News & Events

VOZ (Vascular Plant One-Zinc Finger) transcription factors represent a plant-specific family of regulatory proteins that are pivotal in controlling plant growth, developmental processes, and adaptive responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although VOZ genes have been reported in multiple plant species, their genomic organization, evolutionary history, and functional dynamics in sweet potato remain largely unexplored

Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the world's first DNA-guided CRISPR-Cas system capable of targeting and cutting RNA. The study introduces a new diagnostic platform called SLEUTH (Specific Locus Evaluation Utilizing Targeted Hydrolysis), which uses synthetic DNA guides instead of the traditional RNA guides used in CRISPR systems.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has unveiled its official logo for the Center of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture (ISSCA), marking a new milestone in its journey and reflecting its continued growth in advancing agricultural innovation and collaboration across the Global South.

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) constitutes half of the terrestrial carbon pool and exerts a profound influence on global carbon cycling and ecosystem multifunctionality. Contrary to the view of millennial-scale stability, SIC in cropland are undergoing rapid changes due to intense anthropogenic disturbances. However, the direction, magnitude, and drivers of SIC changes over recent decades remain poorly quantified, especially in entire soil profile.

Researchers at Kyung Hee University have identified two enzymes, OsA3GT1 and OsA3GT2, that serve as the "finishing tools" required to stabilize anthocyanin pigments in black rice. Their findings, published in the journal Rice, solve a long-standing mystery in plant biology.While the biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanin development in grains is well-documented, the final steps of the process have remained unclear.

Healthy plants are the foundation of agricultural productivity, food security, and resilient farming systems. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, plant pests and diseases are responsible for the loss of up to 40% of global food crops each year, resulting in agricultural trade losses exceeding USD 220 billion annually.

The mechanisms underlying quality formation of forage-grain ratoon rice (FG-RR) were investigated using transcriptomics and metabolomics. Results revealed that mowing at milky-ripe stage (MS) significantly enhanced the percentages of brown rice, milled rice, and head rice compared to full-ripe stage (FRS), with increases of 2.37%, 2.40%, and 13.19%, respectively. Additionally, it had lower amylose and protein contents than FRS, decreasing by 8.09% and 26.28%.

Researchers from Seoul National University and Jeju National University in Korea have developed a new CRISPR-based biocontainment system that enables engineered bacteria to permanently self-destruct after a single activation signal. The technology is designed to improve the safety of genetically engineered microorganisms used in environmental, industrial, and medical applications.

According to the Status of Women in Agrifood Systems (SWAFS 2023), women make up more than 40 percent of the global agricultural labor force. In sub-Saharan Africa, food systems are a primary source of livelihood for 66 percent of women, compared to 60 percent of men. Yet women consistently have less access to land, agricultural inputs, finance, markets, technologies and information. Harmful social norms and discriminatory laws continue to restrict their agency and decision-making power.

The environmental and therapeutic application of genetically engineered microorganisms necessitates the development of robust, irreversible biocontainment systems. In this study, we present an eEGM (editing-driven essential gene multiplex inactivation) module that utilizes CRISPR-mediated cytidine base editing to induce permanent self-killing via a single transient induction. By targeting the start codons of essential genes,

Researchers from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and Moi University, Kenya found that misinformation, language barriers, and limited science communication skills continue to hinder public understanding of genetically modified (GM) foods. The researchers noted that despite ongoing public debate, expert scientific voices are often missing from discussions about GM crops.

In a landmark decision, the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has confirmed that gene-edited banana events developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Kenya are not classified as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as they do not contain any foreign genetic material. This determination allows the improved gene-edited bananas to advance through conventional research pathways, marking a major step in enabling the use of modern breeding technologies.