Scientists from Hiroshima University presented an updated overview of TALEN construction systems as part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series. TALENs, short for transcription activator-like effector nucleases, are a type of gene editing tool that can be used to make precise changes to DNA. They are made up of two parts: a DNA-binding domain and a nuclease domain.

New research conducted by scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Cornell University successfully produced fertile hybrid offspring in soybeans using a biotechnology approach. The study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal revealed that obligate outcrossing with the Barnase/Barstar lines can amplify hybrid seed sets and enable large-scale trials for heterosis in soybeans.

China is extending the pilot planting of genetically engineered maize and soybeans with the goal of speeding up the commercialization of these crops. The pilot planting commenced in 2021, and was extended in 2022 to farmlands in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Southwest China's Yunnan Province. The program was then extended to 20 counties in five provincial-level regions including Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Sichuan, and Yunnan.

NAARM's Executive Development Programme (EDP) for leadership development is tailored to empower national research managers and leaders in various roles, including Directors and Assistant Directors General, with enhanced leadership capacities and competencies. The event began with the Presidential Address by Dr Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director, ICAR-NAARM, followed by an overview by Dr G Venkateshwarlu, Joint Director and Program Director.

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Shubham Chaudhuri, paid a courtesy visit to IITA–CGIAR Headquarters and met with the Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui, on 17 August. His visit aimed at learning about the existing agricultural innovations at the Institute and exploring scaling up these technologies with private sector involvement. Chaudhuri congratulated DG Ehui on assuming the office of IITA Director General and CGIAR Continental Director for Africa.

The future of farming belongs to rural youth. In this episode, we explore how to enhance productivity and empower young farmers. We chat with Rahul Antao, IFAD's youth expert, about inspiring young people in agriculture. Mollie Brennan shares insights from the Decent Work for Equitable Livelihoods Coalition. Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development, explains food system opportunities for young farmers while Jaron Porciello, Co-Director of Hesat2030, discusses AI's role in food systems.

The FAO Youth Committee and the FAO Women’s Committee, established at the beginning of my term of office, help ensure that youth and women act as catalysts, both internally in the Organization by supporting women and youth career enrichment, as well as in supporting Members by generating and gatheringinnovative ideas and approaches to help accelerate agrifood systems transformation and rural development.

The newly established fund will facilitate financing for developing countries — which are often the most biodiverse — to enhance their ability to protect, restore and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, as established through The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP15 in December 2022.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota used gene therapy to help treat Hurler syndrome in mice. The results of this study can be used for further research on neurological disorders. Hurler syndrome is a rare genetic brain disorder that affects newborns by causing severe physical abnormalities, cognitive deficiencies, and progressive brain damage. Due to those adverse effects of the disease, the patients experience death at the age of 10 years old.

Scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine genetically engineered mice to enable the study of single base mutation in the genetic code. Their GE mice can be used by other researchers to help speed up progress toward personalized cancer treatment. A change in a single base or “letter” can greatly affect the condition of a cancer patient. However, instead of single base mutations, the majority of studies involve deleting an entire gene.