Why Weird Corn Matters
A proposed USDA consolidation threatens the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center, home to 100,000 mutant corn lines critical to seed innovation. Researchers warn that relocating the collection from the University of Illinois could disrupt decades of progress in crop genetics.
Podcast Launches to Explore the People and Ideas Behind Global Agriculture
Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center has launched GermiNation, a podcast that explores the people, research, and innovations driving the global seed industry. The series features expert insights from scientists, students, and industry leaders shaping the future of agriculture.
A Life in Seeds: Päivi Mannerkorpi Reflects on Two Decades of EU Leadership
For over 20 years, Päivi Mannerkorpi shaped EU seed legislation and plant variety rights, strengthening agricultural quality and innovation; her retirement marks a reflection on Europe’s global regulatory impact amid climate and food security challenges.
Less Fieldwork, More Focus: Chris Davison Explains the Canola Council’s New Direction
One of the most striking changes is the winding down of its field-based agronomy team
Nueva Dirección de COPASEM Prioriza el Fortalecimiento de la Sanidad de las Semillas en Brasil
COPASEM inicia su mandato en Brasil enfocándose en mejorar la sanidad de las semillas mediante capacitación, estandarización e integración del sector.
New COPASEM Leadership Prioritizes Strengthening Seed Health in Brazil
The Seed Pathology Committee (COPASEM) of ABRATES, led by Norimar D’Ávila Denardin and Carla Corrêa, aims to improve seed health in Brazil through training, standardized methods, and stronger sector integration.
Bridging Worlds: How Cross Industry Experience Fuels Innovation in Agriculture
Michelman brings decades of coating expertise to agriculture, delivering sustainable, microplastic-free seed solutions built on trust and innovation.
The Built-In Chill Factor
University of Missouri researchers have discovered that soybeans use a stress survival strategy called differential transpiration to protect flowers and pods during heat and drought. This physiological trait prioritizes cooling of reproductive tissues and could be enhanced through breeding or gene editing. As climate change intensifies, scientists and seed companies are exploring how to integrate this mechanism into elite soybean varieties to preserve yield under extreme weather.
Canola Council Drops Agronomy Team as it Pivots to Market Growth and Innovation
The Canola Council of Canada has unveiled its new strategic roadmap — and it comes with a notable shift
The Secret to Drought Survival? A Little-Known Plant Protein Steps In
A Waseda University study reveals that the motor protein myosin XI plays a role in plant drought response, alongside the hormone abscisic acid (ABA), by helping regulate stomatal closure to conserve water.
Meet the Woman Who’s Turning Wheat’s Wild Side Into the Future of Farming
Valentyna Klymiuk steps into a new USask research chair role with a laser focus on climate-smart cereals.
Can Canada’s Seed Regs Keep Up With Innovation? A New Overhaul Aims to Find Out
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released its long-awaited policy paper that proposes changes to key sections of the Seeds Regulations.
Dear Ottawa: We’re Not Asking for a Handout. We’re Offering a $100 Billion Growth Strategy
A bold letter from Canada’s ag sector says the future of national prosperity starts with a seed — and it’s time government acted like it
Fungus-Fighting Genes: The Future of Crop Protection Is Already Here
Seed World Europe interviews HealthyCrop CEO Pernille Ollendorff Hede on a natural enzyme that helps plants resist fungal attacks, blending molecular biology, food security, and sustainability.
USDA Reorganization Raises Questions for Agriculture and for the Seed Sector
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is undergoing a major reorganization aimed at reducing costs, streamlining operations, and relocating thousands of federal employees from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the changes are designed to refocus USDA on its core mission: supporting American farmers, ranchers, and foresters. While the department has emphasized continuity of critical services, the realignment raises questions for sectors like seed, where timely regulatory approvals, research partnerships, and export processes are vital.
For the seed industry, this shift could impact access to USDA agencies such as APHIS, AMS, and ARS, which oversee functions from phytosanitary inspections to biotech trait approvals. The closure or relocation of facilities—including Beltsville Agricultural Research Center—may disrupt ongoing breeding collaborations and affect public-private research programs. Meanwhile, seed exporters could face challenges if USDA’s trade offices experience staffing gaps or delays.
