Herbicide resistance has been blamed to glyphosate use in genetically engineered crops. However, the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) reports that herbicide resistance predates genetically engineered crops by 40 years. According to a WSSA press release, while 2016 marks only the 20^th anniversary of glyphosate resistant crops, 2017 will mark the 60^th anniversary of the first reported herbicide resistant weeds.

A team of researchers from the Noble Foundation, University of Minnesota, and the National Center for Genome Resources reports new developments in sequencing the alfalfa genome on July 13 at the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

Agriculture is known to be the most influential driver of global deforestation, but positive interactions between agriculture and forestry are achievable and necessary to build sustainable agricultural systems and enhance food security. This is the main point of the publication titled The State of World Forests (SOFO), released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The report was launched during the 23^rd Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO).

The Society of Non-research Professionals (SINoP) at the international Rice Research Institute (IRRI) held two succeeding activities within a week to help respond to the needs of a community on the slopes of Mt. Makiling and provide its members with financial literacy training. Mt. Makiling is a dormant volcano near IRRI's headquarters in Laguna province on Luzon island in the Philippines.

 

In light of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Animal Health (DAH) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) was honoured with the “the Memorial Medal for the development Cause of Viet Nam Agriculture and Rural Development” for supporting the prevention and control of the Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) since 2006 in Viet Nam.

Millions of people facing hunger in South Sudan will be driven to the brink of catastrophe if renewed flashes of violence derail the fragile peace process, FAO said today. The Organization called for calm and stability, warning that if peace does not hold, the human costs of recent fighting in Juba will be compounded by deepening hunger across the entire country.
 

Scientists have recently developed the gene-editing tool, CRIPSR/Cas9, which allows them to add, remove or replace specific parts of DNA. However, scientists have not yet used it to activate genes. A team, headed by Toru Kondo from Hokkaido University has developed a new technique that allows them to activate genes.

Countries across West and Central Africa are on alert as the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1continues to spread across the region, with Cameroon becoming the latest African country to detect the disease.  The strain can infect and cause death in humans and kills poultry at a high rate.

An online survey of 1,665 consumers showed that Vermont's mandatory labeling of GM food products strongly misleads consumers. The survey asked the respondents about the Vermont law, Act 120 which requires on-pack labeling of food products with "partially produced with genetic engineering,"

The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) released the short briefing paper titled Genetically Modified (GM) Soya in South Africa: Status Quo Report. The report provides an update on the status of GM soya in South Africa including its presence in food products, its relationship with glyphosate use, and the current research standing in the country.