News & Events

Salinity and alkalinity stress is one of the main factors limiting the yield of rice. The damage to growth caused by alkaline stress is more severe than the damage caused by neutral salt stress. At present, there are limited genetic resources QTLs and genes available for rice breeders to improve alkalinity tolerance. To reveal new alkaline tolerance loci, we phenotyped 1,002 F2:3 lines from Teng-Xi144 (TX144, alkalinity-sensitive)×Long-Dao19 (LD19, alkalinity-tolerant) for seedling survival and ion contents under 0.15% Na2CO3.

An international team of researchers has modified the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii to make it safer for people with weakened immune systems, including infants and older adults. The study found that the modified yeast was less likely to cause infections while still maintaining its probiotic benefits. The findings were reported in the journal Communications Biology.

Through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding, ICRISAT will collaborate with the ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures to integrate cutting-edge genomic prediction tools and simulation-based breeding strategies into its crop improvement pipelines.The partnership aims to significantly accelerate the development of improved varieties of key dryland crops, helping farmers adapt to intensifying climate stress, emerging pests and diseases, and growing food demand.

The complexity of potato genetics, characterised by tetrasomic inheritance, has contributed to slower genetic gain in potato compared to other major crops. Disease resistance genes, often found in large clusters of highly similar paralogs and alleles, further complicate genetic studies. The H1 resistance locus, introgressed into potato cultivars from Solanum tuberosum ssp. andigena, has been successfully used for over 60 years to control Globodera rostochiensis in Europe.

Researchers from the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Republic of Korea reported the successful use of CRISPR gene editing to improve rice plant height and other yield-related characteristics. Their findings are published in Nature Scientific Reports. Extreme weather patterns affect rice maturation, leading to lodging and reduced yield. For instance, the rice variety Samkwang, cultivated in Korea, is prone to lodging because of its plant height.

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to spotlight the vital role that rangelands and pastoralist communities play in sustainable food production, ecosystem stewardship, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.In an interview with FAO Newsroom, Thanawat Tiensin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, explained what rangelands are, where they are found, how pastoralist systems function, and why protecting and investing in them is essential for building more sustainable, resilient and inclusive agrifood systems worldwide.

Recent climate change and frequent extreme weather events during the maturation period of rice exacerbate lodging and threaten stable production. Samkwang, a widely cultivated rice variety in Korea, is particularly vulnerable to lodging due to its tall stature. To improve lodging tolerance while preserving Samkwang’s elite genetic background, we identified an SMXL4-edited line (smxl4) with reduced culm length and stable growth from a CRISPR/Cas9-edited Samkwang population.

A study led by experts from the University of Western Australia mapped pathogen hotspots worldwide, reported the mechanism by which soils block disease, and highlighted climate-driven risks. “We identified 32 dominant pathogens by studying 1,602 soil metagenomes from 59 countries…Our study found global hotspots of plant pathogens occur in warm ecosystems and agricultural soils, whereas high microbial diversity, increased soil organic carbon, and colder climatic conditions are associated with lower pathogen prevalence,” said UWA Professor Brajesh Singh.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomes the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) proclaiming October 1 as International Coffee Day. Approved on Tuesday in New York, the resolution recognizes the "cultural, social and historical significance of coffee, from its origins to its significant role in the development of contemporary societies, in which it has become not only an important agricultural commodity and source of livelihood for communities, but also a symbol of social interaction, cultural expression and everyday tradition across generations."

GMOs have remained at the center of scientific and societal debate since their regulatory authorization and subsequent market introduction in the 1990 s. This review synthesizes epidemiological evidence from the literature, including observational studies and prior systematic reviews, alongside international policy frameworks, to evaluate potential associations between GMO exposure and human health.

Agricultural biotechnology startup Resurrect Bio is developing disease resistant crops using gene editing and its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) platform, FloraFold. The AI-driven platform, specifically tailored to plants, aims to reactivate immune functions suppressed by pathogens or lost through decades of intensive breeding for yield.