For centuries, this tiny striped helper has labored the world’s fields without winning much recognition for its many contributions to food production. Wild bees, in particular, seemed doomed to slog in the shadow of their more popular cousin – the honeybee – whose day job of producing golden nectar has been far more visible and celebrated.

A new study of evolution in a group of wild tomatoes has shed light on the importance of genetic variation in plants. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and Indiana University, used genome-wide sequencing to reveal details about the evolutionary mechanisms that drove genetic divergence in 13 species of wild tomatoes sharing a recent common ancestor.

FAO 15 February 2016, Rome - Much more must be done to ensure that family farmers, especially those in developing countries, have access to agricultural biotechnologies that can make their activities more productive and sustainable in the face of major challenges such as climate change and population growth, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today.

A transdisciplinary group of scientists from institutions in the Philippines, Colombia, Indonesia, USA, Australia, and Japan has successfully developed rice with increased levels of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) through biofortification. The study found that the genetically engineered rice has significantly increased levels of Fe (up to 15 micrograms) and Zn (up to 45.7 micrograms)

FAO 17 February 2016, Rome - FAO is committed to bring the debate on agricultural biotechnologies to regions and family farmers from around the world to improve knowledge, build trust and achieve some level of consensus, the UN agency's Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today..

A team of scientists at The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) and Wageningen University has uncovered one of the mechanisms of tomato plants' defense against disease-causing pathogens. Plants are under constant attack by pathogens such as bacteria and fungi. To prevent infections, plants have an innate immune system, which detects pathogens and initiates defense.

Pakistan's Punjab Seed Council has approved a new citrus variety on February 1, 2016. The approval was given during the Council's 45^th meeting at Agriculture House, Lahore. This new variety is called RE-2016, and and its production could help promote citrus exports citrus to Russia, Great Britain, United States, Germany, and other European countries. It has 45 percent more juice than other ordinary varieties and can be preserved for a longer period of time. An ordinary citrus variety has 20-28 seeds, while 95 percent of fruits of this seedless variety has just one seed in it.

George Hess was born in Vienna, Austria, where he lived in an apartment on the Ringstrasse with his parents, Heinrich and Edith Mueller Hess, and maternal grandparents. Other relatives and members of his grandfather’s architectural studio (which was in the same building) would join the family for lunch each day. On weekends, George walked with his grandfather, Sigmund Mueller, and attended concerts and the opera, and in the summer the family spent time in the Austrian Lake District, Salzkammergut.

The Naam Foundation of the renowned Bollywood actor Nana Patekar and Marthi News Channel ABP Majha has awarded Dr. Charu Mayee with Majha Sheti Sanman Puraskar for his untiring work in delivering innovation in Indian agriculture. The award was presented to Dr. Mayee by Nana Patekar and fellow actor Makrand Anaspure, together with the 'water man' of India Mr. Rajendra Singh at an event organized by ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel.

Dmitri A. Nusinow and researchers in his laboratory at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center studying plant circadian clock have discovered a gene that allows plants to remember daylight during winter's long nights. The gene, PCH1, helps plants tailor their growth according to the seasons. It accumulates at dusk and stabilizes light signals in the early hours of the night to keep the plant from growing too much during extended dark periods.