b'ROOTED INCARROTS (DAUCUS CAROTA)are so familiar that their humble appearance belies a complex and evolving breeding landscape. Today they are grown and consumed in virtually every corner of the globea staple crop in both fresh and processed markets. In 2022, global production of PROGRESS carrots and turnips combined exceeded 42 million tonnes annually, with increases in recent years pushing that figure toward44.8 million tonnes in some estimates. Beyond volume, carrots are prized for their nutritional value. A 100-g serving of raw carrot delivers about 41 kcal and is rich in beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A), dietary fiber, and antioxidantsnutrients linked to eye health, immune support, and reduced risk of chronic disease. In public health terms, How leading breeders are reinventingcarrots play a role in preventing micronutrient deficiency and the carrotfrom climate resiliencesupporting the dietary five-a-day fruit and vegetable goals and color diversity to closer growerpromoted by WHO and FAO. Yet despite its ubiquity, carrot breeding is far from static. collaboration. Crop breeders now face tightening regulations on agro-By: Marcel Bruins, Seed World Europe Editorial Director chemicals, accelerating climate stress, and shifting consumer preferencesespecially around appearance, flavor, and novel pigmentation. To dig into how breeding is adapting, Seed World Europe interviewed five leading carrot companies: BASF | Nunhems, Bakker Brothers, Bayer Vegetable Seeds, Vilmorin-Mikado and Bejo Zaden. Their responses reveal a carrot-breed-ing world that is increasingly data driven, genetically diverse, and intimately connected to growers on the ground.Breeding TargetsFor Bakker Brothers, breeding efforts centre on F1 Nantes-type carrotscylindrical, uniform, and brightly colored. Our main objectives are yield, root uniformity, color intensity, flavor, disease resistance, and adaptability to diverse climates, explains breeder Rik Wittink. Crop manager Anatolii Yanchuk adds that while hybrids are their primary focus, the company continues to improve its open-pollinated (OP) Nantes varieties Cut-and-peel carrots shown next to ato bridge the gap for developing markets.boot to illustrate size.PHOTO: BAYER.40/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2026'