Crop Trust Releases 2024 Report
The Crop Trust’s 2024 report highlights 20 years of safeguarding crop diversity, including 16 years of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which now holds over 1.3 million seed samples from 123 depositors.
Global Collaboration to Improve Wheat Adaptation
The WheatACE initiative unites Australian and French researchers to boost wheat yields and quality under changing climate conditions.
Former Maple Leaf Foods Exec Trevor Sears Named Executive Director of Western Crop Innovations
Trevor Sears appointed permanent executive director of Western Crop Innovations, bringing 30+ years of leadership in Canadian agriculture.
Gene Switch Makes Sweet Sorghum Salt-tolerant
Researchers identify SWEET13 gene as key to boosting sugar production in sorghum millet under saline conditions, paving the way for higher-yield, climate-resilient varieties.
Swedish Gene Technology Board Releases Report on Public Opinion Toward Gene-Edited Crops and Animals
Swedish report finds strong public support for gene-edited crops, especially when societal benefits are clear, though awareness of gene-editing technology remains low.
In Pursuit of The American Dream: Hard Work, Dedication, and Success
Jesus Vidal was a candid, respected figure in the seed industry, known for tackling challenges directly and leaving a lasting legacy of innovation and integrity.
Seed Industry Shake-Up: Eurofins Is Changing Its Playbook
Eurofins is transforming its role in the seed industry, balancing speed for small breeders and stability for large companies, while evolving to better support innovation.
New Product Buzz! What’s Syngenta’s Game-Changer Really About?
One new product, though, generated a whole lot of buzz at World Seed Congress 2025. So, we caught up with Jader Caricati, Syngenta’s Global Seedcare Product Manager, to dig into what makes this seed treatment stand out.
Whether you’re a seed pro, a curious agronomist, or just trying to keep up with the next big thing in seedcare—this is the interview you don’t want to miss.
The Rules for Using the “Common Enemy” Strategy
f the most powerful ways to rally a team is by defining a common threat, enemy or adversary. People have always united around common challenges. When done right, this strategy can create focus, motivation and unity. If misused, it can lead to toxicity, division, and even long-term damage to your organization’s culture and reputation.
Knowing when to employ it is key.
Let’s be clear: the common enemy strategy is a tool—one that good leaders use with responsibility and intention. It’s a strategic option that companies can and should deploy, but only when certain rules are followed to ensure it creates the desired effect and doesn’t harm anyone.
Meet the Woman Tackling the Hidden Gender Gap in Global Food Systems
In global agriculture, there’s a simple but jarring truth: gender inequalities are baked into our agri-food systems.
Bayer’s Natalie Kaiser is Rewriting the Rules of What Food is
The innovation unit she now helps lead is tackling one of agriculture’s toughest riddles: how do you breed for human preference?
Italians Spent Thousands of Years Perfecting Grape Cultivation
New research traces Italy’s grapevine domestication over 7,000 years, analyzing 1,700 archaeological seeds to reveal the slow evolution of viticulture.
Playing the Long Game: Resilience, Innovation and Trust for Today’s Agriculture
Our family farm stands as a testament to resilience. When my parents bought the land in the early 1980s, the farm economy was in crisis—soaring interest rates, high input costs, and little reason for optimism. But through grit, adaptability, and tough sacrifices, they pushed through. Now, decades later, we’re having succession conversations no one thought we’d ever get to have.
The Plan After the Planter: Six Questions to Ask Now to Set Up Next Season
Planting season is tough—weather, breakdowns, and tight timelines make it one of the most stressful times of the year. But with most seeds in and the dust settling for 2025, now’s the time to pause. Before the season picks up, take a moment to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what can be improved for next year. It doesn’t have to be complicated—just intentional.
Customization Creates Meaningful Relationships
Tailoring products or services is a powerful way to build meaningful relationships with clients. When we launched Genovix in 2019, we were confident it offered the core features and capabilities most plant breeders require. At the same time, we recognized that some customers would have unique needs beyond what the standard package could provide.
