ASCA7 targets to equip Asian scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of agri-biotech. The program focuses on three key areas: agri-biotech applications, policy environment, and biotech communication. This comprehensive approach empowers participants to contribute towards implementation of science-based regulations that support the commercialization and trade of agri-biotech products.

In February 2023, a significant milestone was marked in Accra, Ghana, as the Africa RISING program concluded its ambitious 12-year mission with a comprehensive close-out event. The program, which spanned the diverse landscapes of east and southern Africa, the Ethiopian Highlands, and West Africa, has notably enriched the lives of smallholder farmers, bolstered national agricultural research systems, and significantly advanced the science of systems research and sustainable intensification.

Since 2020, farmers across nearly all of India have been able to access to localized (district-level) weather and agricultural advice through a smartphone app. The Meghdoot app, which had been downloaded almost 300,000 times by the end of 2023, offers multiple advantages over delivery formats such as SMS or radio, and serves as a platform to continually deliver improved services to India’s farmers.

Scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) have successfully inserted large gene segments into the DNA of higher plants very efficiently in a stable and precise manner. The research team optimized CRISPR-Cas9, and the improved method offers great opportunities for the targeted modification of genes in higher plants, both for breeding and research.

China, the world leader in both wheat production and consumption, granted the first approval for gene-edited wheat variety enhanced to resist disease. This marks a significant step forward for new breeding innovations in the country, considering wheat is a staple ingredient in foods like pasta, noodles, and bread. Origin Agritech also announced the release of GMO safety certificate for its genetically modified (GM) maize, BBL2-2, from China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Scientists have discovered the role of miR169 in regulating the development and stress responses of perennial grasses. Their findings may help develop crop varieties with desired traits in the agricultural industry. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have a crucial role in plant-environment interactions by changing gene expression profiles to enhance environmental adaptations. MicroRNA169 (miRNA169) has been suggested to play a part in the multi-stress regulation of annual species, such as rice and maize.

MMUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Mutai lauded the program's uniqueness and its potential to address the critical shortage of qualified professionals in biosafety and biosecurity within the country. Echoing these sentiments, Prof. Judah Ndiku, a distinguished figure within the university, emphasized the program's pivotal role in cultivating autonomous professionals equipped to navigate the complex landscape of biosafety and biosecurity. With global challenges on the rise

Gene editing is an emerging modern biotechnology technique that significantly influences farming systems, resulting in high-yielding farm inputs. However, regulatory burdens create barriers to the development and adoption of such technologies. In a paper written by Graham Brookes and Stuart J. Smyth, a risk-appropriate and evidence-based regulatory environment is examined for facilitating the adoption of gene editing technology.

In response to U.S. President Joseph Biden's Executive Order 14081, “Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed a plan to update, streamline and clarify their regulations and oversight mechanisms for products of biotechnology.

In a strategic move to align multilateral partnerships for food and nutrition security in Africa, a maiden edition of the Agribusiness for Food Security Initiative was held recently at IITA headquarters in Ibadan. The high-profile event, hosted by Oyo State Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde and chaired by former Nigerian President and IITA Honorary Ambassador Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, critically explored research and private sector involvement in addressing the challenges of food and nutrition insecurity at state, national, and continental levels.