Euroseeds2025 in Edinburgh brought together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and young professionals for three days of discussions on the challenges and opportunities shaping Europe’s seed sector. Highlights included the InnovAction Stage, showcasing cutting-edge innovations, and the NextGen Forum, engaging students and young researchers in shaping the future of agriculture.
The first day started with an overview of challenges and opportunities for UK plant breeders, stressing the critical role of innovation, the importance of NGTs and precision breeding, and the need for closer UK–EU harmonization. Policy-makers and seed experts, including Annette Kliemann (EU Delegation to the UK), Hugo Popplewell (UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Robin Wood ( The British Society of Plant Breeders & Deputy Chairman, Elsoms Seeds), Anthony Hopkins ( The British Society of Plant Breeders & Chair, EU–UK Market Access Task Force), and Robert Sheasby (AIC | Agricultural Industries Confederation), explored the future of EU–UK seed cooperation. They emphasized the need for collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based engagement to support innovation, market access, and food security, while highlighting opportunities in plant breeding, the importance of clear communication on regulatory and trade challenges, and how UK–EU alignment can strengthen sustainable crop innovation and the resilience of the agri-food sector.
The Congress also offered in-depth market insights: Pierre Guillaumin (Market Research and International Development, French National Federation for Maize and Sorghum Seed Production, FNPSMS) presented the latest trends and developments in the European maize market, while Martin Gomez (Development Manager, FNPSMS) focused on the sorghum market, highlighting growth opportunities and challenges for breeders and producers.
Robert Sheasby, Chief Executive at Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) 
Robin Wood, Deputy Chairman at Elsoms Seeds, Chairman at British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) 
Hugo Popplewell, Joint Head of EU SPS Agreement, EU & International Trade at Defra
Pierre Guillaumin, Market research and international development at the French National Federation for Maize & Sorghum Seed Production (FNPSMS) 
Martin Gomez, Development Manager (FNPSMS)
Intellectual property, plant variety protection, and the evaluation of the CPVR system were also explored, with insights from Richard Wells (Tropic), Aniek Verhaar-Stolwerk (Enza Zaden), Martin Ekvad (UPOV), Francesco Mattina (CPVO), Sylvain Giraud (DG SANTE), and Francesca Garbato (Euroseeds). These sessions emphasized the importance of harmonization, innovation, and forward-looking frameworks to ensure the sector remains competitive and resilient.
Francesca Garbato,
Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs Manager at Euroseeds
Francesco Mattina, President at CPVO 
Martin Ekvad, Director of Legal Affairs at UPOV
Market trends and sector updates painted a picture of resilience through innovation. Speakers including Andrea Richter (KWS), Nicolas Colliot (Syngenta), Hansjoerg Schlichtner (SAATBAU LINZ), and Etienne Bouquet (Corteva) explored crop-specific challenges and recovery, while César González and Amalia Kafka (Euroseeds) highlighted policy developments on permanent grassland and crop protection, calling for practical measures to support sustainable farming.
Andrea Richter, Head Of SBU Oilseed Rape at KWS 
Nicolas Colliot, Field Crops Strategy and Portfolio Management at SYNGENTA 
Hansjoerg Schlichtner, Head Of Sales at SAATBAU LINZ eGen
Etienne Bouquet, Associate Marketing Director – Europe Middle East Africa,Soybean, Alfalfa, Cotton Portfolio Marketing Leader and Seed Licensing Manager at Corteva agriscience™ and Chair of SOF Section
Amalia Kafka, Technical Manager Sustainable Seed Technologies at Euroseeds 
César González, Manager Public Affairs at Euroseeds
Regulatory developments and plant breeding innovation featured prominently. Experts explored the EU and UK frameworks for new genomic techniques (NGTs) and precision breeding, with contributions from Dr. Janet Talling (Defra) and Ilaria Ciabatti (DG SANTE). A panel discussion explored the EU and UK frameworks for new genomic techniques (NGTs) and precision breeding, highlighting shared science-based principles and key procedural differences. The discussion emphasized the need for regulatory predictability, transparency, and international dialogue to support innovation, trade, and sustainable plant breeding across both regions. Discussions also addressed herbicide-tolerant varieties, the EU Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) Regulation, and hybrid cereals, reflecting the sector’s push for science-based, harmonized, and future-proof rules, as presented by Szabi Ruthner (BASF), Nigel Moore (KWS), Astrid Sofie Vestergaard Nielsen (Denmark, EU Council), and Csaba Gaspar (OECD Seed Schemes).
