Søren Halbye
Søren Halbye

Roskilde, Denmark (October 10, 2024) – DLF Seeds A/S Group CEO Søren Halbye has been appointed as the new president of Euroseeds, an organization representing the European seed sector. As the voice of the seed industry, Euroseeds represents over 30 national associations and thousands of seed businesses.

This appointment comes at a critical time for the seeds and wider agricultural industry, as it faces complex challenges and opportunities that will shape its future for decades to come. In his acceptance speech, Halbye expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by Euroseeds and its members. 

“It is a true honor to lead this organization at a time when the agricultural landscape is shifting dramatically," he stated. "The role we play in advocating for the European seed sector has never been more important.”

Halbye emphasized that this is a pivotal period for the sector, necessitating unified action to address challenges such as climate change, political and regulatory hurdles, and the need for sustainable agricultural practices.

Euroseeds will continue to engage proactively with European decision-makers to advocate for regulations that facilitate innovation and assist the industry in adapting to the changing environment. Key issues such as New Genetic Techniques (NGT) and the regulation of Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) will be priorities during his tenure.

Halbye is committed to fostering an inclusive dialogue, uniting diverse interests, and leveraging collective knowledge to champion issues that matter most. He outlined a proactive approach, with one of the first initiatives being to bring the findings of previous advocacy workshops and membership engagement into action, focusing on defining the strategic priorities for the association.

As DLF Seeds supports Halbye in this new role, it says, "We are confident that his leadership will enhance the sector’s level of collaboration and innovation."

Søren Halbye appointed as new Euroseeds President

Brussels, Belgium (October 21, 2024) - Euroseeds announced the appointment of Søren Halbye as its new President. Halbye brings a wealth of expertise and leadership that will support Euroseeds’ mission to promote a sustainable, innovative, and resilient European seed sector.

Born in Northern Denmark in 1969, Halbye holds two master’s degrees in Business Administration. His career began in the medical devices sector with Beiersdorf, where he served for six years, followed by four years at Novozymes in business development. In 2006, Halbye joined DLF Seeds A/S as Chief Commercial Officer, progressing to his current role as Group CEO in November 2022.

A seasoned advocate for the seed industry, Halbye has been active in numerous leadership positions within Euroseeds and beyond. Since 2012, he has been a member of the International Seed Federation’s (ISF) Forage and Turf Section, and since 2010, he has served as Chairman of the Danish Seed Traders Association. His deep involvement with Euroseeds includes chairing the Section for Forage Plants and Amenity Grasses since 2017 and his role as Vice-President since 2021.

His appointment comes at a crucial time for the plant breeding and seed sector, as they face pivotal challenges, such as climate change and the transition to sustainable practices, and opportunities, such as New Genetic Techniques (NGT) and Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) regulation, key for unlocking the development of seed innovations within the EU.

"Euroseeds is confident that Halbye’s extensive experience and strategic approach will drive forward its objectives and strengthen the seed sectors’ contributions to European agriculture," Euroseeds says. "We extend our sincere gratitude to Michael Gohn, Euroseeds’ outgoing President, for his efforts and dedication over the past four years, during which the organization has gained increased attention from policymakers on seed-related issues."