News & Events

Seed germination is a complex physiological process regulated by both internal and external factors. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a critical class of antioxidant enzymes, play key roles in plant responses to environmental stress. However, their molecular regulatory mechanisms in rice seed germination remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified OsGSTT3 as a key regulator of seed germination in rice. Both OsGSTT3 overexpression and knockout lines exhibited delayed germination speeds compared with wild-type (WT) plants

The tomato plant is highly susceptible to cold stress, with temperatures below 12°C severely impairing its growth and development. This sensitivity leads to crop failure and food waste, particularly in regions with unpredictable weather. To solve this challenge, researchers at the University of Barcelona and the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) developed a new cold-resistant tomato variety that maintains robust growth without compromise.

Week 1 of COP30 in Belém, Brazil – set against the backdrop of the Amazon – was eventful and at times fraught. As negotiators grappled with complex issues, CGIAR’s delegation closely followed eight key tracks vital to food systems and climate action. These span from gender equity and adaptation metrics to agricultural transformation and climate finance. Below we summarize the week’s progress (and pitfalls) in each track, and what it means for CGIAR’s mission to advance science-based, inclusive climate solutions.

Calcium (Ca2+) signaling plays a crucial role in plant immunity, regulating both pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) through cell-surface receptors and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) via intracellular nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs). Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CPKs/CDPKs) serve as key Ca2+ sensors and signal transducers in these processes. In this study, we demonstrate the relevance of two rice CPKs, OsCPK5 and OsCPK13, for rice blast resistance. Both are Ca2+-responsive kinases, with potential in planta heteromer formation enhancing their phosphorylation/signaling functions.

A new review published in Science by experts from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Ghent University presents a roadmap for using genomics and plant developmental biology to engineer crops that can better withstand the effects of global warming. The study highlights new insights into how plant cell behavior can guide the creation of climate-smart agriculture. The research team proposes the use of precise genetic approaches to make subtle tweaks to a plant's natural gene expression, rather than relying on broad modifications.

The Sustainable Beef Investment Roundtable brought together over 50 participants representing investors, producers, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers from across Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Convened under the STELARR Project (Sustainable Investments for Large-Scale Rangeland Restoration) funded by the Global Environment Facility, with technical support from the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) the event marked a turning point in efforts to connect science, finance, and field realities around sustainable beef.

Thioredoxins (TRXs), pivotal redox regulators modulating protein function, are essential for plant stress adaptation, development, and growth. While extensively characterized in model species (e.g., Arabidopsis, rice), their roles in vegetable crops remain underexplored. Here, we report a missense SNP (G → A) in the z-type thioredoxin CsTRX z (CsDVL), identified via ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, as the causal variant underlying the Dominant Virescent Leaf phenotype in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). The mutant PSM004 exhibits transient yellow-green cotyledons at seedling emergence, reverting to wild-type pigmentation during later growth stages

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) GMO Panel has released its Scientific Opinion on the safety of genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus AACC) LBFLFK according to Regulation (EU) No 503/2013, for import, processing, and food and feed uses, within the EU. According to the Scientific Opinion, none of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositional characteristics between oilseed rape LBFLFK and the non-GM comparator needed further assessment, except for germination of harvested seeds, which underwent additional evaluation and was found not to raise environmental concerns.

CGIAR is thrilled to receive over USD 142 million in pledges from its generous funders, aimed at advancing agricultural research and innovation for a climate-resilient future. During the Agricultural Innovation Showcase at COP30, hosted by Embrapa and the Gates Foundation on November 10th, the United Kingdom (GBP 76 million), Denmark (USD 18.5 million), and Belgium (EUR 16 million) strengthened their commitment to CGIAR’s mission of uniting research, policy, and finance innovations, to help close the adaptation finance gap and drive science solutions to ongoing global agricultural challenges.

The UK Government today announced long-term funding of GBP 16.9 million for the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests (AIM4Forests) programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). AIM4Forests is a flagship partnership between FAO and the United Kingdom that supports countries in strengthening forest monitoring and reporting based on modern technologies, data transparency and technical innovation. The announcement came at an event convened by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate High-Level Champions at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), and brings the United Kingdom’s total contribution to GBP 48.4 million.

Developing transgenic and/or gene-edited plants largely depends on tedious, lengthy, and costly in vitro regeneration protocols. While plants have remarkable regeneration ability, not all species, genotypes, or even explants exhibit the same transformation and regeneration potential under in vitro conditions. To tackle this bottleneck, we have developed a seamless and user-friendly system to induce transgenic and gene-edited de novo meristems via a synthetic cascade comprising a wound-induced regeneration pathway,

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) GMO Panel has released its Scientific Opinion on the safety of genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus AACC) LBFLFK according to Regulation (EU) No 503/2013, for import, processing, and food and feed uses, within the EU. According to the Scientific Opinion, none of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and compositional characteristics between oilseed rape LBFLFK and the non-GM comparator needed further assessment