Targeted mutagenesis could be a potential approach in date palm improvement, according to King Faisal University researchers and partners. A chapter in the book The Date Palm Genome tackles the potential use of mutagenesis techniques in date palm improvement. Date palm is an economically important crop in the oases agroecological zones. There are limited studies on the genetic improvement of this fruit tree to exhibit desirable characteristics.

Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht has said that a progressive approach is being promoted to enhance agricultural productivity which is vital for food security in the country. The provincial minister said this while addressing a seminar on development, poverty rate, and food security, organized by Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan on June 17, 2021.

The film possesses antifungal and antimicrobial properties that help in preserving the strawberries. It is made of chitosan, a type of sugar found in sea shells, blended with the vapor from the essential oils, and synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) which helps prevent molds and pathogens from reaching the fruit's surface. The scientists also exposed the film to radiation and found that it extends the strawberries' shelf life compared to the control group.

Purple tomato known as Yoom, which won as Fruit Logistica Innovation Award in Berlin in February 2020, will be distributed in China in packaging featuring well-loved Disney characters. Aside from Yoom, Nebula tomato, which has sweet and full of flavor, will also be packaged in with Disney characters. The Yoom tomato is unique because of its purplish to black color. It has a crisp, refreshing flavor with a great balance of sweet and tart and at the same time rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Under the famine prevention, humanitarian crises and food insecurity minutes of the official meeting communique, G7 ministers called for global enhancement of adaption efforts and committed to leveraging the power of national and multinational research institutions, such as CGIAR, who are working to generate knowledge and strengthening partnerships to accelerate the pace and scale of innovation needed for food systems transformation.

Opening the 8^th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, urged for new solutions and smarter ways to produce more food with less, and stressed that without a healthy environment, there are no healthy foods.

Biosafety laws must reflect and acknowledge technological innovations to maintain food quality and safety while permitting diversification in the production chain. This is one of the key points in the EMBRAPA publication on Regulatory Framework of Genome Editing in Brazil and Worldwide. Regulation of products derived from genome editing techniques has been a subject of discussions globally. One of the main focuses in the discussions is whether the products that used site-directed nucleases should be classified and regulated as GM products

A team of researchers from Kanazawa University, Ehime University, and Nagoya University, has shown how nicotinamide (NIM) could help reduce or prevent Fusarium head blight in wheat and boost plant immune system.NIM is a natural substance that can help stimulate the immune system in plants. It is found in food and used as a dietary supplement. The team pre-treated the spikes, which carry the grains of wheat plants with NIM and then inoculated the plant with conidia of Fusarium graminearum to induce head blight.

Researchers from North Carolina State University (NC State) continue to track the evolution of different strains of Phytophthora infestans, the plant pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s, which set down roots in the United States before attacking Europe. NC State plant pathologists studied the genomes of about 140 pathogen samples – historic and modern – from 37 countries on six continents to track the evolution of different strains of P. infestans, a major cause of late-blight disease on potato and tomato plants.

The synthetic gene drive technology is quickly becoming popular with the emergence of CRISPR-Cas9. Two experts from Australia broke down the details of this rapidly developing technology in the latest ISAAA webinar, and explained how it can be used for the benefit of agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and vector-borne disease control. The session entitled What is Gene Drive? was hosted by ISAAA on June 10, 2021 via Zoom.