News & Events

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a globally important and nutritious crop with diverse market classes. Multiple genes control the seed coat color and patterns that characterize these market classes. Therefore, understanding the genetic control of seed coat color is critical for breeding purposes, especially when making crosses among different market classes. One such gene is Rk, the “red kidney” color gene.

Bioengineers from Stanford University have developed a new protein engineering method that can design, build, and test protein variants in just 24 hours. The technique, called MIDAS or Microbe-Independent Deep Assembly and Screening, could accelerate research in medicine, biotechnology, and environmental science by simplifying how proteins are engineered and tested.

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,

Pigeonpea, scientifically known as Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp, is an important leguminous crop grown in tropical and subtropical areas. However, its production is increasingly threatened by biotic stresses, including sterility mosaic disease (SMD), fusarium wilt (FW), Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata, and other emerging plant pathogens, posing significant challenges to its sustainability. The pigeonpea gene pool exhibits considerable genetic diversity for biotic stress resistance, offering potential for developing resistant cultivars.

Four prominent European plant biotechnology associations have issued a joint open letter urging members of the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) to swiftly pass a pending compromise regulation on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The letter, dated May 15, 2026, was signed by the French Association of Plant Biotechnologies (AFBV), Forum Grüne Vernunft (FGV), the Society for Plant Biotechnology (GfPB), and the Genomics and Genetic Engineering Research Circle (WGG).

Dawn breaks over the lush, green fields of the country of 1 000 hills. As the sun rises, the ethereal mists shrouding the hilltops begin to lift, signalling another day for Rwanda’s agricultural workers.Tea leaves shimmer in the rising sun as tea pluckers don their colourful yellow protective gear, safeguarding them from scratches as they plunge into verdant rows of tea plants. A wicker basket is strapped to their backs, ready to collect the leaves they expertly pluck.

Bacterial type III effector proteins, particularly transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) secreted by Xanthomonas spp., play critical roles in pathogen-host dynamics. While TALEs facilitate bacterial infections, they also possess vulnerabilities that plants and scientists can exploit to develop mechanisms of resistance. This review encompasses the characteristics and functions of TALEs, examining both their virulence and avirulence roles, and the host plants' counter-strategies.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR), in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature, is conducting new field trials for genetically modified (GM) potatoes. The trials will evaluate potato lines developed using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) to precisely add or switch off multiple genes. By instilling stacked resistance against aggressive pests and diseases, such as late blight, caused by the destructive pathogen Phytophthora infestans, researchers expect the new varieties to drastically minimize farmers' reliance on chemical pesticides.

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India with the FAO Agricola Medal, the Organization’s highest award, in a ceremony held in the historic Plenary Hall at FAO’s Rome headquarters.

Purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) (Ipomoea batatas) is a rich source of anthocyanins, which serve as potent antioxidants and contribute to stress tolerance. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in PFSP under phosphorus stress remain poorly understood. In this study, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted using the sweet potato cultivar (Xuzishu No. 8) grown under three phosphorus treatments:

An international team of researchers led by Dr. Zhangjun Fei of the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) has developed a super-pangenome for watermelons. This comprehensive genetic map integrates 138 genomes from all seven extant species in the genus. This super-pangenome captures nearly one million structural variants across both cultivated varieties and their wild relatives. This massive dataset allows scientists to trace millions of years of evolution and identify high-value traits that were lost during centuries of domestic breeding.

Nairobi, Kenya - The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and CIMMYT, with funding support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, have launched a landmark research initiative to dramatically shorten the time required to develop climate-resilient and market-preferred crop varieties for farmers in the drylands of Eastern Africa and India.