Know a Variety That Changed Farming? Nominate it for Seed of the Year
FAST TAKE It’s not just about the best variety this season — it’s about the seeds that shaped a generation of farming success. Every year, the Seed of the Year […]
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Nominate a Plant Breeding Pioneer
Submit your nomination for the 2026 Plant Breeding & Genetics Award sponsored by Seed World Canada and Seeds Canada.
Investing in Innovation Matters. Here’s Why You Should Support the CPBI Scholarships
Become a sponsor and help power the innovations that will define the next decades of farming.
Key Wheat Genes That Control Plant Height and Grain Size Identified
Rothamsted scientists discovered how specific GA3OX genes in wheat regulate growth and grain size by controlling gibberellin hormone levels. Variations in these genes affect plant height and grain weight, with modern breeding already favoring variants linked to larger grains. This insight offers new tools for breeders to optimize wheat yield and quality through targeted genetic selection.
A Tiny Genetic Shift Helped Barley Conquer Northern Europe
Researchers traced the genetic basis of late flowering in barley to a single mutation, SNP22, in the PPD-H1 gene. By studying over 2,000 barley varieties and ancient samples, they revealed that this trait originated in wild barley from the southern Levant after domestication. This adaptation, linked to haplotype H10, enabled barley to spread to Europe and thrive under long-day conditions, shedding light on the evolution and spread of cultivated barley.
Less Input – More Genetics!
Crop yields and turf performance have reached unprecedented levels over the past 20 years thanks to efficient plant breeding. Even so, questions remain about the future need for forage and turf breeding.
Corn Trait Wins USDA Deregulation
USDA has deregulated Bayer’s MON 95379 corn, a biotech trait designed to protect against major lepidopteran pests like fall armyworm and corn earworm. While not intended for U.S. commercialization, the corn will be used in breeding programs to build next-generation stacked products for South America.
Rompiendo Esquemas: Del Mejoramiento Vegetal a la Investigación Agrícola
Las decisiones sobre el tratamiento de semillas que se toman en otoño son clave para el éxito del próximo año en el campo. Centralizar y analizar los datos de manera eficiente permite a las empresas del sector de semillas tomar decisiones más rápidas, precisas y basadas en evidencia. Herramientas como Genovix facilitan la gestión y el análisis de datos experimentales no solo en el fitomejoramiento, sino también en la evaluación de fertilizantes, pesticidas e inóculos, demostrando que la tecnología puede beneficiar a toda la industria cuando se aplica de forma innovadora.
Thinking Outside The Box
Effective seed treatment decisions start with good data — and the ability to analyze it efficiently. Centralized data management tools like Genovix can streamline research, improve accuracy, and speed up decision-making across the seed sector — from plant breeding to fertilizer and pesticide trials. By leveraging technology designed for one area, the entire industry can benefit from smarter, data-driven solutions.
Poisons, Toxins and Venoms
Puffer fish are poisonous but not venomous, while rattlesnakes are venomous but not poisonous. Both use toxins differently — poisons harm when ingested or touched, venoms when injected. These toxins not only pose deadly risks but have also inspired medical advances, from blood pressure drugs to painkillers and diabetes treatments. Understanding these differences is key to both safety and innovation.
Are You Running Your Business as Hard as a Cross-Country Runner?
This leadership reflection draws parallels between the endurance and mental resilience of cross-country runners and the perseverance required in business. Drawing from a high school meet in Platteville, Wisconsin, it explores how true leaders, like athletes, overcome fatigue, silence self-doubt, and push past limits to achieve their goals. The story emphasizes that success comes not only from grit and determination but also from preparation, strategy, and adaptability. It’s a powerful reminder that the finish line belongs to those who commit fully, prepare wisely, and push hardest when it counts most.
Florida Lands USDA Program to Speed Up Crop Innovation
The University of Florida will host Breeding Insight, a USDA-ARS program that uses AI, advanced computing, and precision breeding to accelerate crop innovation and support Florida’s top commodities, from blueberries to citrus.
Simple Field Test Reveals How Farming Shapes Soil Structure
Rothamsted researchers developed a simple field test to measure soil macropore networks, revealing how different farming systems shape soil structure and health. The method links pore architecture to microbial activity, offering a practical tool to monitor the impact of land management on soil function and sustainability.
What the Combine Can’t Tell You: Five Things I Learned This Season
This harvest season offers critical lessons for farmers: the importance of early vigor, robust root development, seed treatment protection, careful yield analysis, and offseason planning. These insights highlight how preparation and seed care influence success and resilience in agriculture.
From Policy to People — All Eyes on Edinburgh
Euroseeds 2025 in Edinburgh is set to bring together the seed industry’s leading minds for three and a half days of connection, innovation, and insight. With new platforms like the NextGen Forum and a focus on collaboration and fresh ideas, it’s the must-attend event shaping the future of global agriculture.
If You Believe in Food, You Have to Believe in Science
We asked some of the biggest names in the international seed sector what they want the world to know
Swinging for More Than Fences
The Seed World U.S. October issue is in your mailbox and online! Every fall, the baseball season winds down, but this October Seed World U.S. has a brand-new lineup worth […]
New Copper Tech Tackles Crop Disease Sustainably
Facing growing food insecurity — with 2.3 billion affected, per FAO — Chinese scientists have developed a single-atom copper pesticide. Created by USTC, Tsinghua, and HFUT, this innovation boosts copper efficiency and cuts environmental impact, offering a new path for sustainable crop protection.
