In May 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) released Guidance for Industry (GFI) #187A “Heritable Intentional Genomic Alterations in Animals: Risk Based Approach” and draft GFI #187B “Heritable Intentional Genomic Alterations in Animals: The Approval Process” to clarify requirements and recommendations for developers of intentional genomic alterations (IGAs) in animals.

Researchers from the University of Würzburg have identified how XPD protein examines and handles the repair of DNA damage. Their findings offer the basis for innovative ways to treat different kinds of cancer. The body of humans has a nucleotide excision repair (NER), which detects damaged DNA and works with other repair proteins to remove and replace defective areas. A central component of NER is the XPD protein that identifies and repairs severe forms of DNA damage, such as interstrand crosslinking that can cause cancer.

ASCA7 targets to equip Asian scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of agri-biotech. The program focuses on three key areas: agri-biotech applications, policy environment, and biotech communication. This comprehensive approach empowers participants to contribute towards implementation of science-based regulations that support the commercialization and trade of agri-biotech products.

On May 23, the Government of Djibouti launched the pilot release of Oxitec's Friendly™ Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, the first time a genetically modified (GM) mosquito has been released in East Africa. This ground-breaking initiative marks a crucial step in mitigating the increasing number of malaria cases in the region. The Djibouti Friendly™ Mosquito Program is a public-private partnership between Djibouti's National Malaria Control Program, the public health not-for-profit Association Mutualis, and Oxitec Ltd.

CGIAR, the world’s largest publicly funded agricultural research network, has developed many innovative solutions for the developing world’s smallholder farmers. While CGIAR excels at developing agricultural innovations, bridging gaps between innovative solutions and widespread impact remains a challenge. Scaling innovations for smallholder farmers faces various challenges including 1) how to align innovation demand and supply,

The all-encompassing nature of the climate crisis means that it is deeply connected to water, energy, food, and ecosystems (WEFE). But how can decision makers use these connections to support climate mitigation and adaptation goals and sustainable development initiatives? This was the urgent question at the heart of the latest webinar from the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains, held on Wednesday May 15, 2024.

Women’s vital roles in the tea industry and how to overcome the challenges they face was the theme of today' s celebration for the 2024 International Tea Day hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). “Women play a crucial role in the tea industry, substantially contributing to its sustainability, productivity and community development," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in opening  remarks at the celebration. “Their contributions underpin the industry's economic viability, social fabric, and sustainable development.”

Marking World Bee Day 2024, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) QU Dongyu today urged young people to learn more about bees and pollinators, including traditional and high-tech beekeeping, and thus help to safeguard the vital role these small creatures play in agriculture, ecological balance, and biodiversity preservation. Qu made the remarks at a World Bee Day 2024 celebration held at the Italian Presidential Estate in Castelporziano, Rome, with the participation of the President of APIMONDIA, the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations, Jeff Pettis.

Researchers from University of California Riverside discovered that membrane-free organelles help plants identify shades of light and sense temperature. Future studies may involve controlling where the organelles form to help plants adjust to climate change. Membrane-bound compartments or organelles have been heavily studied by scientists. However, there is limited research on membrane-free organelles, such as photobodies, which help plants sense light and temperature

Professor Toshiki Furuya from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) and his graduate students Shizuka Fujimaki and Satsuki Sakamoto have successfully developed an enzyme that generates vanillin from plant-derived ferulic acid using genetic engineering approaches. Globally, vanilla extract is a widely used flavoring compound in food products and cosmetics. The pleasant and sweet smell of this classic flavor comes from the chemical compound vanillin found in the seed pods of vanilla plants belonging to the orchid family.