Janet Talling, Head of Genetic Technology and Farm Tenancy Policy in the Innovation, Productivity and Science Division at Defra 
Ilaria Ciabatti,
Policy Officer at Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety at European Commission
Szabi Ruthner, Senior Market Acceptance Manager EMEA, BASF and Chair of SWG Hybrid Cereals Section 
Nigel Moore, Head of Food Ingredients for KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA 
Astrid Sofie Vestergaard Nielsen, Food Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU Council 
Csaba Gaspar, Head of Section, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, Codes & Schemes at OECD 
Duncan Ribbons, VP IP & Regulatory at Tropic, Janet Talling, Head of Genetic Technology and Farm Tenancy Policy in the Innovation, Productivity and Science Division at Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Nigel Moore, Head of Food Ingredients for KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA, Garlich von Essen, Secretary General and CEO at Euroseeds and Søren Halbye Group CEO, Ilaria Ciabatti,
Policy Officer at Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission (Online)
On the second day of the congress, César González (Euroseeds) presented guidance on phasing out derogations for organic seed, ensuring a fair, market-based transition and stronger supply chains. Jeroen Lustig (A-INSIGHTS) highlighted how market intelligence helps companies anticipate disruptions and turn uncertainty into opportunity. Sergio Pasquini (ISTA) showcased advances in seed quality testing and the digital rollout of eCertificates. Hilde van Dyck (Bayer) provided an update on key vegetable seed issues in the EU PRM Regulation negotiations, focusing on marketing, sustainability, and regulatory priorities. Together, these sessions underlined the importance of data, regulation, and strategic planning to secure a resilient and innovative seed sector.
César González, Manager Public Affairs at Euroseeds 
Hlilde van Dyke, Senior Regional Regulatory Manager Seeds and Vegetables at Bayer Crop Science 
Sergio Pasquini, Vice President ISTA
Innovation and plant genetic resources were central to the discussions. Federico Vittorio Pisani (Euroseeds) introduced the PRO-GRACE project, a European initiative aimed at strengthening the conservation and use of plant genetic resources. Meanwhile, a specific message from and Alwin Kopše (GB11 Chair, FOAG) and a panel on access and benefit-sharing under the International Plant Treaty, moderated by Ludovic Paris, highlighted the pivotal role of the private sector in ensuring predictable and equitable access, with insights from Michael Keller (ISF), Kent Nnadozie (FAO), Mery Ciacci (DG Environment), Imke Thormann (BMLEH).
Federico Vittorio Pisani, Manager Development Cooperation and Genetic Resources at Euroseeds 
Alwin Kopše, Chair of the GB 11 at the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) 
Michael Keller, Secretary General at ISF and Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of the FAO ITPGRFA 
Mery Ciacci, International Policy Officer at DG Environment 
Imke Thormann, Senior Officer Plant Genetic Resources at BMLEH 
Andrea Mertens, Lead of Expert Hub Legal, Global Legal and IP at KWS 
Ludovic Paris, Regulatory Affairs Officer at Limagrain
Euroseeds Secretary General Garlich v. Essen emphasized the importance of resilience in an era of geopolitical fragmentation, climate change, and evolving market dynamics. He reminded participants that awareness, intelligence, and commitment to multilateralism are crucial to navigating uncertainty. This theme was echoed during a high-level panel moderated by Garlich von Essen, where experts including Jan Friedrich Kallmorgen (EY-Parthenon), Christiane Hullmann (German Federal Foreign Office, UK), Annette Kliemann (EU Delegation to the UK), and Søren Halbye (DLF, Euroseeds President) explored how Europe and the seed sector can respond to global shifts, emphasizing regional cooperation, adaptability, and the role of young talent in rebuilding trust in agriculture.
Jan Friedrich Kallmorgen, Partner at EY-Parthenon, EY Strategy & Transactions GmbH (Ernst and Young), Annette Kliemann, Agricultural Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom, Christiane Hullmann, Consul General at Federal Foreign Office Germany in the UK, Garlich von Essen, Secretary General and CEO at Euroseeds and Søren Halbye Group CEO, DLF and Euroseeds President
The Euroseeds Congress underscored one again Europe’s seed industry committment to innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth and its Congress in food security, technological advancement, and the future of sustainable agriculture.
As for the latest addition to the Euroseeds congress, the #InnovActionStage showcased 8 ground-breaking technologies developed for a wide range of seed solutions: seed production, quality analysis, cleaning, storing, sorting, and drying technologies.
The InnovActor 2025 Award was a major highlight, with phenoLytics crowned the winner for its groundbreaking contributions to seed innovation, with Polyfly and CGrain as notable runners-up. Moderated by Shawn Brook, the Ceremony Award developed into a panel discussion featuring the winner, the finalists and our panellists, reflecting on the role of innovation in agriculture and its future trajectory.
The competition is supported by Ernst and Young.
The Euroseeds Congress will return in April 2026 in Valencia, Spain, from 25 – 28 October 2026!
