News & Events

Visible role models are key to crushing stereotypes and biases, and closing the gender gap in science. For IDWGS 2026, CGIAR celebrates the voices and achievements of women whose work, leadership, and lived experience will inspire the next generation of scientists. Graduate Fellow Juliet Masiga won the ILRI CapDev Grand Challenge 2025 for her presentation showcasing groundbreaking research on improving vaccine quality control for livestock.

This research explores the mechanisms underlying the interactions within the cassava starch (CS)-hemicellulose (HE)-sinapic acid (EA) ternary complex. The results demonstrate that CS, HE, and EA predominantly form a ternary complex through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Specifically, HE intertwines with CS, while EA tends to attach and interact with HE.

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently issued regulatory status review responses for two new varieties of gene-edited hemp, determining they are not subject to federal regulation under 7 CFR part 340. Developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, these gene-edited plants were found to pose no increased plant pest risk compared to conventional hemp.

For nearly 30 years, ISAAA has been the world's most authoritative source for biotech crop adoption data. As the landscape of agricultural innovation evolves, so does the way we share knowledge. We are excited to announce our newly restructured subscription plans, specifically designed to equip corporate departments, research institutions, and policy teams with the data needed to stay ahead of global trends.

Rice yield-related traits are regulated by numerous quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Pyramiding these QTLs offers a promising strategy for crop yield improvement; however, this approach is constrained by the limited understanding of the interactions among these QTLs. In this study, we demonstrated that the QTL DTH8 significantly increases branch numbers, panicle length, and number of total grains per panicle in rice.

Europe's first precision-bred oilseed rape (OSR) is set to move from the laboratory to commercial farms under a new £2.5 million research project. The three-year initiative, titled LLS-ERASED (Light Leaf Spot Enhancing Resistance And reducing Susceptibility with EDiting), aims to help UK farmers combat light leaf spot, a devastating disease that caused over £300 million in yield losses in 2022. Led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) in collaboration with researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and the John Innes Centre, the project is funded through Defra's Farming Innovation Programme and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.

Africa’s push to accelerate sustainable agricultural mechanization gained fresh momentum today as the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwigulu L. Nchemba, launched Tanzania’s National Agricultural Mechanization Strategy 2026–2036 at the opening of the Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the conference brings together governments, the private sector, researchers, development partners, youth and farmers to exchange experience, build partnerships and identify scalable solutions to advance sustainable agricultural mechanization across the continent.

Drought stress is a major global challenge in crop production. The occurrence of drought during seed germination directly affects crop establishment and final yield. In this work, we performed whole-genome resequencing of 414 mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) germplasms and identified 4,875,142 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Two seed germination traits of the mungbean panel under drought stress across two environments were evaluated via a genome-wide association study (GWAS), and the results revealed a significant quantitative trait locus (QTL).

Prof. Susie Dai, a researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri, has developed a genetically engineered algae that can remove microplastics from wastewater by turning them into a biomass that is easy to collect and remove. The study, published in Nature Communications, is a pioneering, innovative solution for removing pollutants from wastewater.

The measure of world food commodity prices declined in January for the fifth consecutive month, led by lower international quotations for dairy, sugar and meat products, according to the benchmark report released Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 123.9 points in January, down 0.4 percent from the previous month and 0.6 percent from its level a year earlier.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most promising options for the control of bacterial pathogens. The effectiveness of AgNPs has been proven by several recent research studies in which toxicity against a broad range of human and plant pathogenic bacteria was observed, even when used at low doses compared to other conventional bactericides. Nevertheless, the antibacterial mechanism of AgNPs is yet to be completely understood.

The 7th International Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Conference (IPBBC2026) returns as a pivotal platform to advance discussions and innovations in the fields of plant breeding and biotechnology. Formerly known as the International Plant Breeding Conference, this event has been rebranded to reflect a broader scope and to attract a wider audience by integrating the rapidly evolving field of biotechnology alongside conventional breeding approaches. The updated name signifies our commitment to addressing complex global agricultural challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation.