Ask yourself: when was the last time that you allowed yourself to change your mind on a deep-rooted belief?  The key in that question is ‘allowed yourself’ because that is the trouble with those deep-rooted beliefs. They are so deeply and firmly anchored into your convictions, sense of self and view of the world that it is incredibly hard to give yourself permission to change those convictions… even if they might not be right. Like most people, I have deep-rooted beliefs about certain topics, including several in the agriculture and seed sectors. I’m proud to say I have successfully ..read more

The Seed World editors — covering Canada, Europe, Latin America and the U.S. — discuss the biggest stories making waves right now in the seed industry. The post What are the Key Issues Facing the Seed Industry Around The Globe? appeared first on Seed World ..read more

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) offer huge opportunity in agriculture, but they bring with them significant regulatory, compliance and testing challenges. To meet marketability standards, support international trade, and keep consumers on-side, agriculture needs efficient, cost-effective, scalable methods for GMO detection in food, feed and seeds. Luckily, there’s a new type of genomics technology available that offers exactly that.   If you’ve got your ear to the ground about what’s new and exciting in genomic technologies, you’ll have heard of the Biomark X9 System for ..read more

The vibrant yellow expanses of oilseed rape are dwindling in western Europe, with growers facing mounting challenges in pest management and a shrinking array of chemical solutions. In regions like the UK, crop cultivation has plummeted by up to 70 per cent. Meanwhile, the demand for seed oils continues to rise. Recent geopolitical upheavals, like the conflict in Ukraine, have worsened the supply crunch. Unless effective pest control measures are devised, further drops in production appear unavoidable. It’s timely that this month sees the release of a special edition of the journal Pest M ..read more

Computomics and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success, overseen by The University of Queensland, will team up to explore machine learning techniques. Their focus: boosting predictions of complex traits and speeding up genetic advancements in plant breeding. In this partnership, Computomics and the Centre will merge their skills to spur innovation and expedite genetic progress in plant breeding. Utilizing Computomics’ climate-savvy breeding technology alongside the Center’s plant success expertise, the collaboration targets enhanced selection for intricate traits like branching and fl ..read more

Today is a great day to get to know YOUR Seed World editors… all four of them. Though you likely already know your own region’s editor, our publications’ consolidation under the Seed World brand and our recent shift to house all of those publications under a single global website means our readers in any one region now gain access to the expertise, insight and efforts of all four of these seed industry thought leaders. In this video, we chat passion and drive with Marcel Bruins, editorial director of Seed World Europe; Marc Zienkiewicz, senior editor of Seed World Canada; Aimee Nielson, edit ..read more

Ahead of the imminent European Parliament plenary vote on Plant Reproductive Material (PRM), a consortium of stakeholders, notably Copa Cogeca, Euroseeds, Europatat, Coceral, the European Beet Growers (CIBE), and CEPM Maiz’Europe, representing the majority of PRM suppliers and users, has voiced crucial concerns. In a press release, Euroseeds states: “The European Commission’s proposal, while requiring improvements, aimed to strike a balance between common rules for all producers and specific adaptations for diverse plant materials and markets. However, the current text proposed by COMAGR ..read more

A recent modeling study suggests that if glyphosate were banned, it could result in a rise in weed populations and a decline in the yields of certain crops, according to a press release from Rothamsted Research.  While such a ban could alleviate environmental risks tied to this herbicide, alternative weed control methods yield mixed results concerning their impact on the environment, food production, and profitability, although some methods exhibit potential benefits. Moreover, weed populations with developed resistance to non-glyphosate herbicides are not expected to be signif ..read more

In the heart of Rotterdam, the International Seed Federation (ISF) commemorates a century of shaping the global seeds industry. As the curtains rise on this year’s ISF World Seed Congress, it’s more than just a milestone celebration; it’s a testament to the enduring vitality of seed commerce on the world stage. The seeds trade is inherently international, with dealers and buyers spanning continents. While virtual tools like video conferences and emails keep the wheels turning, there’s an undeniable power in face-to-face interactions for nurturing enduring business ties. This is why the seeds ..read more

Sayoc brings communications experience, seed industry connections and enormous commitment to her new role. Francine Sayoc, the new executive director with the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), is a familiar face to many in the seed sector. Most recently the communications manager at the International Seed Federation (ISF) and, before that, the group communications manager at East-West Seed International, Sayoc took over top position at APSA in February. Seed World sat down with Sayoc to chat about her goals and ambitions, and about APSA’s role in the Asian ..read more