Finding Canada’s Way: Rebuilding the Variety Marketplace | On the Brink Episode 8
Greg Stamp has spent 20 years farming in Western Canada and his verdict on the current variety marketplace is straightforward: the system is broken. In Episode 9 of On the Brink, Stamp makes the case for variety use agreements as the clearest mechanism to rebuild the investment pipeline Canadian plant breeding needs to stay competitive.
Up to 40% of U.S. Food Never Gets Eaten. The Pressure Starts at Seed
U.S. food waste reaches up to 40% of the supply, with 133 billion pounds lost annually. Increasingly, that loss is shaping seed breeding decisions around shelf life, uniformity, and durability across the supply chain.
Who Speaks for Seed in Canada-U.S. Trade? Michael Harvey Takes a Seat
With CUSMA talks approaching, CAFTA’s executive director joins Ottawa’s new advisory committee to represent agri-food exporters
What Fuels a Plant Before Sunlight Takes Over?
Scientists identified how the PEX11 protein regulates peroxisome growth in young plants, helping seedlings use stored energy before photosynthesis begins and offering insight relevant to bioengineering and human cell research.
Scientists Use CRISPR to Strengthen Grapevines in African First
African researchers used CRISPR to successfully edit grapevine DNA for the first time in a woody crop on the continent. By switching off the VvDMR6.1 gene, the study reduced susceptibility to downy mildew and improved drought response, highlighting genome editing’s potential for climate-resilient grape production.
CRISPR Study Unlocks Precision Chromosome Editing in Wheat
IPK researchers used CRISPR/Cas to reduce or remove chromosomes in wheat and other large-genome plants by targeting satellite DNA. Published in Plant Communications, the breakthrough shows how precise chromosome editing can create new genetic variants, accelerate wheat breeding and support the development of more resilient crop varieties.
Euroseeds InnovAction Stage 2026: Deadline April 30
Euroseeds Congress 2026 InnovAction Stage offers startups, research initiatives, and established seed companies a platform to showcase breakthrough innovations. Madeleine Baerg and Dr. Amelie Detterbeck discuss how applicants can gain visibility, credibility, industry feedback, and meaningful connections with seed sector leaders, policymakers, partners, and innovators shaping the future of agriculture.
What To Expect at Euroseeds 2026
Shawn Brook interviews Garlich von Essen on the future of the seed sector ahead of Euroseeds Congress 2026, exploring geopolitical shifts, innovation, regulation, sustainability, biologicals, traceability, and plant breeding. The conversation highlights how collaboration, networking, and emerging technologies are shaping agriculture and creating new opportunities for seed companies, startups, innovators, and future leaders.
$40M Investment Expands Agronomy Research Capacity at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State University will build a new Agronomy Discovery Center following a $40 million state investment, expanding crop research capacity and supporting wheat breeding, soil science and broader agricultural innovation.
Seed Programs International conecta a los pequeños agricultores con el sector de las semillas
Seed Programs International conecta empresas semilleras, financiadores y socios locales para ayudar a pequeños agricultores a producir alimentos y fortalecer la seguridad alimentaria. Desde 1998, SPI ha colaborado con más de 400 organizaciones en 94 países, beneficiando a más de 9 millones de personas. Su modelo eficiente brinda semillas, capacitación y apoyo técnico, convirtiendo donaciones en resiliencia duradera.
Yearbook Advice vs. Seed Business Reality: “Never Change” Is an Awful Strategy
Seed companies can’t rely on “never change” thinking. To stay competitive, leaders must protect customer trust while evolving sales channels, pricing models, digital tools, agronomic insight, and product positioning. Intentional change helps seed businesses adapt to farmer expectations, build resilience, create differentiation, and keep growing in a fast-changing agricultural marketplace.
