Study Shows Filipino Biotech and Organic Farmers Open to Co-Existence
Reading Time: < 1 minuteA RECENT STUDY was conducted to understand farmers’ perspectives regarding co-existing biotech and organic methods in the Philippines. The results can help policymakers develop a national agriculture agenda that takes farmers’ choice of crop and farming methods into account. Thirty-five biotech farmers and 35 organic farmers from the Philippines were interviewed to explore how farmers view the concept […]
Capacity Building for COPMOPs Continues for Asian Countries
Reading Time: 2 minutesMORE participants were welcomed by ISAAA in its last webinar about the upcoming Conference of the Parties-Meeting of Parties (COPMOP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). ISAAA and its co-organizers held the webinar to accommodate more participants who are interested in making their views and opinions heard as a means of taking part in the COPMOP […]
First S’pore International Agri-Food Week kicks in, spearheads sustainable food production in Asia
Reading Time: 3 minutesAS the world looks beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a renewed focus on innovative solutions to bolster food security and strengthen supply chains, so that economies can rebuild and emerge stronger. The pandemic saw the broken supply chain in the food sector right from the farmers to the consumers. Temasek, a Singapore-based global investment […]
FAO Launches Global Initiative on One Country One Priority Product
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the launch of its initiative titled Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products: One Country One Priority Product (OCOP). The initiative targets the development of green and sustainable value chains for special agricultural products, support small and family farmers who will benefit immensely from […]
Our World in Data Says Only ~10% of Global Food Crops Depend on Pollinators
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSEVERAL reports say that about 75% of the world’s crops are dependent on pollinators. A study published by Our World Data suggests that only about 10% of the global food supply is affected by disappearing insect pollinators. According to Our World Data, the previously reported figure stating that 75% of our crops depend on pollinators […]
Semi-dwarf Rice Developed Using CRISPR-Cas9
Reading Time: < 1 minuteBOGOR AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to develop semi-dwarf rice plants. Plant height posture is an important factor in rice production. When the rice plant has elevated height, it is prone to lodging, which can affect yield. The researchers targeted editing the GA20Ox2 gene by introducing CRISPR-Cas9 GA20Ox2 construct into Indonesian rice cultivar IPB3S to develop the semi-dwarf rice mutants. The […]
Filipino Policymakers, Lawyers Tackle Genome Editing
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE opening of the Biotech Outreach Program for the Philippines kicked off with two webinars specifically intended for policymakers and the judicial branch of the Philippine government. The objective was for the participants to learn and share knowledge about the acceptance of biotechnology in the country, specifically genome-edited crops, for the improvement of the agricultural […]
Experts propose measures to achieve full potential of agricultural biotechnology in Africa
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAFRICA’S crop production remains low and this is a threat to their food security. In response, a group of researchers presented a review that details their recommendations for Africa to maximize the benefits of biotechnological innovations in terms of agricultural productivity, medical advancement, and environmental and biological benefits. Their objective was to show the dynamics of the […]
Nitrogen Use Efficient Rice Getting Closer to Farmers’ Fields in Nigeria
Reading Time: < 1 minuteNIGERIAN scientists and partners met in Abuja to commence compiling a dossier for the national performance trial on genetically engineered (GE) rice called nitrogen-efficient, water-efficient, salt-tolerant (NEWEST) rice. The final dossier will be submitted to the National Biosafety Management Agency, which is tasked to regulate GE crops in the country. Rice is one of the major staple crops in […]
FAO Director-General tells G20: to have healthy food, we need healthy environment
Reading Time: 3 minutesTHE Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today called on G20 Environment Ministers to step up joint efforts, increase investment and work more closely with FAO for game-changing impacts on the planet. Qu made the call at the G20 Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, which discussed solutions […]