King of the Netherlands Opens 100th Anniversary World Seed Congress
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially opened the centennial World Seed Congress by welcoming the Congress’ 1,800 delegates.
World Seed Congress Officially Underway: Stay in the Know
The International Seed Federation (ISF) World Seed Congress, the global seed sector’s key annual international seed event since 1924, officially welcomed delegates this morning to Rotterdam.
LIVE from Rotterdam: Highlights from Day 1
Day 1 of the World Seed Congress was jam-packed with an incredible line-up of global thought leaders speaking on seed sector issues of note. Some of the most notable sessions of the day included:
Here’s How We Saw It: Snapshots From the World Seed Congress
Friendships renewed, business partnerships confirmed, business deals in discussion… and a whole lot of handshakes. Here’s a sneak peek at Day 1 of the World Seed Congress in Rotterdam.
Jaap Mazereeuw Celebrates a Century of Growth
In the bustling city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the International Seed Federation (ISF) is preparing to celebrate its centennial anniversary in a big way at the annual ISF World Seed Congress. A significant milestone in the history of global agriculture and the seed sector, the Centennial and this year’s ISF Congress are not just a commemoration of history but a showcase of the seed industry’s pivotal role in food security and sustainability.
Inteligencia Cultural para el Éxito Sin Fronteras
Plantar semillas en tierras desconocidas es una metáfora de la incertidumbre de hacer negocios en otras culturas: No sabremos el rendimiento exacto de nuestra cosecha -o el costo de nuestros errores- hasta que crezcan las semillas que hemos sembrado. Tener éxito en nuestro propio país, donde uno conoce las “reglas de la casa”, no necesariamente garantiza que las mismas estrategias resulten exitosas en otros lugares.
Is IP Indeed an Easy Dossier?
Based on the IP-positions of Euroseeds and ISF, World Seed Europe clearly and eloquently explained last February, that “for people familiar with the matter, it is easy to debunk all the misrepresentations” in relation to this topic! So, is the Parliament filled to the brim with anti-IP idealogues? Has the European populace elected hundreds of followers of scary NGOs, out to destroy innovation and EU-businesses? Have zealous activists brainwashed the vast majority of MEPs? Or…?
As Seeds Canada Gathers in Edmonton, it’s Going to Tackle a Crucial Question
The future of seed is here — are we ready? I ask that question not only because I’m interested in the answer, but also because it’s a fundamental one we’ll […]
Calling Innovators in Plant Breeding: Euroseeds2024 Launches the InnovAction Stage!
The “Euroseeds2024 InnovAction Stage” is an international competition offering startups, SMEs, and public-private partnerships the chance to showcase their top-notch innovations, helping to share the European seed sector of tomorrow.
Test Time: How Well Do You Know Seed Treatments?
The three components function seamlessly together (and, for that reason, are pre-applied to every bag of Bayer corn seed sold). Ultimately, whether it be a biotech trait that takes care of corn rootworm, corn borer or corn earworm; a fungicide seed treatment that ensures plants don’t die prematurely from a fungal pathogen like pythium or fusarium; or a nematicide seed treatment – specifically our new Acceleron N314 that’s rolling out this spring – to keep microscopic roundworms from sucking plants to death, it’s pretty much impossible to separate yield delivered by a corn seed’s germplasm from the yield protected by that seed’s traits and seed treatment.
Organic Farming Leads to Adaptations in the Genetic Material in Plants
Plants adapt genetically over time to the special conditions of organic farming. This has been demonstrated in a long-term study conducted at the University of Bonn.
Trading with Europe: Q&A with Kevin Diehl
Kevin Diehl is the is the director of global genome editing regulatory policy for Corteva Agriscience. He grew up in agriculture on the family farm in central Iowa and earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and agricultural studies from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in plant physiology and weed science from the University of Illinois. He has worked for DuPont, DuPont Pioneer and now Corteva Agriscience
Welcome to the Netherlands, the “Silicon Valley” of Seeds
As we gather in Rotterdam for the World Seed Congress and mark the centennial anniversary of the International Seed Federation (ISF), let’s take a moment to think about the vital role the Netherlands plays in the global seed sector. This small country, with its rich history of trade and agriculture, has become an indispensable titan in the world of seeds. The country is just as important in biodiversity and food security as it is in commerce.
Seeds Canada Brings Bayer Alumnus Trish Jordan Onboard to Continue Developing its ISSB Concept
Trish Jordan, known for her work with Bayer and its legacy company Monsanto, has been selected to continue developing Seeds Canada’s Inclusive Seed Standards Body (ISSB) concept. In a news […]
Meet Michelle Klieger, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Michelle Klieger is the president of Stratagerm Consulting, a food and agricultural consulting firm.
It’s the International Day for Biological Diversity. A Government Report has a Warning for the World
A new report from a Canadian government think tank warns that a “loss of biodiversity” and the “collapse of ecosystems” is one of 35 alarming threats that could significantly affect the global […]
Cooperación entre Fronteras
La industria de las semillas actualmente enfrenta a una serie de retos importantes, siendo el cambio climático uno de los principales que definen el futuro del sector. También estamos siendo impactados por la globalización: antes el sector de las semillas de cada país solía trabajar principalmente dentro de sus propias fronteras, ahora el envío de semillas a través de las fronteras internacionales -especialmente debido a la creciente importancia de la producción de contraestación- es una gran parte del negocio.
