7 February 2015, Milan - With its theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life" the 2015 World Expo offers a chance to mobilize public opinion around the pressing need to make the eradication of hunger and malnutrition central pillars of the global development agenda, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told world leaders gathered here today.

With the widespread cultivation of transgenic crops, concern is increasing regarding unintended effects of these crops on the soil. In the current study, Zhixing Wang and Xujing Wang from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, evaluate the possible effects of OsrHSA transgenic rice on soil microbes in its rhizosphere.

Breeding programmes for developing new varieties can be hastened through the technological revolution developed by a group of researchers from Wageningen UR. With this, DNA sequencing data can be connected directly with hereditary traits like disease resistance, taste and shelf life. This technological revolution involves the use of optical mapping, Illumina and PacBio sequencing technology.

Omega-3 fatty acids are associated with health benefits, making it essential as a dietary nutrient for humans. Fish and other seafood are the main sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. However, the Omega-3 content of fish oil is not enough to satisfy the human dietary requirement for Omega 3. Thus, researchers from Rohamsted Research, University of Sterling and Biomar Ltd conducted a feeding study using genetically modified (GM) camelina (Camelina sativa) as substitute feed for salmon.

Nielsen conducted an online survey of 30,000 consumers from 60 countries to assess the healthy eating trends around the world. Results showed that consumers seek fresh, natural and minimally processed foods. Beneficial ingredients that help fight disease and promote good health were also deemed as important. It was also noted that the majority (80%) of the respondents said that they are willing to pay more for foods labelled as non-GMO.

A group of French bioinformatics experts, including Alexis Dereeper of the Institute of Research for Development, Gaëtan Droc of CIRAD, and Manuel Ruiz of CIRAD and CIAT is collaborating with Lukas Mueller, associate professor in Boyce Thompson Institute to further develop genomic databases of different plants. A platform called South Green aims to provide tools for genomic databases of rice, coffee, cocoa and other crops.

The Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2014 (ISAAA Brief 49) was launched on January 28, 2015 at China World Hotel in Beijing, China during a press conference attended by 34 media practitioners. The following day, January 29, a seminar was also held at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, organized by Chinese Society of Biotechnology, Chinese Society of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology

When nitrogen finds its way from agricultural fields into water bodies and the atmosphere, it doesn't just degrade water quality and contribute to climate change. That lost nitrogen also isn't being used to grow crops, and farmers are losing money.

Hyderabad, India (08 January 2015) – “Inclusive and demand-driven innovation is the key to fighting poverty, eradicating hunger and malnutrition, and providing environmentally sustainable solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the drylands.” This was according to Dr David Bergvinson, as he assumed office as Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for a five-year term effective 1 January 2015.

1 February 2015, Rome - José Graziano da Silva, the current Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will be the sole candidate in upcoming elections for the agency's top leadership post. At the close of the deadline  yesterday, 31 January, the only nomination received from member countries of FAO was that of the Government of Brazil, which had put forward the name of Graziano da Silva for re-election.