FAO 30 July 2015, Rome - A growing number of countries are ratifying an international agreement to combat illegal fishing, fueling interest in how best to implement the instrument.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is estimated to strip between $10 billion and $23 billion from the global economy, and their impacts undermine the way fish stocks are managed to make it a double concern around the world.

FAO 28 July 2015, Rome - Contract farming – an expanding practice in which farmers produce agricultural goods for specific buyers in set quantities at prearranged prices – is getting a new tool to guide growers and buyers in establishing sound contracts and conflict resolution procedures.
 

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter), in conjunction with the National Commission of Science and Technology in Malawi (NCST), and the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) conducted a science communications training workshop for different biotech stakeholders in Malawi. As of October 2014, Malawi harvested its 2^nd season confined field trial (CFT) for Bt cotton as well as its 1^st multi-location trial.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 with a 275-150 vote on July 23, 2015. The following day, the bill was received in the Senate. The Act states that the Food and Drug Administration must allow, but not require, GMO food to be labeled as GMO. Once passed as a law, it will set up a harmonized, science-based, voluntary food labeling standard.

A special feature on Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation was published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. as part of their Biotechnology Law Report. This is the first of the series listing the key women with significant contributions in the fields of biotechnology law and regulation.

 Heirloom rice varieties, mostly grown in the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, are handed down from generation to generation and have become prized commodities. To further promote heirloom rice and its culture, the Heirloom Rice Project (HRP) hosted a photo exhibit by renowned photographer David Leprozo, Jr., titled Rice Culture of the Cordilleras.
 

FAO 24 July 2015, Rome - A new series of educational materials is teaching children the importance of healthy soils for our food, environment, livelihoods and well-being. Developed by FAO and the Washington D.C.-based National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) as part of the 2015 International Year of Soils (IYS2015), the materials target children aged 5 to 14, using word games, puzzles, drawing activities and other interactive elements.
 

Genetic markers, abundant in the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), will lead to new varieties resistant to Verticullium Wilt (Verticillium dahliae). The work led by scientists at East Malling Research (EMR) has shown that the more resistance-associated markers a plant had, the greater its resistance to wilt. The implication of this work is that plant breeders can now ‘pyramid’ these genes to produce high levels of disease resistance in new varieties.

FAO 23 July 2015, Rome - Syria's food production  has increased this year mainly due to favourable rains, but it remains way below its pre-crisis levels as the ongoing conflict continues to push more people into hunger and poverty, according to a report published today by two UN agencies.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released the draft environment assessment (EA) and preliminary plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) of genetically engineered corn (MON 87403) developed by Monsanto. The documents are available for public comment and review from July 21 to August 20, 2015, as a response to the developer's petition to deregulate the GE corn.