Elevated Fertilizer Costs Make Seed Testing a Strategic Imperative
Ongoing disruptions to global shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz have tightened fertilizer supply and driven nutrient prices higher. What’s the impact on the industry? For those of us […]
Breeders Trust Settles Case Over Illegal Seed Potato Listing In Denmark
Danish potato grower settles Breeders Trust case after a Facebook listing offered protected Solist seed potatoes, underscoring that online advertisements can infringe plant breeders’ rights even without a sale. The case highlights strict seed potato certification rules, legal and phytosanitary risks, and the growing responsibility of online platforms to prevent unlawful potato trading.
“Lazy” Crop Roots: Traditional Sorghum Outperforms on Recycled Phosphorus
Traditional sorghum lines may hold the key to more efficient crop nutrition as agriculture shifts toward recycled fertilisers. A University of Queensland study found landraces outperformed modern sorghum when phosphorus was less soluble, thanks to stronger root traits and exudate chemistry. The findings highlight new breeding opportunities to improve nutrient-use efficiency and support a circular phosphorus economy.
Embrapa’s Mariangela Hungria Named to TIME100 2026 for Pioneering Sustainable Agriculture Innovations
Embrapa scientist Mariangela Hungria was named to TIME100 2026 in the Pioneers category for advancing sustainable agriculture. A global leader in biological inputs, she helped replace chemical fertilizers with microorganisms that boost yields, cut costs, and reduce emissions. Hungria says the honor recognizes Brazilian science and strengthens Brazil’s leadership in healthier, low-residue food production worldwide today.
Mariangela Hungria, de Embrapa, incluida en la lista TIME100 2026 por sus innovaciones pioneras en agricultura sostenible
La científica de Embrapa Mariangela Hungria fue incluida en la lista TIME100 2026, en la categoría Pioneros, por impulsar la agricultura sostenible. Referente mundial en insumos biológicos, ayudó a sustituir fertilizantes químicos por microorganismos que aumentan rendimientos, reducen costos y emisiones. Afirma que el reconocimiento destaca la ciencia brasileña y refuerza el liderazgo de Brasil en alimentos más saludables.
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Canada’s Plant Breeding Future Hinges on Trust, Not Just Funding Models — Marc’s Take This Week
Global competition and funding challenges are forcing change, but skepticism from farmers could shape what comes next
100 Years Is Rare in Seeds
Happy Birthday! Pioneer marks 100 years in the seed industry, offering a case study in what it takes to survive shifting markets, evolving technology, and changing farmer expectations.
Canada’s Plant Breeding System at a Crossroads, Says Incoming GIFS CEO Jason Reinheimer
In the latest Seed World Podcast, Reinheimer explains why Canada risks falling behind globally, and what must change to protect innovation
Solar Panels Boost Crop Efficiency: Tomato Systems Use Half the Water
Agrovoltaic tomato systems could help agriculture save water while producing renewable energy on the same land. Research in Spain found that combining solar panels with deficit irrigation cut water use by about 50%, with roughly a 20% yield penalty. The findings highlight new opportunities for breeding tomatoes with better shade tolerance,
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: “Consolidation” is a False Efficiency in Crop Breeding
Three retired breeders say centralizing AAFC research may save costs on paper, but it narrows genetic discovery, increases farm risk and slows agricultural innovation
What’s at Stake in Every Slice: On the Brink Episode 7
Adam Dyck of Warburton’s Canada warns Canada risks losing its plant breeding investment edge — and the international wheat contracts that depend on it.
Por qué Costa Rica atrae inversión e I+D global en semillas
Costa Rica es un centro líder en innovación de semillas, con estabilidad regulatoria, diversidad climática y talento especializado. Su marco científico, ventaja de contraestación e infraestructura avanzada permiten a las empresas desarrollar y escalar globalmente. Con fuerte apoyo institucional y enfoque sostenible, el país acelera ciclos de mejoramiento, reduce riesgos y se posiciona como plataforma estratégica en la industria global de semillas.
