Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 5228 I EUROPEAN SEED I EUROPEAN-SEED.COM ES: When we talk about French beans in Europe, what are the main breeding tar- gets for the crop? CV: The main breeding targets depend on the markets, such as processing, fresh, hobby, professional, open-field or greenhouse, but also on the typologies, for example, dwarf bean, climbing bean, flat bean, round bean, et cetera. Vilmorin, as a major player for this species, is present in all these markets in Europe and Africa. Common breeding targets for those markets are yield, disease resistance, pod quality and plant habit. GvdB: Yield is the most important selection criteria of all, and increased disease resistance is one of the ways to increase yield. Since they are harvested by machines, it is very important to have beans with a very concentrated setting—ideally, all beans are ready on the same day. Ease of harvesting and processing Finger on the Pulse A closer look at how some companies carry out French bean breeding. By: Marcel Bruins This year is the International Year of Pulses. What better way to put a spot- light on those crucially important crops, which are a vital source of plant- based proteins and amino acids for people around the globe. Experts agree, pulses should be eaten as part of a healthy diet, to address obesity, and to prevent and help manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, coronary conditions and cancer. In addition, pulses are an important source of plant-based protein for animals. And if that wasn’t enough, this won- derful group of plants has nitrogen-fixing properties, which contribute to increased soil fertility and have positive effects on the environment. In this group of crops, we find lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas, and in this issue of European Seed we’ve focused on the French bean. We sat down with several breeders for some insights on breeding new varieties and crop innovations. Christophe Vivien (CV), Vilmorin’s global bean product man- ager; Elise Vendeuvre (EV), Vilmorin’s global bean breeder; Gerthon van de Bunt (GvdB), senior breeder at Pop Vriend Seeds; and Jaap Reus (JR), senior breeder legumes at Syngenta; share their thoughts on breeding targets, the possibility of hybrid bean varieties, disease challenges and innovations. Bean harvest in France.