FAO 30 November 2015, Paris - FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva speaking today at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) appealed to world leaders to show courage and  resilience by opting for changes that promote a safer, fairer and more inclusive world.

Nature reports the virtually complete genome of Oropetium thomaeum, which is known as the resurrection grass because of its ability to regrow after extreme drought when water becomes available. The sequencing was made possible by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center researchers and Pacific Biosciences' grant program, "Most Interesting Genome in the World."

A new study conducted by scientists from Iowa State University (ISU) shows that a gene found only in Arabidopsis can increase the protein content of staple crops. The gene regulates the protein content in Arabidopsis seeds and leaves, and the research team calls it an 'orphan gene' because it is not present in the genome of any other organism.

FAO 26 November 2015, Rome - Droughts, floods, storms and other disasters triggered by climate change have risen in frequency and severity over the last three decades, increasing the damage caused to the agricultural sectors of many developing countries and putting them at risk of growing food insecurity, FAO warned in a new report released today ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris.

Delegates of a recently concluded study tour to Sudan have learnt that political good will is a key factor in ensuring acceptance of biotech crop commercialization in countries from the COMESA region. Participants to the 7- day long tour, held on November 8-13, 2015, acknowledged that progress made by Sudanese cotton sub sector was a result of strong commitment by the Sudanese government.

Unpredictable or erratic rainfall patterns are among the consequences of climate change that greatly affect lowland rice farmers in the Philippines. Its effect is deeply felt particularly by farmers in the Ilocos Region, where majority hold less than a hectare of rice land. Because of this, farmers are seeking for drought-adaptive technology.

FAO 24 November 2015, Rome - In the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, FAO has released new guidelines to assist countries in better conserving and sustainably using genetic resources in times of climate change.

A parallel conference and workshop program on communicating food and agricultural biotechnology has been concluded in Denpasar and Bogor, Indonesia on 19 and 21 October 2015, respectively. The event was aimed to engage officials, scientists and agricultural professionals to build competence, capacity and effectiveness in communicating food and agricultural biotechnology through traditional and social media. The conference also presented science communication tools and best practices from regional and global experts to more effectively communicate the science and the realities of traditional

A team of scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico, together with partners in China, Norway, and Australia have sequenced and described a gene that can help wheat to resist four serious fungal diseases. The research team isolated the wheat gene Lr67, revealing how it hampers the growth of fungal pathogen through a novel mechanism.

International Plant Biotechnology Outreach of VIB and Ghent University, in collaboration with International Potato Center (CIP) conducted a 10-day course on November 4-13, 2015 in Entebbe, Uganda. The course was on regulatory and biosafety issues of agricultural biotechnology in the East-African region, with GM late blight resistant potato as the case study.