In a paper published in the journal Device, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report that new, highly stretchable polymer sensors can monitor and transmit plant growth information without human intervention. The study provides details of earlier research that investigated how wearable printed electronics can make farming possible in space.

The circular bioeconomy can contribute to building sustainable and resilient city-region food systems, stimulate economic growth and protect the environment. Despite attracting significant interest, the development of the circular bioeconomy faces barriers such as inflexible regulations, potential risks, and logistical challenges.

In partnership with the Fisheries Administration (FiA) and GIZ, WorldFish recently conducted an exposure visit focusing on best practices for the management of rice field fisheries (RFF) in Kampong Thom province. The visit was attended by representatives from the Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) committee in the Mekong Delta and the upper Mekong provinces. The primary objective of the visit was to explore and learn about the management and conservation of fisheries resources through CFRs.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) raises alarm over rapidly deteriorating hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, where famine is projected to occur anytime between now and May 2024 in the northern governorates, according to a new report published today by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) global initiative. The rest of the Gaza Strip is also at the risk of future famine in the worst case scenario if the hostilities do not cease and humanitarian assistance at scale does not reach those most in need.

A study published in Plant Biotechnology Journal shows that the knockout of GRAIN WIDTH2 (TaGW2) improved the leaf rust resistance of wheat without compromising its yield. The findings provide significant insights into the development of effective strategies to combat leaf rust in wheat. Wheat leaf rust is a major fungal disease caused by Puccinia triticina Eriksson (Pt). According to reports, it causes 30% to 50% yield losses in wheat production

Researchers from Universidad Miguel Hernández in Spain released a review article highlighting recent developments in improving tomatoes through gene editing. The review, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, presented three studies on using TALENs for tomato gene editing, particularly in gibberellin signaling, anthocyanin production, and potyvirus resistance.

Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) are further improving CRISPR's versatility and ease of use with a newly developed tool called CRISPR-COPIES, or COmputational Pipeline for the Identification of CRISPR-Cas-facilitated intEgration Sites. CRISPR-COPIES can identify genome-wide neutral integration sites for most bacterial and fungal genomes within two to three minutes.

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator announced the notification of application for the conduct of field trials of genetically engineered wheat with enhanced tolerance to environmental stress. The application was submitted by Trigall Australia Pty Ltd. The application indicated a proposed trial spanning for 5 years in 10 sites, a maximum of 20 hectares per year.

For decades, researchers worldwide have been harnessing the natural gene-silencing technique called RNA interference (RNAi) for crop improvement. One of the earliest applications of RNAi was the development of the delayed-softening trait in tomatoes reported in 1992. RNAi works like a dimmer switch for genes to lessen their expression instead of entirely removing them. This method offers many benefits compared to other gene editing tools.

Researchers, government employees, and students participated in the Pinoy Biotek Seminar: PCR-based detection kit for Salmonella in Meat organized by ISAAA Inc. in partnership with the UP Diliman Institute of Biology. The hybrid event, held on March 12, 2024, was part of ISAAA's Pinoy Biotek project supported by the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotech Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA Biotech).