“Superpowers” Keep Broccoli Fresh Longer
Consumers want to buy produce that looks, feel and tastes fresh when they go to the grocery store. University of Florida scientist Tie Liu is studying ways to keep vegetables fresh longer.
Trading with Europe: Q&A with David Zaruk
David Zaruk is an expert on risk. As a regulatory policy analyst, also known at The Risk Monger, he is particularly knowledgeable about the seed industry’s interaction with Europe’s complex regulatory framework. He’s also a regular columnist for Seed World Europe.
PBR for the Fruit, Vegetable and Ornamentals Sector Could Get a Big Upgrade as a 45-day Public Consultation Begins
The Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Office is looking for public input into a slate of PBR amendments, including clarifying that the farmers’ privilege does not extend to the saving and […]
See You in Buenos Aires
The 9th Seed Congress of the Americas, scheduled to take place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is in its final planning stages. The event aims to bring together the seed value chain from across the Americas and beyond to discuss innovation, policy, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
Hype or Hope? Regenerative Agriculture Under the Magnifying Glass
Regenerative agriculture aims to maintain agricultural productivity, increase biodiversity, and in particular restore and maintain soil biodiversity, and enhance ecosystem services including carbon capture and storage.
Signing Off from ISF’s World Seed Congress, with Thanks!
The global seed sector’s premiere annual event, the International Seed Federation’s World Seed Congress, officially wrapped up yesterday after three packed days in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
ISF’s powerful impact to the global seed sector
The International Seed Federation (ISF) was formed in 2002 following the merger of International Association of Plant Breeders for the Protection of Plant Varieties (ASSINSEL) and the Federation Internationale du Commerce des Semences (FIS), bringing together their respective areas of expertise: plant breeding and seed trading.
Management Mavericks Nomination Deadline Looming
We are celebrating Management Mavericks: managers who extend far beyond assigning tasks and overseeing projects. Management Mavericks shape the workplace culture, influence employee satisfaction and ultimately drive the success of the team and the organization. They are the linchpin that can turn a mundane job into a meaningful career. Nominate those folks right now, before the thought even leaves your mind. We’ve made it easy for you with this link: https://marketing.seedworld.com/management-mavericks-2024/. Nominations close June 14.
LIVE from WSC in Rotterdam: Seed Sector’s Unique Role in Regen Ag Debate
Global debates about sustainable or regenerative agriculture and food systems transformation – and private sector involvement in both topics – are increasing seemingly exponentially. Yet, the conversations are increasingly polarized with producers pitted against consumers, food sovereignty advocates versus corporate giants, global versus local, etc.
World Seed Congress in Photos: Snapshots from Wednesday
Day 3 in Rotterdam did not disappoint. Here are a few snapshots from the day.
The Netherlands: Tiny Titan of the Seed Sector
The Netherlands is a small country, but it’s a titan in the seed world and in agriculture. The country is third behind the United States and Brazil in agricultural exports. The Netherlands leads the European Union as the biggest agri-food exporter. This tiny country, roughly the size of the state of Maryland, feeds the world in a big way. The Netherlands leads the world in avocado exports.
What are Corteva Agriscience’s Top Goals for the ISF World Seed Congress?
Many of Corteva Agriscience’s key thought leaders are at the World Seed Congress. Here are their big goals and top priorities for the week.
Rabobank Releases 10-Year U.S. Grain and Oilseeds Outlook
Rabobank’s annual 10-Year Outlook on U.S. Grain and Oilseeds is now available, offering a detailed analysis of where U.S. corn, wheat and soybean markets may be headed through 2033/34.
Benson Hill Names New CAO and General Counsel
Ag tech company Benson Hill, Inc. recently appointed Dan Cosgrove as chief administrative officer and general counsel, according to a company press release. Cosgrove will oversee Benson Hill’s business development, compliance, and legal matter operations
ASTA Requests Input on Advancing Cover Crops: Survey Open ‘Til May 31
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), in collaboration with the University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Vermont, is seeking feedback from the seed industry on cover crops. ASTA recently launched a new survey to find out the industry’s perspectives on how to expand and improve the cover crop seed market, as well as how to meet increased demand in cover crop seed.
World Seed Congress: Your Need-to-Know Guide to Day 2
Day 2 of the World Seed Congress in Rotterdam continued to impress with a packed schedule of speakers tackling a wide range of issues of note. Some of the most notable sessions of the day included:
World Seed Congress in Photos: Snapshots from Tuesday
Day 2 in Rotterdam did not disappoint. Here are a few snapshots from the day.
