b'PLANTS FOR THE FUTURE EXAMINES 20 YEARS OF EUROPEAN PLANT BREEDING R&I INVESTMENT TRENDSBY: AMRIT NANDA, EXECUTIVE MANAGER AT PLANTS FOR THE FUTURE ETP S ince the mid-1980s, the European FrameworkProgrammes(FPs) have been the main funding tool for Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe. Each FP reflects strategic goals, with the agrifood sector playing a pivotal rolenot only in addressing global food demands but also in contributing to economic, cultural, and social priorities.At the end of last year, we published a report analysing trends in R&I funding for plant breeding from FP7 through Horizon 2020 and the first half of Horizon Europe. The findings revealed critical insights into the funding landscape, highlighting both progress and areas for improvement.KEY FINDINGS Stagnant Public Funding Growth for Plant Breeding R&IWhile the total FP budgets have increased by 42% over the past 20 years, funding dedicated to R&I in plant breeding has seen only modest growth, projected to rise to 9% by the end of Horizon Europe if current trends continue. This is despite a substantial 277% increase in the Agrifood sub-programme budget, the primary source of plant breeding R&I funding, over the same period. Consequently, funding allocation for plant breeding R&I has declined compared to the total FP funding, with Horizon 2020 seeing the sharpest reduction.4ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | FEBRUARY 2025'