News & Events

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), Inc. collects data on the annual adoption of biotech crops and analyzes current and future trends. The results are summarized in a brief, which is the most widely cited source of the latest data on global GM crop adoption since 1996, when biotech crop commercialization began. Following the last report released in 2020, ISAAA Inc. will officially release the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2024 (ISAAA Brief 57) through Zoom on February 27, 2026.

The use of starter cultures is essential for producing fermented foods with desirable standardized characteristics and for preventing pathogens. Pediococcus acidilactici, isolated from cocoa fermentation, was used in the production of tucupi, a widely appreciated sauce made from the juice of cassava root (manipueira) in the Brazilian Amazon. Manipueira was submitted to fermentation with and without Pediococcus acidilactici inoculum at 1 × 1012 CFU mL-1 (Pa treatment and control treatment (CT), respectively),

Researchers from China have developed a fast and highly sensitive CRISPR-based test to detect Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus (CIAV), a disease that causes anemia and immune dysfunction, resulting in major economic losses for farmers. The new method uses the CRISPR-Cas12a system to improve accuracy and the rate of virus detection.

For decades, India has carried a paradox on its plate. The country that feeds the world on dal is also the world's largest consumer, producer, and importer of pulses. From tur and urad to masoor, the protein backbone of Indian diets has routinely come from the US, Africa, Myanmar, Australia and Canada. Every bowl of sambar or dal tadka has quietly carried the weight of global supply chains and volatile imports.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa threatened by several viral diseases. Here, we describe the genome sequence of a novel bipartite cheravirus (family Secoviridae) infecting cassava in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. We designate the new virus "cassava Congo cheravirus". Each RNA segment encodes a single polyprotein (P1 and P2 for RNA1 and RNA2, respectively), embedded with various putative cleavage sites (six and three in P1 and P2, respectively), consistent with members of the genus Cheravirus.

Researchers at Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology have discovered a gene from a wild peanut ancestor that acts as a biological "alarm," significantly enhancing a plant's ability to survive drought and resist pests. The gene, known as AdEXLB8, was isolated from Arachis duranensis, a wild ancestor of the modern peanut native to South America.

Officially named Chitedze Pigeonpea 3 (ICPV 182026), the variety is well suited to shorter rainy seasons and delivers high yields, helping farmers adapt to climate pressures while expanding market opportunities for both grain and vegetable pigeonpea. The variety was approved by the Malawi Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) following three seasons of multi-location trials across key agricultural zones across the country, including Chitedze, Chitala, Makoka, Baka, Bvumbwe, and Ngabu.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and other cereal crops worldwide. Improving FHB resistance has been a major focus in many wheat genetics and breeding programs globally. However, only a few major loci have been effectively deployed, limiting progress in breeding for FHB resistance.

Researchers from India used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to improve rice resistance to sheath blight. The disease, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, leads to significant yield losses and remains difficult to manage due to the limited availability of resistant rice varieties. In the study published in Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, the research team was able to reduce rice's susceptibility to the disease while maintaining normal growth and yield.

Joint FAO/UNICEF/Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France News Release Kabul, Afghanistan – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government of France are supporting earthquake-affected communities in eastern Afghanistan to restore food security, improve nutrition and protect livelihoods.

Sheath blight (ShB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is one of the most destructive diseases of rice, causing substantial yield losses worldwide. Effective management remains challenging due to the absence of resistant genetic sources and the ability of the pathogen to persist under diverse environmental conditions. The sugar transporter OsSWEET11 acts as a susceptibility factor by facilitating pathogen-induced sucrose efflux, but complete loss-of-function mutations compromise grain filling and yield.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has announced that it is seeking public comment on a petition to deregulate a variety of African marigolds developed using genetic engineering. This variety has been modified to produce red flowers, a trait not typically found in traditional African marigolds.