Thirteen Organizations Sign Historic Agreement to Fight Illegal Seed Practices
The International Seed Federation (ISF) joined forces with 12 organizations representing and defending the interests of plant breeders worldwide to collaborate in the fight against illegal seed practices (ISP) through a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed today at the ISF World Seed Congress 2024.
Bayer Advances Genome-Editing Initiatives For Nutrition Enhanced Vegetables
Bayer announced this morning that as part of their strategic open innovation approach, the company has initiated two collaborations to advance genome editing in vegetables.
King of the Netherlands Opens 100th Anniversary World Seed Congress
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially opened the centennial World Seed Congress by welcoming the Congress’ 1,800 delegates.
World Seed Congress Officially Underway: Stay in the Know
The International Seed Federation (ISF) World Seed Congress, the global seed sector’s key annual international seed event since 1924, officially welcomed delegates this morning to Rotterdam.
LIVE from Rotterdam: Highlights from Day 1
Day 1 of the World Seed Congress was jam-packed with an incredible line-up of global thought leaders speaking on seed sector issues of note. Some of the most notable sessions of the day included:
Here’s How We Saw It: Snapshots From the World Seed Congress
Friendships renewed, business partnerships confirmed, business deals in discussion… and a whole lot of handshakes. Here’s a sneak peek at Day 1 of the World Seed Congress in Rotterdam.
Jaap Mazereeuw Celebrates a Century of Growth
In the bustling city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the International Seed Federation (ISF) is preparing to celebrate its centennial anniversary in a big way at the annual ISF World Seed Congress. A significant milestone in the history of global agriculture and the seed sector, the Centennial and this year’s ISF Congress are not just a commemoration of history but a showcase of the seed industry’s pivotal role in food security and sustainability.
Calling Innovators in Plant Breeding: Euroseeds2024 Launches the InnovAction Stage!
The “Euroseeds2024 InnovAction Stage” is an international competition offering startups, SMEs, and public-private partnerships the chance to showcase their top-notch innovations, helping to share the European seed sector of tomorrow.
Welcome to the Netherlands, the “Silicon Valley” of Seeds
As we gather in Rotterdam for the World Seed Congress and mark the centennial anniversary of the International Seed Federation (ISF), let’s take a moment to think about the vital role the Netherlands plays in the global seed sector. This small country, with its rich history of trade and agriculture, has become an indispensable titan in the world of seeds. The country is just as important in biodiversity and food security as it is in commerce.
Meet Michelle Klieger, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Michelle Klieger is the president of Stratagerm Consulting, a food and agricultural consulting firm.
It’s the International Day for Biological Diversity. A Government Report has a Warning for the World
A new report from a Canadian government think tank warns that a “loss of biodiversity” and the “collapse of ecosystems” is one of 35 alarming threats that could significantly affect the global […]
Meet Chris Boomsma, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Chris Boomsma is the CEO of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). In this role, he leads the organization in fulfilling its mission to assemble, interpret and communicate credible, science-based information regionally, nationally and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector and the public.
Incentivizing the Development of New Products for European Farmers
An effective intellectual property framework is needed for plant biotechnology. For decades, the plant breeding and seed sector has been investing in agricultural innovation and new technologies, yielding numerous benefits […]
Meet Samantha Bock, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Samantha Bock is the customer engagement leader at SePRO Corporation. She leads the team responsible for delivering the brand experience for SePRO’s business units that include agriculture, turf and ornamental and aquatics.
USDA Invests $30.8 Million in Historically Black Land-Grant Universities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a significant investment of $30.8 million dedicated to all 19 of America’s historically black Land-grant Universities. This funding, part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program, aims to support scientific research addressing the nation’s toughest agricultural challenges.
EVENT PREVIEW: You Can Help Reimagine Plant Breeding at the 2024 NAPB Meeting
Martin Bohn can’t wait to welcome people to the 2024 meeting of the National Association of Plant Breeders meeting being held in St. Louis, Miss., July 21-25. This year’s meeting, […]
How do you “Catch” Your Employees Doing Something RIGHT?
It’s a part of every leader’s job to ensure everything is going smoothly. It’s human nature to focus on the things that are going wrong and to try and fix […]
Horticulture is Italy’s Thing
Italy is a country with a high horticultural vocation. It is a European leader in the production of vegetable and aromatic seeds: the numbers say it. In 2022, an area of almost 39,000 hectares was cultivated for this purpose. The figures are increasing, there is more than a doubling from 2012 to today, with an annual +5 per cent in 2022.
Meet Katrina Bishop, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Katrina Bishop joined ASTA in December 2023 where she helps tell the story of the seed industry, highlighting the innovative and sustainable technologies seed producers and agribusiness are using to develop a better seed, for a better crop, for a better world.