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Swedish Consumers More Positive About Crop Crossbreeding Than Expected

Most Swedish consumers view crops developed through crossbreeding positively, according to a new SLU survey. The study of 999 participants on ancient and modern wheat found 88% saw at least one positive trait, including taste, health, or safety. Awareness of cereal varieties increased with age and education, while negative attitudes were more common among women and less-educated respondents. Researchers say the results suggest consumer acceptance is not a barrier to using breeding to improve both food quality and security.

Tomato Innovation: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century

Biotechnology is transforming Chilean tomatoes, helping them withstand drought, parasitic weeds, and soil salinity while enhancing nutrition. Innovations include antioxidant-rich, vitamin D-fortified, and urban-friendly varieties, offering solutions for sustainable agriculture, food security, and healthier diets.

Data Science, Supporting Tomorrow’s Hybrid Varieties

At MAS Seeds, variety innovation is made possible thanks to top of the range R&D, where data science and plant selection combine their strengths to keep up with the challenges of sustainable agriculture.

At the centre of this strategy, a dedicated Data science team works with the selection teams and combines agroclimatic modelling, artificial intelligence and genetic statistics to speed up genetic gain.

The Value Chain Begins With The Seed

Plant breeding supports the shift to plant-based diets by improving protein crops for taste, texture, nutrition, and sustainable food production.

CIHEAM Zaragoza Explores Future of Agri-Food Cooperation

CIHEAM Zaragoza will host an international symposium on 11–12 November to discuss agri-food development cooperation amid geopolitical crises. Experts from European agencies, NGOs, multilateral organizations, and academia will explore innovative strategies to shape the future of sustainable development in the region.

Boosting European Legume Breeding for Protein and Market Growth

The BELIS project, launched under EU Horizon Europe, aims to boost European legume cultivation by developing high-yielding, resilient varieties. Focusing on 14 key grain and forage legumes, the initiative seeks to reduce imports, enhance sustainability, and strengthen collaboration between research and industry across 18 countries.

Turning Brewing By-Products into Next-Gen Seed Biostimulants

María Gabriela Guevara leads BrewSelBar, an EU-funded project turning beer bagasse into a selenium-enriched seed biostimulant. The initiative boosts barley’s stress tolerance, promotes sustainable agriculture, and enables production of functional, selenium-fortified beers.

Report: Cultivation and Chain Development Of Novel Crops in Ukraine

A new report highlights opportunities for Dutch-Ukrainian collaboration in agriculture, focusing on novel crop cultivation and supply chain development. Dutch expertise in precision farming, soil analysis, and post-harvest solutions could help modernize Ukrainian agriculture despite challenges from the ongoing conflict.

Game-changing Biotech for Engineering Pathogen-Resistant Crops

Researchers at Japan’s RIKEN CSRS discovered SCORE, an ancient plant immune receptor that detects cold-shock proteins in bacteria, fungi, and insects. The study reveals potential to engineer crops and trees with enhanced disease resistance using synthetic SCORE receptors.

Scorching Summer Shows Urgent Action is Needed for Potatoes

A UK research project emphasizes the need for climate-resilient potato varieties to protect Britain’s staple crop. Professor Ian Toth of the National Potato Innovation Centre warns that urgent action is required as rising temperatures threaten yields, despite ongoing development of heat- and drought-tolerant potatoes.

All DRII-ed Up: How Plants Bounce Back After Drought

Salk Institute researchers have discovered that plants boost their immune systems after experiencing drought, revealing genetic strategies to develop hardier, more resilient crops. This finding highlights how plants prioritize survival over growth when recovering from water stress.

Concepts for Your Seeds

For more than 40 years, SATEC® has offered you the perfect combination of technique, chemicals and experience to treat your seeds, ensuring their high quality. You get specific and individual […]

You’ve Never Seen Corn Like This Before

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory mapped key stem cell regulators in maize and Arabidopsis thaliana, uncovering genes tied to plant growth and productivity. The findings could help breeders develop more resilient and high-yield crops for food, feed, and fuel.

Cologne Scientist Receives ERC Grant to Develop Disease-Resistant Cereals

The European Research Council (ERC) awarded Starting Grants to three University of Cologne researchers—Dr. Sabina Hillebrandt, Dr. Isabel Saur, and Prof. Dr. Johannes Wohlfart—providing up to €1.5 million each over five years to support innovative early-career research in humanities, life sciences, and natural sciences.

Farming Strategies to Protect Biodiversity

A meta-analysis shows that protecting biodiversity in agriculture works best when land-sharing and land-sparing strategies are combined. Context-specific, integrated approaches outperform one-size-fits-all methods, balancing food production with conservation

Tools for Smarter Breeding – Making Genomic Selection Practical

Breeding decisions are becoming smarter, faster, and more data-driven. In our Tools for Smarter Breeding – Making Genomic Selection Practical webinar, three leading experts — Dr. Diego Jarquin, Dr. Caio Canella Vieira, and Dr. Enid Pérez-Lara — showed how genomic selection is making that transformation possible.

To Eat or To Breathe; That is the Question

New research uncovers the molecular messengers that control stomatal opening in plants — a breakthrough that could lead to more drought-resilient crops and smarter seed trait development.

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