News & Events

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have garnered substantial research interest in recent years due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and potent antimicrobial properties against various plant pathogens. As a typical herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV) elicited by Nilaparvata lugens (Brown planthopper, BPH), (E)-2-hexenal has been identified as a promising natural antimicrobial agent. In this study, we investigated the protective potential of (E)-2-hexenal against Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) in rice

Despite growing global use of biotechnology in food production, a study found that many adults in Jordan have limited knowledge and awareness of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The research examined public understanding, attitudes, and awareness of GMOs among Jordanian adults and identified factors influencing acceptance of GM products.

The United Nations-designated The International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026), shines a spotlight on the essential yet often overlooked roles women play across agrifood systems - from production to trade.In an interview with FAO Newsroom, Tacko Ndiaye, Gender Team Leader and Mariola Acosta, FAO’s Strategic Coordinator of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, discuss why women farmers are central to food security, nutrition and economic resilience,

Aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus threatens the development of peanut industry, breeding aflatoxin-resistant peanut varieties are highly needed. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was developed from a cross between Zhonghua 16 and Kainong H03-3—a high-oleic acid peanut line exhibiting resistance to both A. flavus infection and aflatoxin production. Using this RIL population,

Genome editing has emerged as one of the most transformative biotechnological tools for modern agriculture, which enable precise crop improvement with unprecedented speed and accuracy. However, all currently available plant genome editing systems are derived from naturally occurring bacterial or archaeal proteins. In addition, the two most widely used genome editing platforms, Cas9 and Cas12, are protected by complex intellectual property frameworks, limiting their global accessibility and commercial deployment in some regions.

A new study used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to develop bovine muscle cells without alpha-gal, a sugar molecule linked to Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), a potentially life-threatening allergy triggered by mammalian meat. The study presents a proof of concept for producing cultivated meat that may be safer for people affected by the condition.

RNA-guided programmable nucleases enable high-precision genome engineering for applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology. Genome editing in biological organisms relies on a limited set of naturally occurring enzymes. Widely used nucleases such as Cas9 (Jinek et al., 2012) and Cas12a (Zetsche et al., 2015), as well as emerging effectors including TnpB (Karvelis et al., 2021; Karmakar et al., 2024a) and IscB (Altae-Tran et al., 2021),

A new study from the University of Toyama has revealed why certain varieties of the natural sweetener stevia possess a cleaner, more sugar-like flavor than others. Sourced from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana plant, stevia can be up to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar, though some varieties leave an undesirable bitter aftertaste. The research team discovered that stevia's sweetness is fundamentally determined by specific glycosyltransferase genes and their localized, cell-specific activity within the leaf structure.

Pakistan's National Biosafety Committee has approved major amendments to the Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005, significantly liberalizing its genetically modified organisms (GMO) regulatory regime. The reforms aim to transition the country toward a modern, science-based, and business-friendly governance system by simplifying licensing procedures, easing import restrictions, and facilitating laboratory research.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are crucial mediators in the peripheral olfactory perception of insects, functioning as a link between the external environment and odor receptors. Recent research has revealed their noncanonical role as salivary proteins that mediate plant–herbivore interactions, though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates the molecular basis of NlOBP1b, a salivary effector protein in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens, BPH)

Public understanding of genetically modified (GM) and gene-edited foods has been widely studied across different countries. While some research says that increased familiarity with genetic engineering is associated with more favorable views, various studies find that public attitudes tend to be shaped by a combination of perceived risks and benefits, trust in regulatory institutions, and the credibility of information sources

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today called for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be guided by human dignity, inclusion and solidarity, warning that “technological change is moving fast and we need to ensure social adaptation”.