Plant Breeding Today: Efficiency Potential and Challenges
Plant breeding is a fundamental pillar of a high-performing and sustainable agricultural system. However, stricter fertiliser regulations and the discontinuation of important seed treatment products are presenting the sector with new challenges. As a result, yield stability, nutrient efficiency and high seed quality are becoming increasingly important. The DLG Feldtage 2026 event will showcase, in a practical way, the solutions offered by modern varieties and new breeding approaches through demonstration trials and direct exchange with breeding companies.
Developments over the past hundred years show that plant breeding has repeatedly responded successfully to new demands in agriculture. Yield, quality and disease resistance have been continuously improved. In particular, traits that were previously considered contradictory—such as high yields and strong quality parameters—have been successfully combined.
Despite the already high performance level of modern varieties, breeding progress continues. However, improvements today are often achieved in smaller increments, as the starting level is already very high. Nevertheless, yield—and especially yield stability—remain central breeding objectives.
More Productive and Sustainable Agriculture
Plant breeding faces the task of making agriculture more productive while simultaneously more sustainable. Two issues are currently gaining importance: improving nutrient efficiency and the discontinuation of key seed treatments.
Both developments directly affect yield stability, seed quality and the resilience of agricultural production systems. On the one hand, resource-efficient varieties are needed to ensure stable yields under climate change conditions and stricter fertilisation regulations. On the other hand, the loss of established seed treatment active ingredients is increasing pressure on seed production, crop management and breeding.
More Efficient Use of Nitrogen
In addition to climate resilience, nutrient efficiency is increasingly becoming a focus of plant breeding. Nitrogen efficiency in particular plays a key role in safeguarding yields under difficult conditions while reducing negative environmental impacts. One major objective is to decrease nitrate pollution in groundwater and surface waters. How efficiently crops utilise nutrients will largely determine how sustainable and productive agriculture can be in the future.
Nutrients are primarily absorbed via plant roots. Therefore, root growth, root architecture and interactions with soil structure and microorganisms are gaining importance. Under climate change conditions, with fluctuating rainfall and temperatures, traits such as root plasticity are becoming more significant. Plant breeders are closely monitoring scientific findings in this area and increasingly focusing on breeding targets that improve root development. The goal is more efficient nutrient uptake—even under challenging site conditions.
Breeding for Improved Nitrogen Efficiency
Research projects such as SMARTROOT, funded by the BMLEH, aim to accelerate breeding for improved nitrogen efficiency by identifying suitable root traits. So far, these traits have been only marginally considered in many breeding programmes.
At the same time, research is examining different genotypes of wheat, barley and rapeseed with regard to their behaviour under nutrient deficiency. Both morphological and physiological characteristics, as well as effects on yield and quality, are being analysed.
Plant breeding has already contributed significantly to yield increases in the past. In the future, alongside yield, yield stability will become increasingly important. The goal is to develop varieties that deliver stable performance even under fluctuating climatic conditions and can flexibly express different yield components.
At the same time, natural resistance to diseases and pests continues to gain importance. Plants possess their own defence mechanisms against fungi, pests and other pathogens. Breeding exploits these traits to make varieties more resilient and reduce the need for chemical crop protection.
The Challenge of Fludioxonil
Against this background, the discontinuation of key seed treatments presents an additional challenge. The situation is particularly critical due to the expiry of approval for the active ingredient fludioxonil, which may be used for the last time in autumn 2026.
Since fludioxonil has been a key component of many approved seed treatment products, its withdrawal will have significant consequences for seed production and winter cereal cultivation.
Fludioxonil has been a cornerstone of seed treatments against seed- and soil-borne fungal diseases in cereals. Without it, sufficient protection against loose smut and common bunt will no longer be ensured. At the same time, no new approvals for comparable active substances are expected in the short to medium term. As a result, seed-borne diseases that have been effectively controlled for many years may regain importance.
Impact on the Entire Value Chain
The consequences affect the entire value chain. Diseases can lead to quality losses and potentially increased mycotoxin contamination. As a result, seed health and seed quality are gaining importance once again.
For seed production, additional requirements may arise in the future. Parameters that previously played only a minor role could become more important for seed certification.
Breeding itself also faces significant challenges. Breeders point out that infections with bunt diseases can lead to loss of selection quality and shortages of early-generation seed. Furthermore, new hygiene concepts will need to be developed.
Targeted breeding for resistant varieties is time-consuming, costly and takes many years. In addition, numerous other breeding goals—such as yield, baking quality, lodging resistance and leaf health—must still be met.
Alternative methods such as electron-beam seed treatment show good efficacy against pathogens on the seed surface, but reach their limits with seedling infections and soil-borne pathogens. Protection of the emerging seedling cannot be fully ensured. Therefore, certified, high-quality base seed will become even more important in the future.
Overall, it is clear that the discontinuation of fludioxonil represents not only a challenge for plant breeding, but for arable farming as a whole. Robust varieties, healthy seed and integrated strategies will become even more important to ensure stable and healthy crop stands.
Plant Breeding at the DLG Feldtage2026
Plant breeding remains a key future technology for agriculture and food security. It combines yield, quality, disease resistance, climate resilience and resource efficiency.
In light of climate change, stricter fertiliser regulations, increasing disease risks and the loss of important seed treatments, its importance continues to grow.
The DLG Feldtage 2026 will demonstrate how modern breeding is already providing answers to these challenges. This will be particularly evident in the many demonstration trials, where breeding companies present current developments in a practical and tangible way.
Visitors will gain direct insight into progress in modern plant breeding, while the event also provides ideal opportunities for technical exchange with breeders, advisors and traders.
Anyone interested in which varieties and breeding approaches will shape crop production in the future will find at the DLG Feldtage 2026 a unique platform combining practice, innovation and discussion.