In January 2021, New York’s Northwell Health hospital system launched a clinical trial to learn whether the over-the-counter drug famotidine (also known as Pepcid) reduces the severity of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients who do not require hospitalization. The randomized trial began in response to anecdotal reports along with clinical studies showing that Pepcid benefited COVID-19 patients

The silent global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highly impacts the agri-food sector, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned today while presenting FAO’s new five-year plan to help Members tackle the challenge. AMR’s impacts can lead to “economic losses, decline in livestock production, poverty, hunger and malnutrition – particularly in low and middle-income countries,” Qu said in opening remarks at an Information Webinar on the topic hosted by FAO as part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.

Through a series of unexpected discoveries, researchers from Rothamsted Research were able to obtain information that plant breeders and academics can use to mix and match wheat genes to develop improved varieties, which can jumpstart an increase in wheat yield production that has stagnated in recent years.

In observance of Presidential Proclamation No. 1414, s. 2007, the Philippines will celebrate the 17th National Biotechnology Week (NBW) on November 22-26, 2021. This celebration highlights the valuable contribution of biotechnology to food security, sustainable agriculture, equitable access to health services, sustainable environment, and industry development. This year's NBW celebration is chaired by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) of the United States released a report that outlined how biotech crops can improve the economic welfare of farmers. It states that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) cause higher food prices and deny consumers significant health benefits. In their report, CAST published their analysis about the effects of banning GM crops, specifically the economic impact that the products can bring to the farmers and country producers.

A team of scientists at the University of Florida, Kansas State University, and Virginia Tech has found the genes to slow down the wilting and yellowing of broccoli when it is harvested. As soon as a head of broccoli is harvested, an internal clock for freshness starts counting down, and the crisp green crown soon wilts and yellows. To understand what causes this transformation, the research team investigated the genes responsible for the molecular changes inside broccoli as it ages.

Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. has received the import approval of the Company's HB4 wheat flour for animal and human consumption from Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. After a rigorous review process that included the use of OMICS datasets to support the scientific safety evaluation of HB4 wheat, the Brazilian National Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) has unanimously endorsed biosafety conditions for flour obtained from HB4 wheat.

The Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform is a supporting tool for the Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative, an evidence-based, country-led and country-owned initiative to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG1 and SDG 2, using the most sophisticated tools available, including advanced geo-spatial modeling and analytics to identify the biggest opportunities to raise the incomes and reduce the inequities and vulnerabilities of rural populations, who constitute the vast majority of the world's poor.

On 10 November 2021, the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with Ruslan Kazakbaev, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Director-General and the Minister discussed UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). The Director-General noted the active role of the Kyrgyz Republic during COP26, while the Minister pointed out that his country gives high priority to climate change issues.

Researchers from France evaluated the use of two meganucleases, I-SceI and a customized meganuclease, in tomato and oilseed rape. Their findings are published in Transgenic Research. Meganucleases are molecular scissors that can cause changes in the DNA. Because of this function, they are used in editing the genomes of plants. To assess their efficacy in tomato and oilseed rape, the researchers employed different strategies.