Cross-border Cooperation
The seed industry is currently facing a series of significant challenges, with climate change being one of the main elements defining the future of the sector. We are also being reshaped by globalization: whereas each country’s seed sector used to work mostly within its own borders, the shipping of seed across international borders — especially due to the growing importance of contra-season production — is now big business.
Meet Chris Boomsma, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Chris Boomsma is the CEO of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). In this role, he leads the organization in fulfilling its mission to assemble, interpret and communicate credible, science-based information regionally, nationally and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector and the public.
Aston University Scientist to Help Make Crop Monitoring Easier and Cheaper
A photonics expert from Aston University has been awarded a Royal Society Industry Fellowship grant to develop remote sensing technology that will make crop monitoring easier and more cost-effective.
EU Extends Protection Periods for Plant Varieties, Reinforcing Horticultural Innovation
In accordance with Regulation (Eu) 2021/1873 Of The European Parliament And Of The Council, dated October 20, 2021, the European Union has extended the protection periods for 4,302 plant variety titles.
Incentivizing the Development of New Products for European Farmers
An effective intellectual property framework is needed for plant biotechnology. For decades, the plant breeding and seed sector has been investing in agricultural innovation and new technologies, yielding numerous benefits […]
Meet Samantha Bock, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Samantha Bock is the customer engagement leader at SePRO Corporation. She leads the team responsible for delivering the brand experience for SePRO’s business units that include agriculture, turf and ornamental and aquatics.
USDA Invests $30.8 Million in Historically Black Land-Grant Universities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a significant investment of $30.8 million dedicated to all 19 of America’s historically black Land-grant Universities. This funding, part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program, aims to support scientific research addressing the nation’s toughest agricultural challenges.
EVENT PREVIEW: You Can Help Reimagine Plant Breeding at the 2024 NAPB Meeting
Martin Bohn can’t wait to welcome people to the 2024 meeting of the National Association of Plant Breeders meeting being held in St. Louis, Miss., July 21-25. This year’s meeting, […]
Suck it Up: Harness Air to Make Processing a Breeze
Harnessing air to clean and separate materials is not a new concept. Picture a grandmother sifting grains on a breezy day — that’s the age-old principle of using air for […]
Hybrid True Potato Seeds Deliver Economic and Nutritional Security to the World
As seed producers, we are pressured to deliver nearly impossible results for the global food value chain. We must reliably supply an increasing amount of product to support farmers in feeding the world’s growing population, all while accommodating unpredictable events that stress seed production. At the same time, we are being asked to develop more resilient seeds so farmers can better withstand climate change, extreme weather, evolving disease pressures and other threats and still deliver reliable crop yields.
How do you “Catch” Your Employees Doing Something RIGHT?
It’s a part of every leader’s job to ensure everything is going smoothly. It’s human nature to focus on the things that are going wrong and to try and fix […]
Horticulture is Italy’s Thing
Italy is a country with a high horticultural vocation. It is a European leader in the production of vegetable and aromatic seeds: the numbers say it. In 2022, an area of almost 39,000 hectares was cultivated for this purpose. The figures are increasing, there is more than a doubling from 2012 to today, with an annual +5 per cent in 2022.
Meet Katrina Bishop, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Katrina Bishop joined ASTA in December 2023 where she helps tell the story of the seed industry, highlighting the innovative and sustainable technologies seed producers and agribusiness are using to develop a better seed, for a better crop, for a better world.
Meet Amanda Patin, Seed World U.S. Editorial Board Member
Amanda Patin is the business development director for U.S. Crop Sciences at SGS North America, Inc.
ISF’s Immeasurably Powerful, Century-Long Impact on the Seed Industry
A centennial anniversary urges us to look at the future of ISF. Knowing where we come from can certainly help. So, let’s have a look at how ISF evolved from its double origins: FIS and ASSINSEL before we try to glimpse at the future. ISFs history can be split into four almost equal phases with specific identities while ISF took on additional roles.
Feds Announce Investment in Research to Promote More Diverse Crop Rotations on Farms
The federal government has announced up to $5.7 million to the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian […]
On the Heels of Opening its NorthCore Facility, BrettYoung is Awarded Best Managed Companies Status
BrettYoung is a 2024 winner of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years or more. BrettYoung is recognized with […]
Manitoba Producers Spearhead Novel Funding Approach to Save Dry Bean Breeding Program
The dry bean breeding program at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Morden Research Centre in Manitoba has a new lease on life for the next five years through a novel collaboration […]
Nominate a Management Maverick Now!
This fall, we will unveil a list of Management Mavericks—everyone wants to work for these leaders— those who go beyond the ordinary, those who champion employee well-being and inclusion, those who nurture a culture of mentorship and excel in talent retention and career development.