From Crisis to Clarity: Making Leadership a Strategic Priority in Ag
From crisis to clarity: Discover why leadership must be a strategic priority in agriculture. Learn how leadership assessments build aligned teams, close talent gaps, and drive long-term growth in a shifting industry.
Against Hunger and Food Poverty
Food insecurity affects over 2 billion people worldwide, including millions in Europe facing rising prices and food poverty. Drivers include COVID-19, war, climate change, and supply disruptions. The FAO calls for social protection and resilient agri-food systems, while EU policies risk reducing productivity and food sovereignty.
Inside the Busy Season: What Farmers and Seed Companies Need to Know About Seed Quality Testing
As harvest wraps up, activity surges in the Seed Quality Testing Lab, where corn and soybean samples arrive for analysis. The data helps shape seed marketing strategies and predict field performance—making accuracy, consistency, and clear communication essential.
Common Fungus Releases Vapours That Fight Crop Diseases, Study Finds
New research shows the soil fungus Trichoderma hamatum emits natural chemicals that suppress crop diseases, offering a potential sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides.
EU Approves One GMO Maize for Food and Feed
On Sept. 22, the EU approved one genetically modified maize for food and feed under strict safety, labelling, and traceability rules; cultivation remains banned.
Más Plantas, Menos Plagas: Las Ventajas de las Hojas Erguidas del Tomate
Investigadores de Embrapa, UnB e INIA identificaron el gen responsable de las hojas erectas en el tomate, mejorando el control de plagas, la tolerancia al calor y la densidad de plantación. Este avance permite acelerar el desarrollo de variedades de tomate más productivas y resistentes, con potencial aplicación en otros cultivos.
More Plants, Fewer Pests: The Advantages of Upright Tomato Leaves
Researchers from Embrapa, UnB, and INIA identified the gene behind upright tomato leaves, improving pest control, heat tolerance, and planting density. This breakthrough enables faster breeding of higher-yield, more resilient tomato varieties with potential applications across other crops.
LMC Advent: High-Capacity Seed Cleaning with Unmatched Precision
Born from the need for high capacity, high efficiency, and superior accuracy, the LMC Advent Cleaner takes precision seed cleaning to an entirely new level. Using a combination of aspiration and screening in a continuous flow, the Advent delivers exact separations with minimal dockage.
Inside 20/20’s Push to Connect Lab Results With Field Performance
For more than 30 years, 20/20 Seed Labs has been a leader in seed diagnostics in Canada, pioneering advances that give growers the clarity they need to make better decisions. […]
The U.S. Government is Closed!
The U.S. Government shutdown Oct. 1 after Congress could not agree on funding terms, We are breaking down what it means for seed.
Navigating Tariff Turbulence: How Michelman Keeps Customers First
In agriculture, predictability matters. Farmers, suppliers, and manufacturers all depend on stable supply chains and reliable pricing to plan their operations. But over the past six months, tariffs have added a new layer of uncertainty — introducing abrupt cost changes, shifting sourcing patterns, and creating regional price distortions that ripple through the entire ag value chain.
Barley’s Secret Weapon Against Acidic Soils Uncovered
A new study reveals the structure of HvAACT1, a barley root protein that protects plants from toxic aluminum in acidic soils. By pumping citrate into the soil, the protein neutralizes aluminum, allowing barley to thrive where most crops struggle. This discovery could guide breeding and biotech strategies to improve crop resilience and global food security.
Outstanding in Her Field
Crystal Rose-Fricker is receiving two high-profile awards this year. This rare double is a testament to her impact in turfgrass and forage spaces.
Corteva is Splitting in Two — and Betting That Farmers, Shareholders, and Science Will All Win
Its spinoff company is positioning itself as an “unrivaled innovator” in seed, leaning on Pioneer’s deep roots in farmer loyalty
Some Hard Truths About Patenting Seeds
Fidel Castro’s decision to quit smoking in 1985 shocked Cuba, a nation built on tobacco. The move came after a devastating blue mold outbreak in 1979–80 wiped out 95% of the crop, pushing the industry toward collapse. Farmers faced contaminated soils, cultural reliance on tobacco, and economic hardship that deepened after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.
Nuevo Avance Genético Podría Mejorar la Cebada para la Elaboración de Cerveza y la Alimentación Animal
Investigadores de CONICET están mejorando genéticamente la cebada Andreia, una de las más cultivadas en Argentina, para aumentar el contenido de almidón degradable y así mejorar la eficiencia de malteado y elaboración de cerveza, mediante la incorporación de un gen de la alga Ostreococcus tauri. Esta innovación también podría mejorar el valor de la cebada como alimento de alta calidad para animales.
New Study Reveals How Roots Sense Gravity
Scientists reveal how auxin guides root gravitropism by strengthening cell walls, helping roots bend downward and adapt to soil obstacles.
New Genetic Breakthrough Could Improve Barley for Brewing and Feed
CONICET researchers are genetically improving Argentina’s popular Andreia barley to boost degradable starch for better malting and brewing efficiency, using a gene from seaweed Ostreococcus tauri. This innovation may also enhance barley’s value as high-quality animal fodder.”