Harnessing Covey’s 7 Habits to Build Stronger Relationships
I’m constantly working to grow as a person. In my efforts to become a better father, husband, leader, and boss, I turn to books and podcasts for insight and direction. One resource that has had a profound impact on me is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
A Guelph Researcher was Just Named Among the NAPB’s 2025 Plant Breeding Rockstars
According to Canada’s largest certified seed supplier, Rajcan’s practical approach to breeding has generated a large, broadly-adapted germplasm base.
Coloured Wheat for Whole-Grain Reluctance
Coloured wheat varieties, like white and purple wheat, offer nutrient-rich, tasty alternatives for whole-grain bread. Recent trials in Germany show they can produce appealing bakery products.
Global Efforts to Harness Science and Partnerships to Transform Millets
Millets are climate-resilient, low-input crops that enhance food security. IYM 2023 highlighted their importance, with FAO and IAEA supporting global research and awareness.
Meet the Plant Breeding Rockstars of 2025: NAPB Names its Top Innovators
The National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) honored 2025 awardees across five categories, recognizing excellence in research, education, and leadership that advances plant breeding and food security.
The Breeder Who Bridged Academia and Industry—One Student at a Time
How do you spark a global movement without a blueprint? For Tabaré Abadie, it started with one quiet question: what if students ran the show?
Lane Selman’s Secret Recipe for Better Seeds: Breeders, Chefs, and a Whole Lot of Flavor
The Variety Showcase connects the behind-the-scenes world of seed development with the very visible world of food culture.
She Showed up and Found Her Dream Career—Now Neha Kothari is Paying it Forward
Kothari’s own career is a testament to the power of professional community.
Can a Plant Tell You When it’s Thirsty? Michael Gore Says Yes
This National Association for Plant Breeding award winner wants to give plants a voice through data.
Scientists Dismissed his Desert Farming. Now They’re Studying it
On the sun-scorched plateaus of Arizona, Dr. Michael Johnson is proving that ancient Indigenous knowledge can outsmart modern ag.
Seeds Across Borders: Navigating Science, Sovereignty, and Sustainability in Uncertain Times
Dr. Khaoula Belhaj-Fragnière (ISF) explains how global seed policy shapes the future of food, highlighting the importance of innovation, access, and trust.
Why Unity Matters Now: Michael Keller on Trust, Tension, and the Future of Seed
Michael Keller, ISF Secretary General, highlights the importance of trust, unity, and courageous leadership for navigating global challenges in the seed sector.
If Your Phenotyping Platform Doesn’t do This, You’re Already Behind, says Jaci McRoberts
NAPB Early Career Scientist Award winner Jacqueline Benson McRoberts is pioneering AI-driven digital phenotyping, mentoring the next generation, and shaping the future of plant research.
Why Türkiye? Why Now? Inside the Global Significance of World Seed 2025
Türkiye isn’t just hosting World Seed Congress 2025 — it’s emerging as a key player in the global seed industry, says ISF board member Hamdi Çiftçiler.
Is Our Modern Food System Forgetting the Meaning of a Meal?
If we only see food as a commodity—just a yield number on a spreadsheet or a dollar value on a futures contract—we miss something fundamental.
Juan Arbelaez is Helping Build the Platform That Could Save Public Breeding
For Juan David Arbelaez, progress is about mentoring the next wave of breeders so that innovation can scale where it’s needed most.
World Seed Congress 2025: Everyone’s Talking Innovation — But Here’s What Matters More
The unofficial theme of World Seed Congress 2025 in Istanbul: amidst change and complexity, the seed industry must stay connected through trust, not just deals or data.
She Collected 1,800 Seeds from Wild Cannabis—What She Found Could Rewrite Research on it
Cannabis sativa is better known to some as hemp, to others as marijuana—but to Shelby Ellison, simply as a plant with promise.
How One Scientist is Fighting Tomato Disease With Culture, Music and Memory
Borlaug Scholar Samuel Ipinyomi’s path from stew pots to greenhouses is a masterclass in blending tradition with cutting-edge science.
‘Supergenes’ Could be the Future of Farming — if we Learn How to Use Them
The sunflower is a familiar plant, but beneath those golden petals lies a genetic world far stranger and more complex than most of us ever imagined.
“Good Machines Aren’t Enough”: Here’s What the Seed Industry Needs Now in New Tec
PETKUS CEO Mark Scholze shares insights on evolving seed technology, building trust, and delivering meaningful innovation in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.