As we reach our 80th Anniversary, we should celebrate our institutional renewal, building upon the transformation pathway we embarked on together in 2019, to ensure that our Organization is more fit for purpose for the next 20 years, and beyond, In line with the ever-evolving global development agenda, and to ensure that our children and our grandchildren will reap the benefits of the seeds we plant today. Our shared vision is to strengthen the Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, for a shared prosperity leaving no one behind.

Communities of Practice (CoP) have become an essential pillar for fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals and experts interested in specific issues. In Colombia, the Food Systems Community of Practice (CoP-SA) represents a collective effort to address the challenges and opportunities facing the country’s food system. Since its creation, the CoP-SA has established itself as a key space for uniting knowledge, innovation, and action around Colombia’s food-related challenges.

Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are like bodyguards for cells, protecting them from stress. One type of HSP, called DnaJ, is present in plants. Scientists from Hebei Agricultural University studied a specific DnaJ protein called ZmDnaJ in maize. The researchers found that ZmDnaJ is activated when plants experience drought stress. By activating ZmDnaJ, plants can better cope with drought by closing the stomata, increasing the abscisic acid levels, and regulating photosynthesis.

Researchers from Northwest A&F University, Hainan University, and partners have successfully developed rust resistant wheat through a combination of genetic modification and gene editing. The results of the study also show significant insights into the development of wheat cultivars resistant to high temperatures from the pollination stage to maturity.

A team of researchers at UC Davis and UC Berkeley's Innovative Genomics Institute have found a way to produce clonal seeds from hybrid rice varieties. This technique could produce rice hybrids with superior qualities to be widely available to the world's farmers. Led by Venkatesan Sundaresan, a Distinguished Professor in the departments of Plant Biology and Plant Sciences at UC Davis,

An international team of researchers created the first "fully phased" genome of the popular Fuji apple, a complete genetic blueprint that distinguishes between genes inherited from each of the two parents. From this blueprint, the team studied 74 Fuji clonal varieties and identified significant somatic variations. Somatic mutations occur during the plant's lifetime rather than being inherited, and could lead to new traits

Lowering the price of rice in the Philippines is not impossible with the use of biotechnology and the collaboration of multiple government agencies and state universities. The country must leverage the use of biotechnology as a key tool for development. These messages were delivered by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Shirley Agrupis during the opening ceremonies of the 20th National Biotechnology Week (NBW) of the Philippines held on November 25, 2024 at Copeland Gym, University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB).

This year, the primary goal of the Open Field Day was to introduce and promote technologies designed to address production challenges and improve the yields of key crops such as sorghum, millet, and groundnut. Through interactive discussions and field demonstrations, attendees learned about the potential of high-yield, climate-resilient crop varieties and sustainable farming practices.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has launched an ambitious project aimed at transforming the environmental footprint of rice farming in Southeast Asia. The Methane Accelerator for Southeast Asia (MASEA), supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), targets significant reductions in methane emissions from rice cultivation.

The United Nations food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, is meeting on 25–30 November 2024 to adopt food safety and quality standards. Charged with protecting consumer health and facilitating fair practices in the food trade, the Codex Alimentarius Commission is a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).