News & Events

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today called for greater vigilance, innovation and collaboration in responding to increasingly frequent and severe pest invasions that threaten farms, forests, livelihoods and global food security. Qu delivered his remarks at the opening of the 20th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), held at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Crop tolerance to waterlogging significantly influences survival and productivity under waterlogging conditions. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying waterlogging tolerance could facilitate the development of resilient crop varieties through breeding. This study conducted a comparative analysis of the physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic responses of a waterlogging-tolerant maize genotype Guidan162 (GD) and a waterlogging-sensitive genotype Zhaofeng 588 (ZF) during the grain filling stage.

Researchers from Chosun University and Seoul National University in Korea examined decades of scientific literature and global health data and found no consistent evidence linking genetically modified organism (GMO) consumption to major human health problems. The analysis reviewed epidemiological studies and international health records to evaluate whether GMO exposure is associated with diseases, such as cancer, allergies, or reproductive disorders.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture found that proteins from rice can be used to make hypoallergenic plant-based cheese alternatives. The findings of the study, published in Future Foods, offer a new option for people who avoid dairy, nuts, or gluten.

Rice blast is a major fungal disease that threatens global rice production and is caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Therefore, cloning rice blast resistance-related genes, conducting indepth analyses of the interaction mechanisms between M. oryzae and rice, elucidating rice disease resistance pathways, and developing new resistant germplasms are crucial for ensuring food security.

Researchers from China and Australia have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to create a new tomato variety with a distinct "popcorn-like" fragrance. By targeting specific genes responsible for volatile organic compounds, the team increased the levels of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), the same chemical compound that gives fragrant rice and popcorn their signature scent, without negatively impacting fruit growth or nutritional value.

The Soil Values Program and the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel today announced a formal partnership. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to coordinate soil health interventions across West Africa and the Sahel. The partnership will enhance collaboration, minimize duplication of effort, and deliver lasting impact in the region.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent and persistent greenhouse gas, with rising atmospheric concentrations driven in part by inefficient use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agriculture. Predicting soil N2O emissions is challenging due to high spatial and temporal variability arising from complex soil biogeochemical processes. Process-based ecosystem models and standalone machine learning (ML) approaches without extensive site-specific calibration often miss high-emission episodes

University of Exeter researchers in the UK reported a new method for animal molecular research using the PiggyBac transposon system and for precise gene knockouts via CRISPR–Cas9 technology in the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella).The larvae of the greater wax moth are becoming a popular animal model for studying the mechanisms of infection, immunology, and inflammation. Recently, research on the greater wax moth has advanced understanding of plastic degradation and solutions to plastic waste.

As climate variability, food insecurity, and data gaps increasingly challenge agricultural systems, building a new generation of skilled scientists has become critical for the future of food production in Zambia and beyond.Young scientists from Zambia and partner institutions are gaining hands-on experience in climate-smart agricultural research through a collaborative initiative involving the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), IITA–CGIAR, and the University of Zambia.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is a zinc-binding enzyme responsible for catalyzing the interconversion between ethanol and acetaldehyde, as well as other alcohol and aldehyde pairs, within the ethanol fermentation pathway. This enzyme plays a crucial role in plant adaptation to environmental stressors. However, knowledge regarding the ADH gene family in soybean remains limited. Here, a genome-wide analysis was conducted,

Researchers from Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered that the GmAP1 gene in soybean plays a key role in delaying flowering and increasing sensitivity to salt stress. The study shows that editing this gene could help develop soybean varieties that mature earlier and tolerate challenging saline environments.