SeCan Unveils Canadian Genetics Gaining Attention for 2026
Missed the SeCan 2026 Variety Rundown? Watch the full replay now
Is Multilateralism Dead? The Lima Breakdown and the Future of Global Seed Cooperation
GB11 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) ended without an agreement in Lima (24–29 Nov 2025), exposing deep fractures in global seed cooperation. Talks collapsed over Multilateral System reforms—Annex I expansion, Digital Sequence Information, and benefit-sharing—amid rising sovereignty demands. The result: reliance on an outdated SMTA, increased legal uncertainty, and slower access to genetic diversity that breeders need for climate resilience and food security.
CRISPR Primes Goldenberry for Fruit Bowl Fame
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists are using CRISPR gene editing to speed up domestication of goldenberry, a nutrient-rich tomato relative long grown in South America. By targeting key genes, researchers produced plants about 35% shorter, improving harvest, maintenance, and potential for denser planting. After selecting compact, great-tasting lines, the team plans further edits for traits like fruit size and disease resistance, supporting climate-resilient crop development.
The Future of Farming: Talking to Tractors Instead of Tapping Apps
Researchers at Wageningen University & Research are developing a unified, AI-powered interface that lets farmers manage agricultural robots using natural language, similar to ChatGPT. The system aims to replace fragmented apps, helping farmers plan tasks, manage regulations, and respond to field conditions more easily. As farm robot use grows amid labour shortages, the technology could improve efficiency, sustainability, and decision-making through smarter human–robot interaction.
Cereals Canada and James Richardson & Sons Sign MOU for Future Home of Gate
The Manitoba government has committed an additional $10.5 million to the project, bringing its total pledge to $23.5 million
The Cost of Silence in Rural America
Suicide rates in rural America are nearly 50 percent higher than in urban areas. Jeff Winton, founder of Rural Minds, explains why agriculture’s culture of resilience can also become a barrier to mental health support and what seed and ag companies can do to change that.
New Research Transforms Potato By-Products into Bio-Based Materials
Phytoscosmo brings The James Hutton Institute, Grampian Growers and the University of Aberdeen together to transform potato shaws (stems and leaves) into high-value ingredients for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Scotland produces about 51,200 tonnes of shaws annually, usually left in fields. The project targets solanesol, typically sourced from tobacco, creating a more sustainable, ethical supply, cutting emissions, and adding new revenue streams for farmers.
The Global Commodity Production System is Built for Our Competitors
U.S. agriculture faces rising global competition as Brazil expands soybean production, infrastructure, and export capacity, often supported by Chinese investment. Heavy reliance on China for U.S. soybean demand increases market vulnerability when purchases decline. To stay competitive, the U.S. must build domestic demand through sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and industrial uses, while modernizing farm policy and risk tools.
What’s Coming for Independents in 2026?
As consolidation and rising costs reshape the seed sector, independent seed companies are weighing what comes next. In a candid video conversation filmed at the ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention, Independent Professional Seed Association CEO Todd Martin shares where independents can still outperform in 2026 and why service, resilience, and staying close to customers remain their strongest advantages.
The Return of Real: Seven Consumer Trends Reshaping the Food Industry
NOURISH Food Marketing’s 2026 trend report, The Return of Real, reveals a major shift in food culture toward authenticity, human connection, and transparency. Consumers are rejecting artificial perfection, ultra-processed foods, and impersonal AI-driven experiences, favoring real food, genuine stories, balanced nutrition, and community-driven brands that embrace imperfection and trust in an evolving food industry.
The Quagmire of Nutritional Studies
Thousands of nutrition studies publish yearly, yet few offer practical guidance. Comparing mouse research on grape compounds and human trials on beetroot nitrates, this analysis highlights the gap between academic interest and real-world impact. Evidence favors whole foods, realistic doses, and human studies, showing vegetables rich in nitrates can support vascular health and healthy aging for older adults worldwide today.
Council Progress on EU PRM Legislation Welcomed by Euroseeds
Euroseeds welcomed progress by the EU Council (under the Danish presidency) on the Plant Reproductive Material file, noting the Council agreed its position on new seed rules and trilogues should start in early 2026. It said the text supports a true internal market with common rules, while keeping flexibility for crops and innovation. Euroseeds will engage the Cypriot presidency, Parliament rapporteur Herbert Dorfmann, and the Commission.
The Race to Hybrid Wheat — and What it’ll Take to Make it Successful
Hybrid wheat is edging closer to commercial reality as companies chase gains in yield stability, disease resilience and economic return. In this short conversation, Genesis Seed Solutions President and CEO Nathan Fegley explains the innovation, pressure points and industry shifts shaping the race. He outlines what must happen for hybrid wheat to shift from promise to practice and earn true producer adoption.
What’s Driving the Next Wave of Seed Innovation?
CSGA Launches Blue Tag Solutions to Fast-Track Innovation
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association today announced the launch of Blue Tag Solutions
CSGA Builds a Startup for the Seed Sector: Inside the Launch of Blue Tag Solutions
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association has formed a separately incorporated subsidiary to build new value streams for the sector
Dan Basse’s Rapid-Fire Forecast Points to a Turbulent 2026
This rapid-fire interview with Dan Basse breaks down the key trends set to influence seed demand commodity markets and farmer decisions as the industry heads into 2026.
Inside the Farm Bill Fight: Is There a Case for a Full Five-Year Bill?
The U.S. is still operating under the 2018 Farm Bill, and repeated extensions leave seed companies navigating outdated policies and rising uncertainty. ASTA’s Brandon Pachman explains why the next Farm Bill is stalled, what’s at stake for the seed industry and how advocates can influence the path forward.
Crop Production Soars in 2025 as Prairie Yields Hit Record Highs
The 2025 season underscores the ongoing importance of genetics that perform under variable moisture conditions
Europe’s New NGT Agreement: What the Trilogue Deal Means for Plant Breeding
Europe is finally reviving EU plant-breeding innovation. After the 2018 court decision pushed NGTs into outdated GMO rules, the new 2025 NGT regulation creates a two-category system that better matches biological reality. This unlocks faster, more precise, climate-resilient crop improvement for farmers and breeders. Success now depends on consistent implementation, clear patent and transparency rules, and strong public communication.
En El Corazón Del Campo: Una Cadena De Confianza
Los productores de Almería dependen de una profunda cadena de confianza construida durante generaciones. Rodeados de servicios especializados para invernaderos, toman decisiones basadas en relaciones, no en carteles ni datos. Ya sea al buscar polinizadores, reemplazar plásticos o elegir nuevas variedades, la confianza guía cada paso. Comprender esta red simbiótica es esencial para quienes buscan influir o apoyar a los agricultores de invernadero en España.
The Chain of Trust
Growers in Almeria rely on a deep chain of trust built over generations. Surrounded by niche greenhouse services, they make decisions based on relationships, not posters or data. Whether sourcing pollinators, replacing plastic or choosing new varieties, trust guides every step. Understanding this symbiotic network is essential for anyone hoping to influence or support greenhouse growers in Spain.
Manitoba Seed Growers Host Annual Meeting in Brandon
The Manitoba Seed Growers Association held its annual meeting in Brandon, Man., this week. Attendees gathered for the annual awards ceremony and the passing of the president’s gavel to Simon […]
Introducing the U.S. Seed Sector’s Insider of the Year: Summit Seed Coatings
Seed World U.S. Insider of the Year David Henze of Summit Seed Coatings talks about the importance of telling your story and why thought leadership really matters.
Dan Basse Warns the Seed Industry About a Future Defined by Abundance, Pressure and Policy
The global grain market is entering a period of heavy supply, flattening demand and rising cost pressure for U.S. farmers. In a keynote at the ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention, economist Dan Basse outlines why American growers are becoming the high cost producer, how Brazil’s rapid expansion is reshaping competition and why biofuels may be the only significant demand driver ahead. Seed companies face a future shaped by policy, global realignment and shifting production zones, making strategy and innovation more important than ever.
Collaboration in Action: New Benchmarks to Drive Biologicals Adoption
In 2025, seed and crop innovation proved that “going it alone” is over—collaboration is the new competitive edge. At the ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention, Jord BioScience showcased two years of independent, multi-state data: SignalGrow™ microbial solutions delivered 1.4–3.1 bu/acre gains across 16 locations with 80%+ win rates. With a 6,500-isolate library and Biologicals Playbook, Jord co-develops faster, higher-performing biologicals that raise reliability and ROI.
