Malawi is facing a severe drought crisis linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon. On March 23, President Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of disaster in 23 of Malawi’s 28 districts in anticipation of a poor harvest and appealed for more than $200 million in humanitarian assistance. El Niño has brought about spells of dry weather across much of Southern Africa in recent months, leading to poor agronomic conditions in the current growing season and potentially severe impacts on harvests.

On 28 March 2024, stakeholders from seven countries across Asia and Africa attended a webinar exploring the transformative impact of digital innovations on agrifood systems. Hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the webinar titled Digital innovations to support equitable, sustainable, and resilient agrifood systems and last mile delivery showcased a variety of digital solutions aimed at fostering equity, sustainability and resilience within the agricultural sector.

A study published in Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology shows that suppressing the solanidine galactosyltransferase (sgt1) gene in potatoes resulted in low levels of α-solanine without any changes in α-chaconine levels. Potatoes naturally produce two major steroidal glycoalkaloids called α-solanine and α-chaconine, which may cause toxic symptoms in humans when consumed in large amounts.

In a report published on March 21, 2024, the Superior Health Council concluded that New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), which allow targeted and rapid modifications to the genome of plants, can contribute to a “climate-robust, sustainable agricultural production,” leading to higher yields. The report highlighted that gene editing methods align with the EU's environmental ambitions, including a target to achieve a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030, as they can make crops more resistant to pests and diseases.

A team of researchers from the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has uncovered new details about the origins and spread of the bottle gourd, one of the oldest domesticated crops. This research unveils the genetic diversification and population history of this hard-shelled plant used to make bottles, instruments, and containers for over 10,000 years by ancient civilizations.

Chinese researchers explore the function of the NAC transcription factor NOR-like1 gene in tomato fruit softening. The findings of their study are reported in Postharvest Biology and Technology. Softening in fleshy fruits is a critical aspect that significantly influences their overall quality and shelf life. Previous studies show that the NOR-like1 gene affects fruit ripening and firmness. Thus, the researchers generated knockout and overexpressing NOR-like1 lines of tomato using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to understand the function of NOR-like1.

Researchers from Ryukoku University and Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan have grown transgenic eggplants with high beta-carotene content. These crops were grown under artificial lighting. Eggplants only have few carotenoids, like beta-carotene, compared to tomatoes. That is why scientists are searching for ways to boost the amount of beta-carotene in eggplants to make it more nutritious.

Scientists used genetic engineering on bacterium to produce leather that is animal- and plastic-free. This sustainable leather also has self-dyeing properties. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising alternative to leather due to its biodegradability, material properties, and low infrastructure needs. However, in order for BC to be sustainable, producers also need to find safer alternative methods to dye textiles.

In Ethiopia, an innovative and easy-to-use digital tool (DTREO) has helped Community-Based Breeding Programs (CBBPs) transform the lives of thousands of goat and sheep breeders through data collection that supports more informed decisions on selecting superior males for breeding and access to new market opportunities. DTREO is now being introduced and pilot-tested by ICARDA to establish and optimize management as well as sheep and goat breeding programs in Jordan, Tunisia, and Mali.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) suggest that genetically engineered dendritic cells could improve stronger immune responses against lung cancer. This method enhances the effectiveness of a type of immunotherapy called immune checkpoint blockade. Their study is published in Cell. Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy is a treatment for cancer that uses immune checkpoint inhibitors to keep the body's immune system strong and enhance its ability to fight off cancer cells.