As autumn arrived, twelve ambitious seed professionals stepped onto the UC Davis campus for the inaugural Seed Business 201: Vegetables course.

The UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy Class IX concluded their two year program with a ceremony and reception in Davis, California on September 12, 2025. The graduation event celebrated the 19 PBA graduates from 8 different countries.

Seed World Group's Marcel Bruins discusses how "effective communication serves as the bridge between scientific innovation and public understanding" after his visit with EPBA Class VIII earlier this year. 

Read the Seed World article here >>

The 2025 winner of the Plant Breeding Academy’s Outstanding Student Award is Sujit Tha, Head of Plant Breeding at CN Seeds Ltd in the United Kingdom. This prestigious PBA award was presented to Sujit by PBA Director, Jovan Djordjevic, at the ASTA (American Seed Trade Association) Leadership Summit in Washington DC on June 9. Jovan added: “At the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy, we try to equip breeders not just with tools, but with clarity and confidence.

The California Seed Association hosted its annual Spring Student Tour on April 7-8 in the Salinas area, visiting several companies with some 40 California State University and UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students, who were introduced to the technologies and jobs associated with producing seed globally.

On the 8th, the tour was hosted at noon by Hartnell College and Seed Central, and joined by 60 students from Hartnell and local high schools for lunch, industry panelists’ testimonials, and a networking career fair.

Dr. Allen Van Deynze, SBC Director, says the SBC's mission—to innovate, foster partnerships, and offer continuous professional development for seed industry professionals—aligns with the California Department of Agriculture's strategic plan.

Read the article here >>

Watch the video interview between Jovan Djordjevic and Marcel Bruins as they discuss the European Plant Breeding Academy and why you should attend Class VIII (View on seedworld.com here >>)

Differential seed and type isolates for pepper Tobamoviruses and tomato bacterial speck are available via CPPSI and the USDA-GRIN for your breeding support needs. Check out the white papers and how to access material here:  https://cppsi.ucdavis.edu/white-papers

Watch the video interview between Jovan Djordjevic and Marcel Bruins as they discuss the European Plant Breeding Academy and why you should attend Class VIII (View on seedworld.com here >>)

The 2024 winner of the Plant Breeding Academy’s Outstanding Student Award is Mark van Gerven, Breeding Manager Allium at Bejo Zaden B.V. in the Netherlands. This prestigious PBA award was presented to Mark by PBA Director, Jovan Djordjevic, at the Euroseeds Congress in Copenhagen on October 15, 2024. Jovan added: "Mark is a current onion breeder, and we are glad that UCD PBA could enhance his expertise.