Bio-tweaked potato to benefit 300,000 smallholder farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIN Uganda, stakeholders working on the new bioengineered late blight-resistant potato dubbed as the “3R Victoria” are confident of its wide adoption. The yet to be released potato could help 300,000 smallholder farmers in Uganda achieve higher yields at lower production costs and less exposure to chemicals. The stakeholders estimate 40-50% adoption rate for the […]
Long wait over for Kenya A new dawn rises for this East African nation’s cotton farmers as Bt cotton enters commercial farming
Reading Time: 2 minutesAFTER many years of waiting, Kenya has finally commenced commercial farming of Bt cotton heralding a new dawn for cotton farmers in the country. Recently, the country planted its first Bt cotton seed in an open field outside confinement during a historic launch held at Alupe University, western Kenya. The country now becomes the seventh […]
US promotes GMO education to consumers through ‘Feed Your Mind’ initiative
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE Feed Your Mind Initiative was cooperatively launched by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and US the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help consumers better understand food derived from genetic engineering, commonly known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs have been available since the early 1990s and are […]
Farmers upbeat about GM tapioca
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFARMERS from five districts in the West Nile region in North Western Uganda are upbeat about the prospect of growing genetically modified disease-resistant cassava following a recent training workshop organized by Uganda Biosciences Information Center (UBIC). “We have been misinformed and misled on the subject of GMOs by our political leaders and activists. I cannot […]
Video highlights Filipino farmers clamour for recognition of Bt brinjal
Reading Time: < 1 minuteSEARCA Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) releases The Bt Eggplant Story, a new video series that documents the development of Bt eggplant in the Philippines and highlights the clamour of farmers for the release of the genetically modified (GM) crop. Eggplant farming is a major source of farmer income but the current situation puts farmers, […]
Bountiful surprise
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, which surprised agricultural analysts. It was anticipated that yields for corn and soybeans would decrease, but USDA reported “a slightly higher production, reduced food, seed, and industrial use, larger feed and residual use, lower exports, and smaller ending stocks” for […]
China announces plan for biosafety certs
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced their plan to release biosafety certificates to domestically grown, genetically modified (GM) soybean and corn, as they move forward to commercializing GM grain production in the global market. The announcement was released after no objections were received by the Ministry during the 15-day period for soliciting […]
Board supports newly approved enriched rice
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE Golden Rice Humanitarian Board, through their Executive Secretary Dr Adrian Dubock, has expressed support to regulators in the Philippines and lauded them for their approval of GR2E Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed, or for processing (FFP) on December 18, 2019. Dubock expressed their support through a statement released to ISAAA […]
South Australia lifts ban on GM crops
Reading Time: 2 minutesMINISTER for Prime Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone released his statement at the start of 2020, saying that farmers in South Australia (SA) can now opt to grow genetically modified (GM) crops, following the State Parliament’s move to lift SA’s moratorium that banned GM crops in the region since 2004. Talks of lifting the […]
South Australia a step closer to lifting GM ban
Reading Time: 2 minutesTHE State Government of South Australia (SA) has introduced a legislation to finally lift the GM crop ban in mainland SA. The ban was supposed to take effect on December 1 but was met with challenges last week causing the delay. Parliament will be working on the Bill this week to make sure that SA […]