Seed Valley Talks

Watch all the videos of our Seed Valley Talks.

During these Talks, plant science professionals share more about the latest research topics in the seed sector. The world is changing rapidly due to climate change, mutating diseases and an increasing amount of data. It is therefore essential that we continue to develop and innovate plant varieties and cultivation methods. Watch the videos of our previous events.

Microbes to change the world

Help! Did you know that plants need to deal with stress and that stress levels are rising? Abiotic stress, like increasing temperatures, droughts, or salinity on the one hand. Biotic stress like soil pathogens, and insects on the other hand. There is a solution though: the superpower of microbes. 

Water management, from open-field cultivation or greenhouse horticulture

In this talk by Pieter Vlaar, the focus is on water management, from open-field cultivation (onions, beets) or greenhouse horticulture (hydroponic cultivation). Water management is becoming increasingly challenging. How can you tackle it? It’s a very challenging and complex issue, with regulations regarding water management on one hand and climate adaptation on the other. In education, it’s often approached from a biological standpoint, but there are also various physical and chemical aspects to consider. The topic demonstrates the broader significance of the sector.

Petra Bleeker about self-defense through metabolites in plants.

Tomato, basil, and cannabis: leaf hairs with unique scents.

Seed treatment can prevent seedlings from failing, but what other factors are essential?

In this talk by Anita van Nieuwenhoven, she takes us to a spinach field and discusses the various factors that are important for a good field emergence. Seed treatment can prevent seedling loss, but for a beautiful spinach field, other factors are also essential.

Stress sensitivity of our crop plants

We’re excited to share this video from the talk by Theo Elzenga professor at University of Groningen, delving into the stress sensitivity of our crop plants. Brace yourselves for a groundbreaking revelation: we are, indeed, ourselves to blame. Stay tuned for more insights into the delicate balance between our actions and the well-being of the plants we rely on ?

The ecophysiology of plants, focusing on plant stress. Interaction between plants and bacteria and fungi. Why are plants dependent on symbiosis, and why is survival challenging without these bacteria? How can plants defend themselves against stress, and what role do microorganisms play in enhancing that response?

Microbial masterminds behind crops

Alexandre Jousset talks about if bacteria have the power to change sustainability in agriculture? Why is it relevant how plants and bacteria work as a team, as a community? This video is the first Talk in the series “What is the road to sustainable agriculture?”.

Can you eat data?

Can you eat data? Valerio Bianchi, Senior Bioinformatician at Enza Zaden will tell you the answer. Computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are drastically changing the way we produce food today. The secret for this change is to collect a vast amount of data. How is big data used by breeding companies to change the way we produce fruits and vegetables? This is the first video in the series “The growing data puzzle for breeding companies”.

From idea to commercial variety

Do you know how all the different flowers got to your garden centre? Or how long it takes to create a new variety? And what it takes to make a plant that is ready for the market? Jeanine, associate breeder at Syngenta Flowers, tells us what it takes to create a new commercial variety.

The Genetic Complexity of a Flower

The genetics of flowers are very complex. So how can you take a look at the DNA and know the certain traits of a plant? If you are able to, it can help breeders to breed faster and find the traits they are interested in more easily. In this Talk Nelleke, Lector Green Biotechnology at Hogeschool Inholland, tells in depth about what DNA technologies can actually assist plant breeders to make these beautiful flowers for the future.

The challenges of breeding Chrysanthemum

How is it possible there is so much phenotypic variation within ornamentals? How do you develop new varieties of Chrysanthemum that can grow in harsher conditions? How can you select the right plants? Jorian, pre-breeder at Dekker Chrysanten, will answer those questions in his Talk ‘The challenges of breeding Chrysanthemum’.

How to design the perfect crop with data?

Plant breeding is fun: it’s the marriage between genotype and phenotype. Ben, Trait Genetics Lead at Bayer Crop Science tells you how data helps to design a perfect crop. What and how can we identify the genotype with molecular tools? What can we do with that genotypic data? Why is big data powerful for breeding? He will expand on how data makes a difference in the breeding process of the future. Watch it now!

Digital twins in plant breeding

Rick van de Zedde, working at Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre at WUR shows us in this Talk why we grow tomatoes, digitally. Phenotyping plants costs hours, this means there is a lot of brainpower wasted. At Wageningen University & Research they develop vision technology specifically for this measurement. And what would we gain if we not only follow the phenotype of our plants, but also grow plants virtually? It becomes possible to predict how plants grow under different circumstances.

The road to microplastic free

Jérôme Garnier shares his concerns about plastic pollution. What can you do to limit microplastic pollution? And how is the seed industry trying to banish microplastic pollution? This is the third Talk in the series “What is the road to sustainable agriculture?”.

How to breed for organic farmers?

Bram Weijland talks about how new crops are developed by a hybrid between conventional and organic breeding. How do these disciplines need one another? Why are they together responsible for more sustainability in the seed sector. This video is the first Talk in the series “What is the road to sustainable agriculture?”.

How to deal with climate change?

Anoma Lokossou shares how she enthusiastically started to grow her own vegetables. And how this caused her to become a plant researcher. How does her research help growers cope with climate change? This video is the third Talk in de series “How to feed 2 billion more mouths by 2050”.

Can better seeds change lives?

Maaike Groot, Manager Public Affairs at East-West Seed answers this question. We, as a seed sector, need to help the smallholder farmers. Growing a business and giving the opportunity to feed his community. Which will make him one of the many farmers that feed the growing world population. This video is the second Talk in the series “How to feed 2 billion more mouths by 2050”.

Plant your future

Ernst van den Ende, Managing Director Plant Sciences Group at Wageningen UR elaborates on why there is an urgency for healthy food in the world. How is plant breeding contributing to this need? This video is the first Talk in the series “How to feed 2 billion more mouths by 2050”.

Turning enemies into allies

If you were a seed, how would you protect yourself? Carola Peters, Researcher at Incotec, gives more insight into how fungi and bacteria protect seeds and plants against diseases. This video is the third Talk in the series “How to beat the next plant virus pandemic”.

Self-defense for plants

What to judo throws and plants have in common? Karin Posthuma, Manager Phytopathology at Enza Zaden, explains more. This video is the second Talk in the series “How to beat the next plant virus pandemic”.

Can plants be vaccinated?

Michel Haring, Professor at the University of Amsterdam elaborates on this question. This video is the first Talk in the series “How to beat the next plant virus pandemic”.