facility in Zambia to Support Food Security for 30 Million People
Seed output from Zambia will supply 6.4 million Sub-Saharan African smallholders with high-yielding maize seeds in 2025, and up to 10 million by 2030. Bayer has announced the opening of […]
Mexico Approves Constitutional Ban on Planting Genetically Modified Corn
Mexico’s lower house has enacted a constitutional ban on genetically modified (GM) corn planting. This decision reinforces earlier restrictions, despite a prior ruling that deemed Mexico’s GM corn limitations scientifically […]
Fear, Misinformation, and Vine Vandalism Continue to Hinder Progress
Only a few months have passed since, in early October 2024, the first European vineyard with downy mildew-resistant plants, obtained using new genomic techniques (NGTs), was inaugurated in San Floriano […]
Kentucky Corn Propels Vietnamese Partnership
Kentucky Corn helped lay the groundwork for a new trade agreement with Vietnam’s top fuel distributor, opening the door to a 300-million-gallon export opportunity for U.S. ethanol. U.S. ethanol leaders […]
Thanks for Setting the Stage – Jane Bachmann
Jane Bachmann is the Global Head of Seed Business Communications at Corteva Agriscience, where she leads strategic communication efforts for the company’s global seed business. With extensive experience in agriculture and corporate communications, she has played a key role in shaping messaging and outreach strategies within the industry. Passionate about sustainable agriculture and leadership development, she actively collaborates with institutions like Iowa State University and mentors young professionals through organizations such as the Public Relations Society of America.
A New Era for EU Policy: Christophe Hansen Named European Commissioner for Agriculture & Food
Christophe Hansen has been appointed as the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, a role that places him at the centre of European agricultural policy at a time of significant […]
Beyond ChatGPT: Why AI for Plant Breeding Requires a Different Approach
AI is all the rage and might seem new, but the experts at Computomics have spent over a decade perfecting it for use in plant breeding. AI is everywhere, and […]
Is Contract Research a Solution or a Stopgap? Ken Coles Weighs In
Applied research in agriculture has long been a cornerstone of progress on Canadian farms. But with government funding cuts and a shifting industry landscape, the sector is facing significant challenges. […]
Performance Reviews Worth Having
Most performance reviews tend to revolve around whether goals were met or why an “exceeds expectations” rating wasn’t achieved. Such meetings rarely leave us feeling invigorated. In essence, the most […]
That’s Where Women Belong
Seed World continues a month-long celebration of women with our own Madeleine Baerg, Seed World Group EVP of Operations. Madeleine Baerg is a seasoned agriculture expert with more than 15 […]
Have We Been Looking at Soil Health Through the Wrong Microscope?
Throughout history, the industry has often looked at soil health from a chemistry perspective — but if we’re going to facilitate true impact, Dale Overton says it’s actually biology that […]
Patrick Fabian Details His Journey into Biological Seed Treatment
When Alberta seed grower and retailer Patrick Fabian first tried a biological seed treatment, he wasn’t expecting the results to be so dramatic. “We were approached to try this biological […]
Corn Growers Push for Higher Ethanol Blends Amid Economic Challenges
Inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty continue to dominate conversations in Washington, but corn growers across the country see an opportunity amid the challenges. Advocates at both state and national levels […]
Hutton Researchers Discover Key Ingredient in Eco-Friendly Spray to Fight Cereal Disease
Scientists at The James Hutton Institute are making significant progress toward developing a spray that could “silence” genes responsible for Fusarium head blight, a disease affecting various cereal crops. This […]
In Fifty Years … Seed World Celebrates Women
Lisa Scebbi is a seasoned global food and agricultural marketer with a fervent commitment to sustainable, nutrient-dense food production. In September 2024, she embraced the role of Senior Director of Marketing at Tidal Grow AgriScience, where she leverages her extensive expertise to drive innovative marketing strategies in the agricultural sector. Her passion for soil health and regenerative farming practices underscores her dedication to advancing sustainable agriculture.
Meet 9 Plant Science Polymaths Shaping a Sustainable World
University plant breeding programs are the epicentre of seed innovation and education. Universities are home to cutting-edge facilities and academic programs dedicated to plant science, highlighting the pivotal role seeds […]
Double-Digit Yield Gains? How New Mustard Lines are Changing the Game
At the recent Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC) meetings in Winnipeg, Ken Jackle, chair of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oilseeds (PRCO), shared insights on exciting developments in mustard and […]
Seed Innovation is Fighting Back a Growing Threat in Corn
For nearly a decade, corn seed developers have been addressing the rise of a new disease threatening the Midwest’s corn yields. Tar spot, a fungal disease caused by Phyllachora maydis, has emerged as one of the most significant challenges for corn production, presenting both risks and opportunities for seed companies to innovate and provide solutions.