Why Costa Rica Is Attracting Global Seed Investment and R&D
Costa Rica is a leading hub for seed innovation, offering regulatory stability, diverse microclimates and skilled talent. Its science-based framework, counter-season advantage and advanced R&D infrastructure enable companies to test, develop and scale globally. With strong institutional support and sustainable practices, Costa Rica accelerates breeding cycles, reduces risk and positions itself as a strategic platform in the global seed industry.
£3 Billion DNA Project: How Sequencing UK Biodiversity Could Transform Agriculture and Innovation
The Darwin Tree of Life Project could generate nearly £3 billion in economic value across the UK and Ireland by sequencing all complex life. For agriculture, gains of £800 million to £1.4 billion could boost crop resilience, pest control and climate adaptation. Open-access reference genomes are strengthening biodiversity research, conservation outcomes and plant breeding innovation across the seed sector.
Global Institute for Food Security Names Jason Reinheimer CEO
The Australian-born plant breeding expert steps into the role with a mission to turn ag innovation into real-world impact faster
Euroseeds Welcomes Member States’ Backing of NGT Regulation Deal
Euroseeds welcomes EU Member States’ formal adoption of the Council’s first-reading position on the new Regulation on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The decision confirms the trilogue compromise with the European Parliament and marks a major step toward final adoption. Euroseeds says the new NGT framework can strengthen plant breeding, agricultural innovation, competitiveness, and food security across Europe.
The System Built For Corn Isn’t Built For What’s Next
Diversification is gaining traction across U.S. agriculture, but a recent Corn Belt analysis shows markets and infrastructure for crops beyond corn still lag, limiting adoption and slowing demand for new seed.
VUAs: A Critical Piece of Canada’s Ag Future
Whether we’re looking one year out or 20, the strength of our industry depends on the quality of the genetics we have access to. They drive yield, resilience, and ultimately […]
Legume Generation Project Aims to Boost Legume Breeding and Protein Crop Performance in Europe
Legume Generation aims to strengthen European legume breeding through breeder-led innovation, addressing yield gaps, underinvestment, and reliance on imported protein. By uniting research and breeding across key crops, the project accelerates genetic progress, improves agronomic performance, and builds sustainable investment frameworks. Enhanced legumes can boost resilience, reduce fertiliser dependence, and support a more secure, competitive European agri-food system for future
Seed Banks May Limit Gene Drives for Weed Control
New research from Cornell University shows seed banks, long-lived reserves of dormant seeds in soil, could slow or limit the spread of gene drives in plants. The findings highlight a key challenge and potential safeguard for using gene drives in weed control.
No todos los cultivos son iguales
Científica investigadora con casi 10 años en el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones del Tabaco de Cuba, liderando mejoramiento genético, huella genética por ADN, resistencia a enfermedades, caracterización de germoplasma y estudios de estrés mientras completaba un doctorado. Tras emigrar a Canadá, el estigma del cultivo obligó a cambiar su currículum, hasta reivindicar con orgullo su experiencia en tabaco.
All Crops Are Not Created Equal
Research scientist with nearly 10 years at Cuba’s National Tobacco Research Institute, leading tobacco breeding, DNA fingerprinting, disease resistance, germplasm characterization, and stress-response studies while completing a PhD. After emigrating to Canada, crop stigma forced a resume rewrite, proving plant breeding skills are undervalued when linked to tobacco. Today, that expertise is proudly reclaimed and recognized on a resume.
Marc’s Take: The Quiet Leaders Behind Seed Innovation and Why They Matter More Than Ever
From wheat breeder Dean Spaner to pea scientist D.J. Bing, these stories highlight the human foundation of plant breeding, and why it’s critical for innovation
“I’m Dean”: The Humble Leadership of Wheat Breeder Dean Spaner Leaves Lasting Mark on Prairie Agriculture
Known for his humility and sharp scientific mind, he transformed wheat breeding in Alberta while creating a lab culture that felt like family