News & Events

With groundnut being central to food, nutrition and edible oil security, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has set a new benchmark in crop improvement by measuring Realized Genetic Gain (RGG) in its groundnut breeding program. A recently published ICRISAT study confirms steady yield improvements in groundnut breeding over time, while also identifying opportunities to refine breeding strategies for faster progress.

However, genes associated with resistance to H. sojae in soybean remain unknown. A genome-wide association study of genes related to resistance to H. sojae was performed with a panel of 385 soybean accessions using an Axiom 180 K SoyaSNP array and whole-genome sequencing data. Thirteen significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified; among them, four SNPs located on chromosomes 1 and 18 were selected to identify candidate resistance genes and develop kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers for efficient genotyping.

A research team has developed a new gene editing approach, called prime editing with prolonged editing window (proPE), designed to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of current prime editing (PE) methods. The technique addresses the inconsistencies in PE's efficiency and specificity for more reliable genetic modifications and potential therapeutic applications. ProPE introduces a second non-cleaving guide RNA to improve the reach of DNA modification. This modification allows scientists to overcome several technical barriers that limit traditional PE systems.

From the Sahel, the vast semi-arid belt stretching across Africa from Senegal to Sudan and the Horn of Africa to South Asia’s dry zones and Southeast Asia’s coastal farmlands, climate shocks are undermining food production and disrupting communities across the Global South. ​ In the Sahel, prolonged drought and poor harvests, among other factors, are driving migration north through Niger and Mali toward North Africa and, for some, across the Mediterranean.

South African cassava mosaic virus (SACMV) is one of several bipartite begomoviruses that cause cassava mosaic disease (CMD) which reduces the production yield of the cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) crop in many tropical and subtropical regions. SACMV DNA-A and DNA-B encoded-proteins act as virulence factors that aid in inducing different disease severity depending on the host response. Recent evidence suggests a mutual potentiation of cell membrane receptor-associated pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and nucleotide leucine-rich repeat (NLR) effector-associated immunity (ETI) in plant immune responses.

Over 40 media practitioners and key stakeholders participated in the Media Forum on Biotechnology R&D and Regulatory Landscape in the Philippines, organized by Science Communicators Philippines (SciCommPH), CropLife Philippines, and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Held on October 14, 2025, at the Century Park Hotel, Manila, the forum aimed to provide journalists with science-based updates, direct access to experts, and a platform for dialogue to strengthen media reporting on agri-biotech.

In a world grappling with a rising population, climate change, and a growing need for healthier food options, scientists are turning to an unlikely pairing: rice and seaweed. A scientific review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition explores the vast, untapped potential of combining rice starch with biopolymers from seaweed to create transformative products that benefit both human and planetary health.

The brown planthopper (BPH) is the most devastating insect pest in rice, posing a serious threat to global rice production. One attractive control strategy would be based on the understanding of the virulence mechanisms of BPH at the molecular level and then designing targeted methods to neutralize such mechanisms. Salivary proteins of BPH are important players in mediating rice–BPH interactions. Here, we describe a pivotal role of a watery saliva protein, Nilaparvata lugens Annexin-like5 (NlANX5), in the rice–BPH interaction. RNA interference (RNAi) of NlANX5 greatly compromised BPH feeding performance and survival rate on rice plants. NlANX5-RNAi BPH triggered a rapid calcium ion influx in rice cells.

Indonesia’s growing reliance on genetically modified (GM) crop imports from the United States is sparking debate over its long-term impact on national food sovereignty. A recent study examined the policy and legal implications of soybean and corn imports within Indonesia's efforts to develop its own biotechnology sector and ensure long-term food security.

Like many donation-dependent non-profits, CGIAR faces recurring budget fluctuations that force difficult trade-offs. Each funding cycle demands a careful recalibration of priorities—balancing urgent needs with long-term impact across global agricultural systems. This requires forward-looking leadership. Simon Sinek (2019) distinguishes between two types of leadership. Finite Leadership focuses on short-term goals, competition, and resource protection, with limited attention to inclusivity or equity. Success is measured by immediate wins—budgets, outputs, or market share—often at the expense of long-term relevance or collaboration. Infinite Leadership is driven by long-term vision, adaptability, and service to a just cause. Infinite leaders commit to nurturing internal capacities that foster gender equity, diversity, and inclusion, recognizing that diverse teams bring broader insight and innovation potential

Soybean red crown rot (RCR), a soil-borne disease caused by the fungus Calonectria ilicicola, result in can to annual yield losses of up to 30%. In this study, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with RCR resistance in three wild soybean accessions, ‘Gs-7,’ ‘Gs-9,’ and ‘Gs-27.’ QTL analysis was performed using four populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from crosses between these wild soybean accessions and two susceptible soybean cultivars ‘Enrei’ (populations En7, En9, and En27, respectively) and ‘Williams 82’ (W9).

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 216 to Bayer CropScience Pty. Ltd., authorizing the commercial release of cotton genetically modified (GM) for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance. The GM cotton contains four introduced genes from a common soil bacterium that confer insect resistance to common pests of cotton. Three of these genes provide protection against bollworms, and one protects against specific pests, including aphids and thrips. The GM cotton also contains three introduced genes for tolerance to herbicides, including glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba.