Can AI Improve the Flavor and Aroma of Strawberries?
A multi‑country study funded by the Andalusian Ministry of Universities identified how environment and genetics shape strawberry flavor and aroma. Researchers analyzed four cultivars across five European sites using DNA, RNA and metabolite profiling, revealing that climate accounts for up to 30% of the fruit’s metabolomic variation. The findings enable marker‑assisted breeding and genome‑editing to develop climate‑resilient, high‑flavor varieties in 2‑4 years instead of the traditional 8‑12. Stable aroma compounds such as sucrose, linalool and γ‑decalactone were pinpointed as targets for future improvement.
Tomato Gene Discovery Opens Door to Heat-Tolerant Varieties
Researchers at Japan's University of Tsukuba identified the SlIAA9 gene as a key brake on heat tolerance during tomato seed germination. Loss‑of‑function mutants lacking SlIAA9 germinated at near‑normal rates even under prolonged high‑temperature exposure and produced vigorous seedlings. Molecular analysis...
Gearing up for Lower-Energy Growing
Rijk Zwaan is promoting carbon‑neutral greenhouse cultivation at GreenTech Amsterdam and its High Tech Weeks, highlighting low‑energy hydroponic systems and varieties designed for alternative heat sources. The company showcased the Alzamora RZ pepper, which delivers strong yields at lower temperatures, and cucumber research that...
A Spanish Biotech Is Building the Full Value Chain for RNA Crop Protection
Spanish startup Modoru Biotech is commercialising double‑stranded RNA (dsRNA) biopesticides that trigger plants’ own defenses against viruses, fungi and insects. The company is building a full‑stack platform—software design, large‑scale RNA production, purification and nano‑encapsulation—to hit a cost target of under...
Turkey Challenges Ukraine’s 26.9% Tomato and 22.8% Cucumber Duties
Turkey has formally asked Ukraine to suspend or cancel the anti‑dumping duties imposed in July 2025 on Turkish tomatoes (26.9%) and cucumbers (22.8%). The duties, which apply to most Turkish exporters, are slightly lower for Talya Fresh at 25% for...
"When Greenhouse Infrastructure Changes, the Light Balance Must Be Recalculated"
The European horticulture sector is rapidly modernizing, adding spectral‑filtering solar panels and vertical‑farm structures that dramatically alter greenhouse light distribution. DosvetPro has launched a photometric calculator built on LM‑63 methodology and NASA climate data, delivering precise supplemental‑lighting calculations in minutes...
'Availability of Cucumbers Was Occasionally Tight'
German cucumber markets in week 20 of 2026 were dominated by domestic production, which held 44% of the volume, while Dutch and Belgian imports together accounted for roughly 58% of the remaining supply. Weather‑related crop shortfalls forced traders to reserve...
The Challenge of Defining “Sustainable Growing Media”
The paper highlights that “sustainable growing media” is widely used but lacks a clear, evidence‑based definition. Researchers show that many products are labeled sustainable based on single traits—such as being peat‑free or recycled—without proving horticultural performance, economic viability, or social...
How Things Stand with New Genomic Techniques in the EU
EU member states and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement in late 2025 to relax regulations for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The deal would exempt NGT‑1 plants—minor edits akin to conventional breeding—from strict GMO rules starting in 2028, while...
"Instead of Showing Data, It Thinks About Your Data"
Ecobloom unveiled EcoSense, an AI‑powered virtual agronomist, at CEAIF 2026. The system fuses multispectral imaging, climate sensors and a 72‑hour weather forecast to diagnose crop stress up to ten days before visual symptoms appear. A beta layer can automatically adjust irrigation,...
Cutting Greenhouse Lighting Capex by up to 20 Percent with Centralised DC Architecture
NLight is debuting a centralized DC power architecture for horticultural LED lighting at GreenTech Amsterdam, promising 10‑20% capital‑expenditure savings versus traditional distributed‑driver systems. The design moves 40 kW driver modules into a single cabinet, distributing DC power to RV‑series fixtures and...
Florida Researchers Trial Tunnel System for Passion Fruit Freeze Protection
Florida’s recent freeze inflicted roughly $3 billion in agricultural losses, prompting urgent research into protective cultivation methods. University of Florida scientists are testing a tunnel‑based system with timed misting to shield passion fruit vines from sub‑freezing temperatures. Early trial results show...
"We Found a Way to Interact with and Go Through the Clay Layer of a Pellet"
Zayndu has adapted its ActivatedAir cold‑plasma priming to treat pelleted lettuce seeds, overcoming the clay coating that previously blocked plasma interaction. Field trials on Rijk Zwaan varieties Scamander and Limambo showed yield lifts of up to 8.4% in the lab and...
€1M Raised to Develop Next-Generation Bioactives Through Precision Fermentation
B‑COS, a Ghent University spin‑off, closed a €1 million pre‑seed round (about $1.1 million) backed by Agri Investment Fund, VP Capital and regional innovators. The funding, supplemented by a VLAIO research grant, will scale its precision‑fermentation platform that produces pharma‑grade chitooligosaccharides for...
US: Cornell Berry Breeding and Extension Expand Opportunities for NY Growers
Cornell University’s Berry Breeding Program and Cooperative Extension evaluated 18,480 berry seedlings over three years, selecting 120 advanced genotypes for further testing. Two primocane red‑raspberry cultivars, ‘Crimson Beauty’ and ‘Crimson Blush’, were released and licensed to nurseries for 2025 planting,...