Euroseeds Valencia
Euroseeds Congress 2026 Valencia – Freudenberger in attendance
Euroseeds Congress 2026 in Valencia. Why Europe's Seed Sector Is Setting the Course Now - and Feldsaaten Freudenberger Is There
In October, the European seed industry will gather for the annual Euroseeds Congress, this year in Valencia. We at Feldsaaten Freudenberger will be attending as well.Below, you will find out what the congress is about, which topics are currently shaping the sector, and why these developments matter for your farm, your advisory work or your teaching.
What Is The Euroseeds Congress?
Euroseeds is the European umbrella organisation for the seed sector, based in Brussels. It represents plant breeders, seed multipliers and seed traders vis-à-vis the policymakers of the European Union (EU) and brings together the interests of national associations, such as the BDP (German Plant Breeders' Association) in Germany.
The annual congress is the sector's most important meeting place in Europe. Breeders, multipliers, traders, seed processors and representatives of authorities from across Europe and beyond come together here. Alongside specialist presentations and working group sessions, direct trade plays a major role. At the trading tables, multiplication contracts are negotiated, seed lots are marketed and partnerships for the coming growing seasons are agreed. What is discussed in Valencia therefore helps determine which seed will be available to you in the years ahead, and on what terms.
These Topics Shaping the Sector
New Genomic Techniques (NGT)
Hardly any topic has occupied the seed sector in recent years as much as the regulation of new genomic techniques (NGT). Methods such as CRISPR/Cas, often referred to as "genetic scissors", enable targeted changes to the genome that could frequently also arise through conventional breeding or natural mutation, only much faster. The EU is working on a new legal framework intended to treat certain NGT plants differently from conventional genetic modification. Open questions include patentability, labelling and coexistence with organic farming.
For you as a farmer, this is not an abstract issue. It is about how quickly varieties with better drought tolerance, disease resistance or nutrient efficiency can reach the market in future, and who will have access to them.
The New EU Regulation on Plant Reproductive Material (PRM)
At the same time, European seed marketing legislation is being fundamentally revised. The many individual directives currently in force are to be merged into a single PRM Regulation. Points under discussion include the requirements for variety registration, in particular the testing of value for cultivation and use with a stronger focus on sustainability traits, the rules for conservation varieties and heterogeneous material, and the handling of seed exchanged between farmers.
How these rules are shaped will determine how reliable the quality of certified seed remains. For us as specialists in seed and seed mixtures, this is crucial, because germination capacity, purity and varietal identity are the foundation of every successful sowing.
Climate Adaptation and Security of Supply
Dry springs, wet harvest periods and increasing disease pressure are also posing challenges for seed multiplication. Crop failures in individual multiplication regions have a direct impact on availability and prices, particularly for grasses, clovers and cover crops. At the congress, there will be intensive discussion on how to spread multiplication areas more widely and make supply chains more resilient.
Plant Health and International Trade
Seed is traded worldwide. Phytosanitary requirements, certification and trade agreements all influence how smoothly seed can cross borders. Here, too, Euroseeds is working on practical solutions so that healthy seed remains available without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
Why We at Feldsaaten Freudenberger Are Attending in Valencia
As specialists in grasses, clovers, cover crops and seed mixtures, we rely on dependable partnerships throughout Europe. Many of our components come from multiplication schemes that we plan with breeders and multipliers over the long term. The Euroseeds Congress gives us the opportunity to maintain these partnerships in person, to learn about new varieties and multiplication opportunities, and to find out at an early stage how availability and market conditions are likely to develop for the coming seasons.
At the same time, we follow the political debates closely. What is decided in Brussels ultimately ends up on your arable land, in your grassland or in your cover crop mixture. Our aim is to put these developments into context for you and translate them into practical products and recommendations.
What Does This Mean for You?
For farms, this means that the framework conditions for seed are changing noticeably, and it pays to keep an eye on developments. Chambers of agriculture and advisory services will gain valuable insight from the congress into which variety developments and legal changes should feed into their advice. And for vocational schools with an agricultural stream, topics such as NGT, variety registration and seed certification offer current, practice-oriented teaching material that shows how closely crop production, policy and trade are interlinked.
After the congress, we will report on the key outcomes and impressions from Valencia here at www.freudenberger.net. If you already have questions about availability, mixtures or the coming season, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Will you also be in Valencia? We would be delighted to meet you in person. Please feel free to arrange an appointment with our team in advance at