OCTOBER 2026  SEEDWORLD.COM /  47
under pressure from lim­
ited access to new soybean 
technology, low certified seed 
use and unauthorized sales, 
according to the Paraguayan 
Seed Producers Association. 
Although the technology 
has received event approval, 
companies cannot yet mul­
tiply or formally sell seed 
containing it. APROSEMP says 
such materials are already 
circulating through unauthor­
ized channels, while certified 
seed accounts for only 33% 
of the soybean market. Weak 
demand prompted companies 
to reduce production after 
unsold seed was marketed as 
grain, causing financial losses. 
The association is seeking full 
commercial release, warning 
that continued uncertainty 
could discourage investment 
in genetics and infrastructure.
STATUS ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe is accelerating the 
development and release of 
climate-smart crop varieties 
to strengthen food, nutrition 
and economic security amid 
worsening climate change. 
Agriculture Permanent 
Secretary Professor Obert Jiri 
said farmers increasingly face 
droughts, erratic rainfall, heat­
waves, pests and diseases. 
He stressed that irrigation 
and fertilisers cannot ensure 
productivity without resilient 
seeds. The Government’s 
strategy focuses on water 
harvesting, soil conserva­
tion and genetically adapted 
crops. Modern technologies, 
including genomic selection 
and speed breeding, could 
reduce breeding cycles from 
10–12 years to 4–6 years. The 
workshop in Harare aims to 
align breeders and regula­
tors, modernise evaluation 
standards, remove approval 
bottlenecks, strengthen part­
nerships and improve regional 
harmonisation, ensuring 
high-quality, drought-tolerant 
and marketable seed reaches 
farmers quickly. (Source: The 
Herald)
STATUS JAPAN
Japan has amended its Plant 
Variety Protection Act to 
strengthen breeders’ rights 
and prevent unauthorized 
overseas transfers of valuable 
agricultural varieties. Effective 
mainly from December 1, 
2026, the reform extends 
protection from 25 to 35 years 
for general varieties and from 
30 to 40 years for perennial 
plants. It introduces pre-regis­
tration injunctions, expedited 
examinations and restrictions 
on storing seeds for unau­
thorized export. Breeders will 
benefit from stronger dam­
ages, easier proof of infringe­
ment and a new amicus brief 
system. The amendment 
also restricts parallel imports 
and expands protection to 
seed and seedling leasing. 
Breeders, licensees and dis­
tributors should review agree­
ments, export permissions, 
naming practices and labeling 
procedures to ensure compli­
ance with the strengthened 
legal framework. (Source: 
Lexology)
STATUS NIGERIA
Nigeria will receive a $3.7 
million Japanese grant to 
strengthen its rice seed 
system and improve domestic 
production. The project will 
enhance the National Cereals 
Research Institute’s capacity 
to produce breeder and foun­
dation seeds while supplying 
tractors, rice transplanters, 
combine harvesters, exca­
vators, germination testers, 
weather-monitoring systems 
and dryers. Nigeria’s average 
rice yield was two tons per 
hectare in 2024/2025, below 
the global average of nearly 
three tons. Although the 
country aims to double paddy 
production by 2030, output is 
forecast to reach only 8.7 mil­
lion tons in 2025/2026, seven 
percent above 2020/2021 
levels. Better seeds and 
machinery could raise pro­
ductivity, but insecurity, weak 
irrigation and limited mecha­
nization remain significant 
obstacles. (Source: EcoFin 
Agency)
STATUS SAUDI ARABIA
Researchers at King Abdullah 
University of Science and 
Technology have devel­
oped a genome-engineering 
method that inserts large 
pieces of DNA into precise 
locations in plant genomes 
without first breaking the 
plant’s DNA. Published in 
Nature Biotechnology, the 
technique was successfully 
demonstrated in tobacco 
and rice, where researchers 
inserted full-length genes and 
other genetic elements. The 
advance addresses a long­
standing challenge in plant 
biotechnology, as complex 
traits such as heat, drought 
and disease resilience may 
require several genes work­
ing together. It could also 
support the development of 
plants as scalable factories for 
medicines, vaccines and other 
valuable biologics. Although 
still at the research stage, the 
method expands scientists’ 
ability to create sophisticated 
agricultural and biomanufac­
turing traits.
STATUS COLUMBIA
With the probability of 
El Niño developing in 
Colombia exceeding 90%, 
the Colombian Agricultural 
Institute and Acosemillas are 
urging farmers to prepare 
for lower rainfall and higher 
temperatures. Crops includ­
ing rice, maize, soybeans, 
potatoes, fruit, vegetables and 
pastures could be affected. 
Recommended measures 
include using ICA-authorized 
seeds, maintaining vegeta­
tion cover, adopting suitable 
planting densities, improving 
crop nutrition and using poly­
cultures to conserve moisture 
and reduce pest pressure. 
Registered seeds offer greater 
germination, purity and 
establishment reliability under 
water-scarce conditions. 
Farmers, agronomists and 
grower committees should 
also monitor regional climate 
information and adjust plant­
ing dates and management 
practices. The organizations 
say preventive planning, tech­
nical support and soil conser­
vation can protect harvests, 
rural livelihoods and national 
food security. SW

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