FAO director-general stresses the crucial role of biodiversity in combating zoonotic diseases
Reading Time: 3 minutesROME: Emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental, animal and human health, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu reiterated FAO’s commitment to continue supporting the mainstreaming of biodiversity across agriculture and food sectors also by the Hand in Hand Initiative. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the close links between human, animal and environmental health, in a context of increased […]
New study: Without right messaging, masks could lead to more COVID-19 spread
Reading Time: 2 minutesA NOVEL new study suggests that the behaviour public officials are now mandating or recommending unequivocally to slow the spread of surging COVID-19–wearing a face covering–should come with a caveat. If not accompanied by proper public education, the practice could lead to more infections. The finding is part of a unique study, just published in JMIR […]
Herbee a new e-commerce platform to broaden the herbal industry
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY SAARANI VENGADESEN THE Human Life Advancement Foundation (HLAF) and Dropee jointly initiated Herbee, a new e-commerce platform which provides a digital marketplace for local brands of herbal and natural-based products that are established in Malaysia. Herbee is a user- friendly platform that empowers local brands to digitally promote, monitor their products and stay connected with their […]
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 […]
Europe’s Position on COVID-19 Vaccines Inconsistent with its GMO Stance
Reading Time: < 1 minuteEUROPEAN politicians lauded the breakthroughs in the COVID-19 vaccine, including mRNA vaccines which are developed using genetic engineering. This stance is considered as inconsistent with its position on genetic modification and gene editing which have been prevented to be adopted by farmers in the region except in Spain and Portugal. This is according to Graham Brookes, an agricultural economist with […]
Trust the Shot
Reading Time: 3 minutesWITH the rapid development and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine, the anxious wait is over. But with anti-vaccine ideologies growing, governments are facing the next obstacle – getting the global population immunised. As the only science media outlet in Malaysia, The Petri Dish team is launching an awareness campaign on vaccinations. Vaccines are our only […]
Talk about Covid-19 vaccine responsibly, say global experts
Reading Time: 3 minutesA TEAM of renowned scientific experts has joined forces from across the world to help fight the spread of misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines, which hold the key to beating the deadly pandemic and releasing countries from debilitating lockdown restrictions. Together they have created a unique online guide, published today and led by the University […]
Expert: Traditional model for disease spread may not work in Covid-19
Reading Time: 2 minutesA MATHEMATICAL model that can help project the contagiousness and spread of infectious diseases like the seasonal flu may not be the best way to predict the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus, especially during lockdowns that alter the normal mix of the population, researchers report. Called the R-naught, or basic reproductive number, the model […]
FAO launches the UN’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021
Reading Time: < 1 minuteROME: The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today launched the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 (IYFV) with an appeal to improve healthy and sustainable food production through innovation and technology and to reduce food loss and waste. Proclaimed at the 74th session the UN General Assembly, IYFV 2021 […]