Invitation to the 3rd Asian Short Course on Agri-biotech, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE potential of agri-biotechnology to contribute to sustainable agriculture depends on R&D as well as on the integration of other factors such as effective communication, science-based national regulatory frameworks, and adequate understanding of international legal instruments. To foster strong collaboration and enrich knowledge among key players in the agri-biotech and biosafety arena, ISAAA launches the 3rd installment […]
UN report pinpoints potential hotspots of famine
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE world has been placed on high famine alert, based on the latest report of two United Nations agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The report highlights that found countries have areas that could soon face famine if conditions continue to worsen in the […]
GM crops to boost food and nutrition security in Ghana
Reading Time: < 1 minuteGHANA continues to be open for import of GM crops, with no restrictions to feed and feed products from other regions. This is according to the agricultural biotechnology report for Ghana released by the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service-Global Agricultural Information Network. According to the report, the Government of Ghana recognizes the potential of biotechnology as […]
South Australia rejects 11 proposals to ban GM crops, says GM moratorium’s price premiums a Myth
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFARMERS across mainland South Australia can now plant genetically modified (GM) food crops in time for the 2021 grain season with no councils approved to operate as GM-free areas. In May 2020, The GM moratorium was lifted for mainland South Australia but councils had a one-off six-month ability to apply to be designated a GM crop cultivation-free area, which 11 […]
Heat tolerance gene in corals found using gene editing
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAN international team of experts used CRISPR-Cas9 to elucidate the heat tolerance of a coral in the Great Barrier Reef. Their findings provide insights into the management and conservation of corals in the face of climate change. Their study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The team developed an enhanced CRISPR-Cas9 system to […]
Researchers find “hidden gene” in COVID-19 virus
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRESEARCHERS discovered that a new hidden gene in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 may have contributed to its unique biology and pandemic potential. SARS-CoV-2 only has about 15 genes, and knowing more about this and other overlapping genes–or “genes within genes” could have a significant impact on fighting the virus, scientists say. The new gene is described in the journal eLife. […]