News & Events

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to global food safety. Reducing grain Cd accumulation in rice, a primary dietary source of this toxic metal, is therefore an urgent priority. This study identified and characterized a novel UDP-glycosyltransferase gene, Os79 (LOC_Os04g12970), which functions as a key negative regulator of Cd tolerance and accumulation in rice.

As animal cells rely on waste management to survive, plant cells utilize a specialized recycling system called the ubiquitin-proteasome system to degrade damaged or redundant proteins. In this process, small molecular tags called ubiquitin are attached to target proteins, marking them for destruction. The precision of this system depends on regulatory proteins known as E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBCs), which dictate which proteins are targeted based on environmental stress and growth hormones. While these molecular regulators have been extensively mapped in crops like rice and maize, their composition and function in long-lived, woody perennial species remain largely unexplored.

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal found in some farming soils that can seep into rice crops, posing a serious threat to global food safety. To tackle this, scientists discovered a specific gene in rice, Os79, that accidentally acts as an open door for this toxin. By using gene-editing technology to turn this gene off, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences created a modified rice plant that is much better at defending itself. When the gene is disabled, the rice plants grow normally even in polluted soils and absorb significantly less cadmium, keeping the grain much safer for consumers.

Enhancing resistant starch (RS) content in cassava is vital for developing nutritionally improved, functional food crops. In this study, targeted mutagenesis of the MeSSI gene via CRISPR/Cas9 was conducted to investigate its role in starch biosynthesis and RS accumulation. MeSSI knockout lines exhibited a 6.74-fold increase in RS content and a 16.42% elevation in amylose levels compared to the wild-type, without compromising total starch content or root yield.

Science and partners identified key genes involved in cotton defoliation. The study found that the genes GhNAC47 and GhSKS6 help regulate cell wall remodeling and the formation of protective layers that allow leaves to detach more efficiently during chemical defoliation.The study showed that cotton plants with the GhSKS6 gene knocked out through CRISPR-Cas9 demonstrated impaired abscission zone (AZ) fracture-layer formation,

In Africa, hunger and food insecurity continue to rise, while the gap between existing funding for agriculture and the funds needed to transform the agrifood system remains. This is according to the report titled Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the African Union Commission (AUC).

Rice blast is a destructive rice disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we identified a resistance gene from the rice cultivar Wanhui 66 which is resistant to the rice blast Guy11 isolate. Genetic mapping positioned a blast resistance locus to chromosome 6. Employing map-based cloning approach ultimately mapped the novel blast resistance locus to a genomic region of 117 kb that contains the Pid3 gene.

Scientists at Rice University have uncovered a critical mechanism that allows young plants to manage their energy and grow before they can harness sunlight. Published in Nature Communications, the study reveals how a specific protein regulates the size of peroxisomes—cellular compartments that process stored fatty acids for fuel during the seed-to-seedling stage. This discovery sheds new light on the delicate biological balancing act required for plants to survive their earliest days.

Ukraine is bringing its agricultural biotechnology legislation closer to the European Union (EU) standard by revising its regulations. Starting in August 2026, the country will implement the law "On State Regulation of Genetic Engineering Activities and State Control over the Placement on the Market of Genetically Modified Organisms and Products." The comprehensive framework consolidates existing EU directives into a single document, effectively legalizing the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Ukraine under strict conditions of official registration.

Recent advances in genome editing enable the researchers to focus more and more on the ability to manipulate genomes at specific sites. Efficient methods for genome editing further promote gene discovery and functional gene analyses in model plants as well as the introduction of novel desired agricultural traits in important species. CRISPR/Cas9 technology enables precise genetic modification through the creation of double-strand breaks in a target region and the generation of desired alterations during the repair process.

Researchers from Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries and partners in China have identified a gene linked to alkaline stress sensitivity in grass carp. They used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to improve the fish's tolerance to high-alkaline environments. The study focused on the Cbr1 gene, which was found to play a negative role in the grass carp's adaptation to alkaline water conditions.

A recent study published in the journal of Environmental Research: Food Systems, examines how trade in aquatic foods can contribute to nutrition security across regions, using the dried dagaa (small pelagic fish) fishery in Zanzibar, Tanzania, as a case study. The authors introduce the concept of “nutrition-sensitive trade,” which refers to trade that delivers and balances access to nutrient-dense foods to multiple spatially distant populations, including nutritionally dependent or nutritionally vulnerable groups