Novel analytical tools developed by SMART key to next-generation agriculture
Reading Time: 4 minutesSINGAPORE: Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL), highlight the potential of recently developed analytical tools that are rapid and non-destructive, with a proof of concept through first-generation examples. The […]
Punjab Seed Council approves two new Bt cotton varieties
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Punjab Seed Council Friday approved two new Bt cotton varieties bringing a sizeable increase in production and enhancing yield potential up to 50 maunds, agriculture officials said. The varieties have high fiber properties as well as resistance to viruses and high productivity. Dr. Zahid Mahmood, Director, The Central Cotton Research Institute Director Dr. Zahid Mehmood said the approved varieties have […]
Dr Margaret Karembu conferred Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) by Kenyan President
Reading Time: 2 minutesDR MARGARET KAREMBU has been conferred a Presidential award in recognition of her tireless effort over the last two decades to improve science communication and appreciation of modern biotechnology tools for national development. In nominating Karembu for consideration of the award, Kenya’s National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI) cited her strong will to withstand aggressive activism against agricultural innovations […]
International research team identifies bacterium that protects rice plants from diseases
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAN INTERNATIONAL research group including researchers from the Institute for Environmental Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology have shown how a bacterium inside the seeds of rice plants effectively and environmentally friendly inhibits destructive plant pathogens. The research group has been investigating the microbiome of rice plant seeds for some time in order to establish correlations between plant […]
Chinese scientists discover rice gene for adaptation to low soil nitrogen
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSCIENTISTS from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have found a gene that plays an important role in helping rice adapt to low soil nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizer has an indispensable role in increasing crop yields, but on the other hand, it creates a severe threat to ecosystems. For […]
GM tomato enriched with L-DOPA offers affordable medicine for Parkinson’s Disease
Reading Time: < 1 minuteL-DOPA is produced from tyrosine, an amino acid found in many food products. The research team inserted a gene encoding a tyrosinase, an enzyme that uses tyrosine to build molecules such as L-DOPA. This elevated the level of L-DOPA specifically in the fruit part of the plant and led to higher yields than those associated with L-DOPA […]
Chinese scientists develop rice variety using ion beam technology
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE rice variety is called Zhongkejing No. 5. “Zhongke” means the Chinese Academy of Science in Chinese, and it was developed for the advantageous production areas of glutinous rice in Anhui province. Zhongke No. 5 is early maturity, has strong resistance and high nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency. It has passed the regional appraisal test in Anhui […]
SMART researchers design portable device for fast detection of plant stress
Reading Time: 2 minutesSingapore, 8 December 2020 – Researchers from the Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) of Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) has designed a portable optical sensor that can monitor whether a plant is under stress. The […]
Third Asian Agribiotechnology Short Course hosted on virtual mode
Reading Time: 3 minutesFOR the third time the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA) and the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) successfully convened the annual Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulation and Communication (ASCA). While the pandemic forced the short course to adopt an online setting, it did not dampen the spirit of the […]
Africa leads in Biotech Crop Adoption with doubled number of planting countries in 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutesKENYA: Africa leads the progress among the regions of the world in adopting biotech crops by doubling the number of adopting countries in 2019. This is according to the latest report of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2019 (ISAAA Brief 55) launched via […]