Did you know 4000 varieties are released every year?

The seed sector includes thousands of players from family businesses to international corporations. Collaborations between breeders, gene banks, and conservation networks ensure availability of seed collections for future generations [1].

Plant breeders deliver new crop diversity by combining existing genetic resources. The breeding sector places 4.000 additional new varieties on the European market every year. As a result, today more than 51.000 agricultural and vegetable varieties are available for European farmers and growers [2].
 

Seed marketing legislation (Plant Reproduction Materials, or PRM) has been successful in facilitating development and market release of improved varieties over the past 60 years. The ongoing revision of PRM should ensure continued diverse choice and reliable supply of high-quality seeds [3].

[1] The voice of the European Seed Sector | Euroseeds brochure 2023 (PDF)

[2] Plant variety catalogues, databases & information systems | European Commission

[3] Future of EU rules on plant and forest reproductive material | European Commission