This Is #FCSC2025: Inside the Seed Industry’s Biggest Week
Scenes from an amazing and successful week at the 2025 ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention. It’s been full, fun, and fabulous here in sunny Orlando. Winter is the last thing on our minds as we meet and greet so many wonderful seed industry folks! We’ll be sharing photos from throughout the week right here—check back daily for new updates.
SAA: el congreso que reúne a toda la cadena semillera para debatir innovación y regulación
En el décimo Congreso de la Asociación de Semillas de las Américas (SAA), realizado en Foz de Iguazú, Diego Risso, Director Ejecutivo de la SAA, destacó la importancia del evento […]
ASTA Opens a Week of Ideas, Strategy and Connection in Orlando
The ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention highlights why connection matters for the seed industry. With rapid change across climate, analytics, supply chains and public trust, companies are finding solutions through shared knowledge and real conversations. This excerpt previews the energy and insight shaping Day 1 in Orlando.
The Future of Farm Biostimulants May Start in the Sea
A James Hutton Institute study shows sugar kelp extracts could help crops absorb nutrients more efficiently under fertiliser-limited conditions. The Innovate UK–supported project, led by Algapelago Marine Ltd, tested barley and beans under nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies, revealing promising benefits for nutrient management. With sustainably cultivated kelp as a feedstock, seaweed-based biostimulants offer a scalable, low-carbon alternative for UK farmers seeking to reduce fertiliser reliance.
Bienvenida de la Vicepresidenta al 10° Congreso de Semillas de las Américas
En el 10º Congreso de Semillas de las Américas en Foz de Iguazú, Lorena Basso, Presidenta de Basso Semillas y futura líder de la Federación Internacional de Semillas (ISF), abordó los desafíos del sector ante el crecimiento poblacional y el cambio climático, que exigen un aumento del 60% en la producción de alimentos. Destacó el papel central de la semilla y la importancia de innovaciones incrementales en tolerancia al estrés, mejoramiento y nuevas tecnologías. Subrayó también el peso de las regulaciones en el comercio internacional. De cara a su presidencia en la ISF, señaló la necesidad de una industria más inclusiva y con mayor diversidad de voces.
BioLumic expande su plataforma de rasgos de semillas activados por luz a Sudamérica
BioLumic amplía su Programa de Licencias xTraits de maíz en Sudamérica con pruebas tempranas junto a GDM, colaboración con TMG y apoyo de Gro Alliance en producción de semillas y viveros. Ensayos en Brasil (Mato Grosso) y viveros en Chile acelerarán la validación de rasgos fotoactivados, compatibles con híbridos regionales. Datos 2026–2027 guiarán el lanzamiento comercial y futuras expansiones.
BioLumic Expands Light-Activated Seed Trait Platform to South America
BioLumic is expanding its light-activated corn xTraits platform into South America through new collaborations with GDM, TMG, and regional field and nursery partners. The move strengthens global access to light-programmed seed traits and supports upcoming hybrid evaluations across Brazil’s key growing regions.
Harmonized Systems Feed a Hungry Planet
International seed trade underpins global agriculture, food security and economic development. Clear, workable cross-border rules help seed producers, trading partners and growers move seed for sales, evaluation, and counter-season production. The OECD Seed Schemes harmonize varietal certification standards across 64 countries, supporting reliable seed systems alongside UPOV, ISTA and strong registration. Modern certification should adopt digital tools, genetic testing and anti-counterfeiting for trust.
Here’s What’s Ahead in Next-Gen Plant Nutrition
ChatGPT said:Two years after Seed World US first spotlighted his big idea—starting nitrogen innovation at the seed—Arevo CEO Nicolás Åström is now a frontrunner in next-gen, sustainable fertilizer tech. In our latest video interview, he explains why “data, data, data” will decide which innovators survive, why the industry must move beyond Haber-Bosch, and how growers will adopt proven solutions as Arevo expands into soy, corn, and potentially turf and potatoes.
Here’s the Real Value Global Seed Testing Networks Deliver
Why harmonizing seed science across borders is now the key to protecting seed quality and global supply. Seed quality testing today means operating in an environment where borders matter, but […]