Butter-Optional Popcorn
Illini SuperPop started as a University of Illinois genetics project and grew into a new savory popcorn hybrid designed for flavor, field performance and education.
The Future of Plant Breeding Could Begin Before the Field Trial
Ask Yue Yu what she wants to do in her career, and the answer is short: apply genomics to solve real-world problems in plant breeding
Maize Sugar Transporters Point to Male-Sterile Lines
Maize sugar transporters ZmSWEET6a and ZmSWEET6b play key roles in pollen-wall formation and anther cell balance, according to new research that could support development of male-sterile lines for more efficient hybrid seed production.
UK Researchers Target Drought-Resilient Vegetables
Harper Adams University researchers are identifying drought-resilient vegetables by screening lettuce, brassica, coriander, carrot and onion varieties for stress-tolerance traits. The work could help breeders develop crops better suited to extreme heat and limited water.
Stop Deploying Microbes Like Chemistry
Microbial activator technology is reframing how seed and biological companies think about soil microbes. Jord’s ecology-first approach focuses on microbial partnerships that help organisms colonize roots, persist through the season and support crop productivity.
The Fertilizer Squeeze Could Change the Seed Industry for Years
Fertilizer volatility could reshape seed demand, production and breeding priorities. Shawn Hackett examines what the seed industry should watch.
Sugar Beet Drought Stress Can Increase Pest Damage
New research from the University of Göttingen finds that sugar beet drought stress can alter crop physiology and pest pressure. Moderate drought made leaves more favourable to beet leaf miner larvae, while severe drought restricted both plant and pest development.
Innovation Gets the Headlines. Plant Breeding Capacity Makes It Possible
Behind every new variety is a much longer story of breeders, germplasm, research funding and industry partnerships
Public Plant Breeders Need More Than Funding; They Need Support
NAPB’s Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee is sharpening its role as public breeders face funding, workforce and training pressures.
China EDV System Begins With First 10 Crops
China EDV system implementation has begun with MARA publishing the country’s first agricultural plant EDV catalogue. The framework covers 10 crops and includes determination guidelines, crop-specific thresholds and recommended testing institutions.
EU Seed Trade Looks to New Global Agreements
EU seed trade could benefit from recent EU trade agreements with Mercosur, Australia, India, Indonesia and Mexico. For plant breeders and seed companies, the real impact will depend on phytosanitary rules, customs procedures, IP protection and practical implementation.
Crop Diversity Strengthens Natural Pest Control
A global meta-analysis of 149 field studies found that crop diversity can increase natural enemies of agricultural pests and improve plant performance. The findings highlight how more diverse farming systems may reduce reliance on chemical pest control.
Seed Testing Helps Move Hurricane Recovery Seed From Iowa to Jamaica
Seed health testing from Iowa State University helped a donated shipment of vegetable seed meet Jamaica’s import requirements and reach farmers rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa.
From Students To Scientists | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 14
Ask Canada’s most decorated soybean breeder his favourite part of the job and he doesn’t name a variety. He names the students. Istvan Rajcan on the funding formula worth protecting.
The Hard Economics of Climate-Friendly Grains
Consumers may pay more for climate-friendly bread, but Kernza and other perennial grains still face hurdles in breeding, yield, taste and supply chains.
Flax Could Hold an Answer to Farming’s Fertilizer Problem
The discovery could eventually help breeders create crops that need less fertilizer and cost farmers less to grow
RF3 Canola Quality B. juncea Deemed Safe by EFSA
EFSA’s GMO Panel concluded that RF3 Canola Quality B. juncea is as safe and nutritionally equivalent as conventional counterparts. BASF’s application seeks EU authorization for food, feed, import and processing uses, but not cultivation.
The Future Belongs to Predictive Breeding
Predictive breeding is changing how breeders design crosses, prioritize evaluations and make decisions. Enid Perez-Lara of Agronomix Software explains why artificial intelligence rewards organizations that build strong data foundations, not simply those that buy the newest tools.
