Edible cholera vaccine made from genetically modified rice may be on the way
Reading Time: 3 minutesA NEW vaccine to protect against deadly cholera has been made by grinding up genetically modified grains of rice. The first human trial has shown no obvious side effects and a good immune response. Researchers based at the University of Tokyo and Chiba University have published the peer-reviewed results of the Phase 1 clinical trial […]
What Are We Consuming? The Science Behind the Food We Eat
Reading Time: 7 minutesAgilent Technologies invites three specialists from different spheres within the global food industry to discuss the measures of safety, quality, and innovation that sustain and improve our food chain. The safety and quality of the food we consume is central to good health, a cleaner environment, and a flourishing economy. While we may not always […]
New Pakistani mangoes tailored for diabetics
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY MUHAMMAD LUQMAN A HORTICULTURE farm in Southern Pakistan province of Sindh has claimed to have developed three new varieties of mango that can be taken by diabetics due to surprisingly low content of sugar. “We have made modifications in the existing mango varieties that has sugar content as low as4.6 percent,” says Ghulam Sarwar […]
Award-winning Purple Tomato to be Released in China in Disney Packaging
Reading Time: < 1 minutePURPLE tomato known as Yoom, which won as Fruit Logistica Innovation Award in Berlin in February 2020, will be distributed in China in packaging featuring well-loved Disney characters. Aside from Yoom, Nebula tomato, which has sweet and full of flavor, will also be packaged in with Disney characters. The Yoom tomato is unique because of […]
Researchers Report Resequenced Vietnamese Rice Genome
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAN international team of researchers from Earlham Institute, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), genebanks, and rice breeders from Vietnam has generated new genomic data from the local rice varieties of Vietnam that could be a source of novel genes to help breed crops with higher resistance to climate change. The researchers have analyzed 672 Vietnamese rice genomes, 612 of which […]
Kenya National Biosafety Authority Approves Genetically Modified Cassava
Reading Time: < 1 minuteON June 22, 2021, the Kenya National Biosafety Authority (NBA) approved the environmental release of genetically modified (GM) cassava event 4046, resistant to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). The NBA Board approved the application as stated in the decision document dated June 16, 2021, following the necessary […]
Over 2,000 Nigerian Farmers Reaping the Benefits of Biotechnology
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIN 2019, six African countries have adopted biotech crops to battle challenges in crop production. One of the biotech crop adopters from the continent is Nigeria, with over 2,000 farmers growing genetically engineered cowpea in 2021. “The crop, which was developed by Nigerian scientists, has been genetically modified (GM) to resist the destructive pod-borer insect pest. As a […]
Role of women highlighted in study focused on the benefits of good farmer seed production
Reading Time: 2 minutesA NEW STUDY looking at the benefits of good farmer seed production suggests women need more support to participate in contract farming – to the same extent as their male counterparts – and have more equality along the whole food value chain. The CABI-led research – which sought to assess the benefits of good farmer […]
Bt Eggplant Scientist Hailed As One of Asia’s Top 100 Scientists
Reading Time: < 1 minuteDR DESIREE M. HAUTEA of the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) was recognized this year by the Asian Scientist Magazine for her contributions in the research and development towards adoption of the Bt eggplant in the Philippines. Hautea is the project leader of the Bt Eggplant Project, an initiative […]
Experts Raise Alarm Over Stalled Global Adoption of Biotech for Food Security
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE global adoption of biotechnologies to improve crop production has stalled, according to an international team of researchers from Australia, Canada, and India. The group composed of economists, plant breeders, and plant scientists are concerned and are now calling on governments worldwide to put in place policies and regulations that will drive progress in this area. In an opinion article ‘Gaining […]