Experts from the University of Florida released a review article in The Plant Journal featuring the applications of RNA interference and various gene editing tools in sugarcane. The complexity of sugarcane's genome has led to limited applications of site-specific nucleases, and with no reports about the use of meganucleases or zinc-finger nucleases. However, a pioneering study in 2016 used TALENs to target the lignin biosynthesis gene COMT, building on previous RNAi research demonstrating lignin reduction potential.

Nigeria has joined the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) as the 80th member of the leading international standard-setting organization in plant variety protection (PVP). President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed Nigeria's instrument of accession to the 1991 Act of the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants that takes effect on March 27, 2025.

Chinese scientists have identified two specific genes in sorghum, SbSLT1 and SbSLT2, that confer resistance to Striga, a major parasitic plant responsible for major crop losses. When the two genes are knocked out, the plant's resistance to Striga, commonly known as witch-weed, significantly increases. This discovery sheds light on the natural defense mechanisms of sorghum.

Brazilian Fish, a leading tilapia producer, announces the successful development of gene-edited tilapia in Brazil, in partnership with the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) in the United States. The initiative aims to improve the productivity and yield of tilapia by accelerating breeding efficiency from 20 years of conventional breeding program to just one year. CAT scientists, in collaboration with Brazilian Fish's R&D team, developed the first reproductive induction and in vitro fertilization tests to create precise genetic variations resulting in improved growth, yield, and feed efficiency.

The webinar aims to provide information on the biosafety regulations and policy framework/s governing the use of New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) in improving crops and expound on the challenges and potential policy directions that can support the responsible and sustainable use of these technologies. The webinar also aims to be a venue for stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on harmonized regulations facilitating the responsible use of NBTs in agriculture.

Drylands are the backbone of global agriculture, supporting 44% of the world’s farming. Yet, they are under siege. Climate change, land degradation, and water scarcity are transforming these essential regions into barren landscapes, threatening the livelihoods of nearly three billion people. These lands, which already face some of the harshest conditions on Earth, are warming faster than other parts of the planet. Their decline imperils food security, biodiversity, and stability across vast swaths of the globe.

Experts from Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology and partners in Germany conducted a review to classify mechanisms of RNA interference (RNAi) effects induced by short interfering RNA from different sources in plants and to identify technologies that can be used to detect these effects. The review paper is published in the Frontiers in Plant Science.

ToLCNDV is a highly destructive plant virus that poses a significant threat to tomato plant production worldwide, particularly in Asia and the Mediterranean region. Transmitted by whiteflies, this virus causes severe symptoms, such as leaf curling, stunted growth, vein thickening, and reduced fruit yield. As such, the researchers used gene editing techniques to develop resistance of tomatoes against ToLCNDV.

Researchers from the Biotechnology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), in collaboration with Anhui Agricultural University and South China Agricultural University, have developed a gene-editing technique to reduce corn plant height, enabling the creation of compact, high-density varieties resistant to lodging. In a paper published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, the research team focused on modifying the Brachytic2 (Br2) gene through targeted gene editing.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has received $11.9 million in contributions from the Government of Japan to scale up its emergency and resilience activities in humanitarian contexts across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This funding will support 14 critical projects aimed at tackling urgent humanitarian needs.