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Tunisian scientists have fully sequenced the genomes of two heritage durum wheat varieties, Mahmoudi and Chili, both renowned for their resilience to drought, heat, and disease. By making these genome assemblies publicly available, the researchers aim to help breeders worldwide develop more climate-resilient wheat at a time of increasing environmental challenges. Mahmoudi and Chili, deeply rooted in Tunisia’s agricultural history, offer genetic traits largely lost in modern wheat, such as high protein content and strong disease resistance. The project was led by the University of Sfax and the National Gene Bank of Tunisia, with international collaboration and support.

At Bayer’s 2026 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting, shareholder frustration centered on the ongoing fallout from the Monsanto acquisition and US glyphosate litigation, prompting CEO Bill Anderson to emphasize operational improvements and a shift toward precision crop protection technologies. The company announced a five-year plan for its Crop Science division focused on tighter margins, portfolio rationalization, and innovation, with new products like Plenexos and PRECEON™ short corn positioned as future growth drivers. Anderson highlighted that litigation risk is constraining industry innovation and called for regulatory certainty, while shareholders approved a minimum dividend to prioritize debt reduction and self-funded R&D. Bayer is betting on a leaner, more innovative Crop Science division to restore growth once legal uncertainties subside.

Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and international partners have developed a targeted peptide, CS5, that blocks a key enzyme in the potato late blight pathogen, historically linked to Ireland’s Great Famine and now spreading due to climate change. The peptide specifically inhibits an essential growth enzyme in the oomycete pathogen without harming other plants or humans, offering a promising alternative to chemical fungicides. Laboratory tests show CS5 effectively prevents infection in treated potato samples and may pave the way for eco-friendly crop protection strategies.

Wild Bioscience, an Oxford University spinout, has raised £45m in Series A funding to commercialise AI-driven, climate-resilient crops, starting with precision-bred wheat. The investment is enabling the company to expand its laboratory and office footprint, triple plant output, and accelerate its transition from research to market-ready products. Strategic partnerships with global agro-tech firms and key leadership appointments are reinforcing Wild Bioscience’s commercial strategy and regulatory pathway. The company’s next milestone is to demonstrate efficient progression of AI-designed crops from lab to field and into farmers’ hands.

The green and yellow tractor and equipment maker is leveraging its precision agriculture technology for more than spraying.