FAO 19 November 2015, Rome - An updated version of the online tree assessment tool known as GlobAllomeTree will now allow countries to get a clearer picture of the biomass, carbon content and ecosystem services of trees and forests than previously possible.
 

In spite of the rapid adoption of GM crops, their use remains contentious. Public opposition and overregulation have become real threats to further developments in modern plant sciences. It is widely believed that GM crops are bad for human health, damage the environment, and hurt smallholder farmers in developing countries, but research shows that the opposite is true.

When the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designates an issue to be the focus of an international year, this is usually a tacit admission that people around the world tend to take the issue for granted, even though they shouldn’t.

A technology developed for plant research by The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL)  scientist Dr. Matt Moscou has helped cure a one-year-old girl of leukemia. Dr. Moscou's research, which centers on how some plants are susceptible to diseases while others are not, has developed a new genome editing technique. The technology was used to precisely edit the genes in bone marrow tissue that was removed from the patient, so that it can be reintroduced back into the patient and promote the establishment of a second bone marrow transplant.

Vergara was given the title National Scientist in 2001 due to his significant contribution on rice research. In an Instagram post by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Vergara is said to have brought "rice science and technology closer to the popular consciousness."

The book "Extreme Misunderstanding of GM Crops", the first science based publication on GM crops was recently released in Japanese by Mr. Masami Kojima. Mr. Kojima was an active anti-GM newspaper reporter of The Mainichi, one of the three most popular newspapers in Japan.

AgBiotech Vietnam (BIC Vietnam) in collaboration with the Central Farmers Union of Vietnam and Farmers Union of Quang Ninh province organized the seminar on biotech crops last November 5, 2015. The objective of the seminar is to provide information on biotech crops to sensitize farmers at the grassroots and to provide scientific basis in choosing crop varieties suitable to specific conditions in their localities.

Researchers at New York University's Abu Dhabi campus have mapped the date palm genome. They identified more than 1 million mutations that are found between date palm varieties, and found genes that may be important in fruit ripening, fruit color, and disease resistance in dates.

Scientists from the University of Geneva and ETH Zurich reported a new genetically engineered cassava variety that produces high levels of vitamin B6. The results are published in Nature Biotechnology.

We don’t directly drink or breathe soil, so it’s often forgotten as we trample over it. Raising awareness and inspiring action for promoting and protecting our soils has been a central focus throughout this International Year of Soils (IYS). We need healthy soils for a healthy life because the bottom line is that no soil = no food