Researchers from the College of Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (CDC-UPLB) revisited their original study conducted in 2006 that focused on understanding and communicating Filipino stakeholders' public perception of biotech crops. Almost 20 years later, they found that this knowledge has made significant progress, enough to continuously guide stakeholders into accepting biotechnology and products derived from it in the Philippines.

Murdoch University, ISAAA Inc., and partners aim to assist both small and large-scale exporters in understanding the potential of gene editing for crop improvement, and the issues related to trade in gene-edited produce. A two-day international meeting titled International Conference on Gene-edited Crops: Enabling Future Commercialisation and Trade is being organised on April 26-27, 2023 at The Shine Dome, ACT, Australia. Registration is open to all interested participants.

At the core of the Vietnamese agricultural revolution are the reforms in agricultural policies from land access and enhancing the productivity and efficiency of farmers, said Dr. Cao Đức Phát, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. He is the current Chair of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Board of Trustees. IRRI is the leading international research institution focused on finding solutions to the challenges of rice-based economies worldwide.

Zuari Farmhub Ltd (ZFHL) has announced a new research partnership with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) aimed to promote sustainable agricultural practices to improve farmer incomes in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. The two-year project will prioritize carbon sequestration to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases, thereby mitigating the impact of climate change on the farming community. ​

There is a global digital gender gap: Worldwide, roughly 327 million fewer women than men have a smartphone and can access mobile internet, and in low- and middle-income countries, the gap is not only greater, but is widening. The gap is widest in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. To close the digital gender gap, it is necessary to increase women’s access to phones and internet. Just as important is improving their capacities and opportunities to use these technologies—and making sure they are co-designed with and for women in the first place.

The CGIAR Initiatives on Excellence in Agronomy (EIA) and Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD), together with the Department of Crop Protection (DCP) led by its Deputy Director for the South, Mr. Le Thanh Tung, conducted a joint workshop in Can Tho City, Vietnam to introduce innovations supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation in the Mekong River Delta (MRD).

The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, met at FAO headquarters in Rome with H.E. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy. The Director-General thanked the Prime Minister for the special relationship between FAO and the host country Italy, and for the strong and effective partnership in jointly tackling hunger and malnutrition, especially in the context of the current global food crisis. The Prime Minister underlined the key role that food and agriculture plays in addressing these and other key global challenges.

Scientists from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, identified an enzyme that uses small amounts of hydrogen to create an electrical current. If utilized properly, the enzyme can make energy from thin air and support a new source of sustainable power. The scientists extracted the enzyme Huc found in the bacteria Mycobacterium smegmatis. It is responsible for using traces of atmospheric hydrogen to convert them to an electrical current.

African governments must invest in appropriate regulatory structures and monitoring mechanisms for biotech crops and animals. This is according to African scientists who attended the International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques held this month in Berlin, Germany. They said that investments in laboratories would ensure proper oversight of biotech products and eventually maximize the potential of agri-biotech in the continent.

Murdoch University, ISAAA Inc., and partners aim to assist both small and large-scale exporters in understanding the potential of gene editing for crop improvement, and the issues related to trade in gene-edited produce. A two-day international meeting titled International Conference on Gene-edited Crops: Enabling Future Commercialisation and Trade is being organised on April 26-27, 2023 at The Shine Dome, ACT, Australia. The early bird registration is open until March 31.