Breeding 4.0: Por qué la ia no premia al que compra la herramienta, sino al que construye la base
Breeding 4.0 está transformando el mejoramiento vegetal al integrar inteligencia artificial, selección genómica y datos ambientales. El artículo explica por qué el verdadero valor no está en comprar herramientas nuevas, sino en construir una base sólida para tomar mejores decisiones.
The Way I See It… There’s More Seed in the Farm Bill Than You Think
The latest Farm Bill fight is about much more than SNAP. For the seed industry, research, innovation, technology and the next generation of crops are also waiting on Congress.
How One Seed Plant Upgrade Improved Flax Cleaning — and Much More
A Saskatchewan operation upgraded its seed and grain cleaner to boost flax throughput, but the added flexibility is now improving efficiency across multiple crops
Why CSGA’s New President Says Now is the Time to Get Involved
Shannon Bieman says a rapidly changing Canadian seed sector presents a big opportunity
Seed Sector 2045: Cover Crops Offer Regenerative Opportunity for Seed
Cover crops are emerging as a practical link between regenerative agriculture and the seed sector. As farmers focus more on soil health, rotations and input efficiency, seed companies may find new opportunities in locally adapted genetics, mixtures and agronomic support.
Tomato Gene Could Help Boost Yields
Researchers identified a tomato gene that helps plants respond to shade, regulate photosynthesis and maintain fruit production under high-density growing conditions. The SlBBX20 gene could give breeders a molecular target for developing more efficient, higher-yielding tomato varieties.
The Varieties Fade; The Impact Doesn’t
NAPB award recipient Istvan Rajcan explains why farmer adoption, research freedom and training future scientists define plant breeding impact.
Xylella Research Advances Disease Control
Research on Xylella fastidiosa is advancing resistant olive cultivars, biological control, insect vector management and surveillance. Findings presented in Italy could support improved disease management and olive production recovery in affected regions.
Gen del tomate podría impulsar el rendimiento
Investigadores del CONICET identificaron un gen del tomate que ayuda a las plantas a responder a la sombra, regular la fotosíntesis y mantener la producción de frutos. El hallazgo podría apoyar el desarrollo de variedades comerciales más eficientes y productivas.
Why Plant Breeding, Leadership and Seed Policy Matter Together
Innovation isn’t simply the product of discovery. It’s the product of relationships
Making The Case For VUA | On The Brink: Season 2 – Episode 13
Jim Dyck is one of a handful of private oat breeders in Western Canada. A variety takes 10 to 15 years. His answer is $2 an acre on farm-saved seed.
Global Soil Degradation Is Cutting Crop Yields
University of Bonn researchers found that soil degradation is significantly reducing crop yields worldwide. Reversing human-caused degradation could increase production enough to feed approximately 70 million more people.
Limagrain Licenses Genome-Editing Technologies From Qi Biodesign
Limagrain has licensed genome-editing technologies from Qi Biodesign for use in field and vegetable crop breeding programs.
New Gene Insertion Method Could Support Crop Traits
KAUST researchers have developed a gene insertion method that precisely adds large genetic sequences into plant genomes without first breaking DNA. The technique, demonstrated in rice and tobacco, could support more complex crop traits and plant-based biomanufacturing.
Wheat Genotyping Platform Advances at Embrapa
A new wheat genotyping platform at Embrapa Wheat in Brazil is expanding researchers’ capacity to analyze DNA and support improved cultivar development. The automated system could speed marker identification for yield, disease resistance and other agronomic traits.
No Agenda, Just Listening: Glenn Logan Reflects on Leading the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association
As Glenn Logan looks back on his time as president of the CSGA, he isn’t measuring success by a list of accomplishments or a single initiative
Scientists Find the Switch That Tells Plants They Have Enough Nitrogen
Researchers identified a genetic stop signal that limits nitrogen uptake, opening a possible path toward crops that use fertilizer more efficiently. Plants know when they have absorbed enough nitrogen. Scientists […]
Climate Change Threatens Crop Nutrition
Climate change is reducing the nutritional value of major food crops, creating new challenges for food security. A Nature review examines how plant breeding, genome editing and other technologies could improve crop nutrition while strengthening climate resilience.