New Study Pinpoints Allergy-Triggering Proteins in Barley
Researchers have, for the first time, precisely measured allergy-triggering amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) in barley—proteins linked to symptoms like bloating, headaches, and brain fog in people with food sensitivities. Led by Katharina Scherf at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology, the study analyzed 181 barley accessions from around the world and identified ten specific ATI types. Using a new LC-MS/MS method, the team found ATI levels ranged from 1.1 to 5.2 milligrams per gram of flour, representing up to 3.6 percent of total protein content. These findings are a breakthrough in understanding barley’s role in non-celiac wheat sensitivity and could help breeders select varieties with naturally lower ATI levels.
Lecciones De La Expansión A Sudamérica
Lecciones de Agronomix sobre la expansión en Sudamérica y cómo la flexibilidad ayuda a superar retos económicos y regulatorios.
Lessons from Expanding into South America
Insights from Agronomix on navigating payment, policies, and building flexibility when expanding ag software into South America.
Moon-Rice: Developing the Perfect Crop for Space-Bases
The Moon-Rice project is developing a fresh, nutritious crop for long-term space missions, aiming to support human health in lunar and Martian habitats while addressing the limitations of pre-packaged space food.
He was the Original Food Safety Crusader — and his Story Still Matters
Meet the 19th-century chemist who risked everything to implement quality standards — and paid the price for telling the truth
Mexico and CIMMYT Strengthen Partnership to Transform Agri-Food Systems
CIMMYT hosted Mexican government officials to showcase its scientific advances and 2030 strategy, highlighting the role of innovation and capacity building in transforming Mexico’s agri-food systems.
México y el CIMMYT Fortalecen su Alianza para Transformar los Sistemas Agroalimentarios
Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez y Julio Berdegué visitaron el CIMMYT para conocer los avances científicos y las estrategias que fortalecen los sistemas agroalimentarios de México.
Portugal Joins Global Ag Heritage Sites
Agrosilvopastoral and agroforestry systems in Portugal, Tajikistan, and South Korea have been recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, highlighting sustainable, integrated farming practices.
You’ll Never Guess What This Retailer Did With a Pic of His First Barley Variety
When Alberta’s Bob Mastin released his first barley, he never expected it would end up on a calendar — let alone on a stamp.
IPK Researchers Tap Genetic Power of Barley’s Wild Cousin
IPK Leibniz researchers studied barley and its wild relative H. bulbosum, using high-throughput genomics on 263 diverse genotypes to unlock genetic diversity for yield, resilience, and stress tolerance.
Is This the Next Must-Have Variety for High-Input Barley Fields?
TR22669 was supposed to be a malt barley — until it started outyielding the feed competition by up to 30%
What Used to Take Weeks Now Takes Days — Thanks to This Soil Testing Breakthrough
Clubroot and Aphanomyces threaten Western Canadian crops for decades. SGS Canada’s plant pathology and molecular diagnostics team combats these soilborne diseases with fast, precise, and automated solutions.
When Drought Strikes, Switchgrass Chemistry Shifts
Researchers at UW-Madison’s GLBRC are studying drought-stressed switchgrass, where the compound saponin reduces ethanol production, highlighting the need for integrated breeding and biofuel strategies.
The Grass That Could Fly
Switchgrass: This hardy native grass is gaining ground as a biofuel feedstock — here’s why.
10% More Grain, 10% More Forage — WCI Just Upped the Game in Triticale
At Western Crop Innovations, researchers are rewriting the triticale playbook — and the implications go well beyond the farm gate
Cómo una Crisis Global Cambió la Producción de Semillas para Siempre
La pandemia obligó a la industria de semillas en EE. UU. y Chile a innovar en la gestión de contraestación, adoptando tecnologías que ahora se mantienen de manera permanente.
UK Partnership to Boost Climate Smart Agriculture in Africa
Rothamsted, alongside the UK-CGIAR Centre and partners, launched AgVACS to improve climate adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa’s savannah agriculture, combining expertise from the UK, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Farmers Gather for the First WCI Field Day in Lacombe
WCI may be a new name in applied research, but it’s already becoming a key player.
Two Natural Allies are Rewriting the Playbook on Downy Mildew
One’s a seaweed, the other’s a microbe — and together, they’re kicking this disease to the curb.
Tel Aviv University Researchers Record Audible Signs of Plant Stress
Tel Aviv University researchers have recorded high-frequency “clicking” sounds emitted by plants under stress, revealing a form of plant communication inaudible to humans.
Six Feet of Sand, No Playbook
After Hurricane Helene devastated Upper East Tennessee, researchers are creating a recovery guide to help growers restore fields buried under sand and silt, rebuilding one site at a time.