Supported by Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) and IDH, the book on Cotton Pink Bollworm Management Strategy produced by the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) and Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI) is now available in Gujarati. The book is authored by Dr. CD Mayee and Bhagirath Choudhary of SABC as a part of campaign War on Pink Bollworm implemented jointly by SABC, ISCI, and Agrovision Foundation.

HarvXtra^® Alfalfa, the forage industry's first genetically enhanced, reduced-lignin alfalfa trait, developed to maximize quality by reducing the amount of lignin in the plant, has been deregulated by authorities in Argentina, making it the third country to deregulate the product following the United States and Canada.

A study by researchers from Africa identified four varieties of high-protein maize, which are resistant to, or tolerant of semi-parasitic weed, Striga. Maize is a widely accepted staple food in many countries. However, farmers growing maize face many challenges such as drought, diseases, and pests. In sub-Saharan Africa, 20 to 80% maize yields may be lost because of Striga.

The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) received a US$24.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the commercialization of insect resistant and drought tolerant maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. This complements USAID's ongoing $5 million commitment to the project. The new maize hybrids (branded as TELA® maize) have been enhanced through biotechnology to improve their drought tolerance and ability to resist attacks by insects.

FAO is further developing a monitoring, early-warning and risk-mapping system to help farmers manage an invasive species in Africa, and roll out solar energy projects for farmers in Gaza,  as part of innovative projects awarded funding by the Government of Belgium. Thanks to an initiative sponsored by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo in line with the Belgium Humanitarian Aid Strategy

Use of digital technology for creating hyperlocal solutions and value-added services for agriculture is no longer just a blip on the radar of startups. It is an area that is fast gaining traction with tech companies, digital entrepreneurs and startups investing money and lining up some of their brightest minds toward expanding their footprints.

Scientists are calling for use of biotechnology to curb the plastic pollution menace. The call was made during an Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) session held in Kenya as part of the celebrations to mark the World Environment Day on June 5, 2018, with the theme Beat Plastic Pollution. Dr. Romano Mwirichia, a Kenyan university researcher in Microbiology said there is promising research indicating living microorganisms can be genetically engineered to help degrade plastics.

Researchers from ETH Zurich led by Navreet Bhullar from the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology have genetically modified (GM) one of the most commonly grown varieties of rice. The ETH researchers developed rice lines with iron increases equaling more than 90% of the recommended iron content and up to 170% of the recommended content for zinc in rice grains.

Plants integrate seasonal signals such as temperature and day length and use the information to optimize the timing for key lifecycle stages. These transitions include flowering, seed dispersal, and seed dormancy -- a timely tactic used by "mother" plants to ensure seed germination happens in optimal conditions when seedling survival rate is high.

Marketing experts Sean Hingston and Theodore Noseworthy from York University answered why consumers don't appreciate the benefits of GM foods and suggested some marketing strategies for GM foods based on field studies. Their article is published in the Journal of Marketing.