Researchers from the John Innes Centre reported the successful increase in the production of a bacterial strain of Streptomyces formicae by 10 times using the genome editing technique CRISPR-Cas9. The findings can lead to further development in the research and production of antibiotics. Streptomyces formicae bacterial strain is found in nests of species of the African ant. The ants use the antibiotic-producing bacteria to protect themselves and their food source from pathogens. Half of the existing antibiotics today are derived from formicamycin's specialized metabolites.

Coffee is an important commodity in the international market. However, little attention is given to it and its breeding research in Nigeria. This has resulted to low production and foreign earning. The information on relationship between yield and yield- related characters is an excellent and significant tool for breeding. The experiment was conducted on Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria coffee germplasms.

In December 2019, Cyclone Pawan hit Ali Mahamud Rubaax’s village of Dharkeynley in Beletweyne, central Somalia. The storm’s rain caused the river levels to reach their maximum, breaking their banks and overflowing into the village and surrounding areas leaving most of the town under water. About 182 000 people from this district were displaced. Some drowned. Others had gone missing.

Mr. Phạm Thành Nhân, Dong Thap Muoi Research and Development Centre, leaving for IRRI, the Philippines, to join the three-month training course by IRRI from  November 13, 2019 to January 21, 2020

Mr. Li Jianqiang (Director), Ms. Feng Chunmei (Technical Director), Mr. Tan Yewei (Business Manager) - Subtropical  Crop Research Institute, QuangXi, China, paid a short visit how to cooperate with the IAS about crop production and consumption, November 12, 2019.

- Mr. Ngo Minh Dung submitted his preliminary Ph.D Thesis on "Stimulating the dragon fruit crop (Hylocereus undatus (Haw) Britt. And Rose) flowering by compact lamp treatments”, NCS. Ngô Minh Dũng, chuyên ngành: Khoa học Cây trồng.

The export turnover of agriculture obtained $US 41.25 billion (2.6% increased); including agro-products ($18.49 B), husbandry products ($0.32 B), aqua-products ($8.38 B) and processed wood & furniture products ($13.17 B). The trade surplus in term of agriculture got $USD 10.29 billion. The conversion of rice cultivated areas with low economic efficiency into other crops, fishery, orchards, etc. was recognized as 128,000 ha, including 99,000 ha and 29,000 ha in South and North, respectively.