CropBiotech Update

Research efforts on the production of biofuels through the use of inedible plant materials such as corn stover, switchgrass and wood chips across the United States have been a response to a federal mandate that biofuels and ethanol would not be derived from food sources. However, the plant's cellulose's energy-rich...

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Bayer CropScience and U.S.-based Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. have signed a three-year collaboration agreement to develop chemical products which make crops more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress factors, thus stabilizing yields and improving crop productivity. "Chemical products that mediate enhanced crop performance are an untapped market with......

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Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, defended in Parliament the approval of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) based on the scientific evidence provided to him by the experts of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The EU president expressed his opinion when he was criticized by the Green...

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The Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB) announced the presentation of national plant breeding programs of 35 countries in the GIPB website. In each country folder, information is provided on the brief background of the country and its agriculture, presents the on-going plant breeding activities in each...

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A seminar of the Indonesian Society for Microbiology : Harnessing the power of microbes for better food, agro-industry, health, and environment will be held on on 4-7 October 2010 at IPB International Convention Center (IPBICC). The seminar aims to provide a platform for international microbiologists, biotechnologists, and bioinformaticians, policy......

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Uganda launched the report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech /GM Crops: 2009 at the International Conference on Agrobiotechnology, Biosafety and Seed Systems in Developing Countries (AGBIOSAFESEED 2010), held at the Imperial Royal Hotel in Kampala on March 10, 2010. The four- day conference was attended by over...

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BASF, the company that developed the newly approved potato Amflora, has announced the company's intention to seek approval of other genetically modified (GM) potato varieties in the pipeline. One unnamed potato variety is for specific use in industrial processes such as the manufacture of paper. Another variety named "Fortuma" has...

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The 5th World Cowpea Research Conference will be held on September 27 to October 2010 in Dakar, Senegal. The theme of the conference is Improving livelihoods in the cowpea value chain through advancement in science. Topics of discussion include cowpea genetic improvement and use of molecular tools, human nutrition and...

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The Conference on Fostering Growth and Reducing Poverty and Hunger in Asia and Latin America will be held in Swissotel, Lima, Peru on March 22-24, 2010. The conference is hosted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Universidad del Pacifico. Discussions in the conference will be on strategies...

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Dow AgroSciences is set to invest in more than $340 million and offer more than 550 new scientific and commercial jobs in the next five years. The first phase in the plan is the construction of a research and development building and greenhouse on its Indianapolis campus. These facilities will...

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Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology is the latest publication of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC). It discusses environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices which are facilitated by biotechnology crops. Dramatic improvements in enviro......

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After two years of research and consultation, the European Food Safety Authority has revised and updated the guidance for assessing the impact of Genetically Modified (GM) plants on the environment. The revision of the guideline is a response to a request from the European Commission and demonstrates EFSA's commitment...

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Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), China's Jiangsu Mingtian Seeds Science Technology Co. Ltd (JMSSTCL), and Four Brothers Group of Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop the agricultural sector in Pakistan. PARC Chairman Zafar Altaf said China will provide seeds and technology through field trials to determine th......

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Apomixis, the old elusive dream of molecular biologists to produce offsprings in sexually reproducing plants through asexual means, could be a reality in the discovery of Argonaute 9 protein. The research which will be available in the online version of Nature discussed the generation of viable seeds in the absence...

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Biotechnology is an indispensable tool to meet the world's growing demand for more food. It is a useful tool to fight hunger, poverty and malnutrition when biosafety requirements are strictly followed. Bangladesh Minister for Agriculture Begum Matia Chowdhury made these remarks as Chief Guest during the launch of the International...

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Cytokinin, a plant growth hormone that promotes cell division and growth in plants, was found to effectively stimulate the growth of cotton stem and branches. The research conducted by John Burke, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Cropping Systems Research Laboratory in Lubbock, Texas found that...

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Several recommendations were forwarded by participants of the International Conference on Biotechnology-based Sustainable Agriculture held in New Delhi, India last December 19, 2009. The conference was organized by the International Life Sciences Institute-India and co-sponsored with the Department of Biotechnology, among others. Among the recommen......

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Several papers presented by experts during the International Conference on Biotechnology-based Sustainable Agriculture held in New Delhi, India last December 19, 2009 are available online at http://www.ilsi-india.org/conference-on-biotechnology-based-sustainable-agriculture.htm Papers are categorized by sessions on the following topics: Dynamics o......

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The KTNA (National Outstanding Farmer and Fisherman Association) of Indonesia recently concluded a biotech workshop on the theme "Sustainable Modern Agriculture" in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia on 16 – 17 February 2010. Dr. Edison Purba of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara said that "biotechnology...

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The beautiful flowers of the ornamental plant geranium attract pollinating insects and predators alike. It tricks the most destructive pest of ornamental and turf plants in eastern United States, the beetle, Popillia japonica. When the petals are chewed by the beetle, they exhibit a twitching stance and become paralyzed for...

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The European Union-Joint Research Centre published four new plant summary notifications from Romania. These are: * Field trials for Monsanto's genetically modified MON 89034 × MON 88017 maize * Field trials for Monsanto's genetically modified MON 89034 × NK603 maize * Field trials for Monsanto's genetically modified...

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There is a gradual increase in public support for genetically modified food among the British and they are less likely to have a strong attitude towards it. These are some revelations from an attitude study funded by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of the United Kingdom. Aside from GM food,...

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The Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli has been given an order to develop and submit a proposal by the European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso, on how a Community authorization system based on science can be combined with freedom of choice to plant GM crops on their respective...

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