Scientists from China used gene editing on bread wheat to boost grain length and weight. They also identified the molecular mechanisms that affect grain development. Bread wheat is a staple food crop that is consumed by 40% of the global population. Since there is an increase in food demand and a decrease in farmlands, it is crucial to breed for higher wheat yield.

Researchers from the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science reported improved chilling tolerance in rice by overexpression of the OsRBCS3 gene. Their findings are published in the Plant Signaling & Behavior journal. Chilling stress is an essential environmental factor impacting rice production. The booting stage is the most sensitive stage in rice growth to chilling stress.

Researchers from China utilized CRISPR-Cas9 on rice to boost yield while under salinity stress. Their findings may help breed salt-tolerant crops in the future. Crops quickly grow when subjected to optimal conditions. However, environmental stresses, like salt stress, limit the grain yield and crop architecture of rice. Breeding crop varieties that are salt-tolerant is necessary for better agricultural productivity.

A research team from the College of Medicine at Korea University successfully altered the mitochondrial DNA of mice, which converts adenine (A) to guanine (G). This breakthrough is the first in history, and the paper was published in Cell. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool is commonly used for repairing DNA. However, its limitations stem from the inability of the guide RNA (gRNA) to be transported into the mitochondria.

Researchers from South Africa reviewed the usage of nanotechnology and proteomic tools in boosting crop growth and development. Their role in the genetic engineering of crops to achieve agricultural sustainability was also examined. Nanoparticles have distinct physical and chemical properties that allow them to have many applications in different fields. However, it has limited usage in agriculture due to safety concerns. Because of this, the potential of nanoparticles is not heavily explored.

ISAAA Inc., in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Diliman Institute of Biology, will hold the hybrid event titled Pinoy Biotek Seminar: PCR Based Detection Kit for Salmonella on Meat on March 12, 2024, at 9:00 AM (GMT+8) at IB Auditorium, UP Diliman. The registration is now open. The event is part of a series of seminars that aim to increase awareness and appreciation of Pinoy biotechnologies and products by the general public, especially in the Philippines.

The US farm output has nearly tripled from the 1948 level in 2021, with an average annual increase of 1.46. The increased productivity is widely agreed to be the top contributor to the economic growth of US agriculture. These data are presented in the Summary of Recent Findings released by the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (ERS) regarding agricultural productivity in the US.

The cumulative impact of CGIAR-related crop technologies reached US$1,334 billion from 1961 to 2020, according to a new peer-reviewed report. Virtually all households in target countries have benefitted from productivity improvements which have increased access to food, and in turn led to decreases in undernutrition and child stunting, says the report.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is introducing basic water measurement instruments to an irrigation project in Western Nepal to improve agricultural productivity. This instrumentation, introduced in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation (DWRI), provides real-time data on water availability and usage, assisting irrigation managers in irrigation scheduling, to allocate water according to crop type and stage of plant growth.

The challenges of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the perils of the climate crisis and the complexities of leveraging finance were among the topics discussed at a gathering today of ministers from many of the Asia-Pacific Region’s countries most vulnerable to global economic and climate shocks.