Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Food Crops News 277


Food Crops News
TÌNH YÊU CUỘC SỐNG. Thông tin Cây Lương thực Toàn cầu tháng 11 năm 2015 (Food Crops News 277). Chuyên trang thu thập, tuyển chọn thông tin Cây Lương thực giùm bạn và giúp bạn luyện học tiếng Anh nông nghiệp chuyên ngành.




food crops
Daily update November 30, 2015

NEWS


Worcester Telegram
Bottom Line: Greenvitalize to grow crops and jobs nurtured by aquaponics
A primary goal is to build a sustainable local food system that is responsive to the needs of residents, restaurants and local institutions. During a tour of ...
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Radio New Zealand
Concern in Tonga over crop pesticide and cancer link
Tonga's Ministry of Agriculture says the misuse of pesticides there is contaminating food crops, affecting the health of farmers and could be causing ...
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ABC Online
Warning even two degrees of global warming 'very risky' for farm production, will increase food prices
"Food prices during the drought, during 2005 to 2007, went up quite ... per cent of Australia's food crops, were dire under global warming projections, ...
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Government Urged to Assist People Displaced By Floods As Heavy Rains Continue
Mr Kang'ara called on the government to be prepared to distribute relief food as food crops, particularly in Kirinyaga region, have been destroyed by ...
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 29, 2015

NEWS

Global Trade Won’t Solve the Food Shortages Brought on by Climate Change
The research looked at U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization data on 10 staple crops, including wheat and rice, grown around the world and …
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Lincoln Journal Star
Farm and Food: Never heard of CRISPR? You will
Food powerhouses like the U.S., Brazil and Argentina now grow genetically modified crops on 40, 23 and 13 percent, respectively, of their arable land, …
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Arizona Daily Star
Local farmers benefit from Food Bank, TMC partnership
Local farmers benefit from Food Bank, TMC partnership … Small local farmers are getting an opportunity to plant more crops thanks to a new program …
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Dallas Morning News
Texas A&M joins research into water-saving pineapple that may help feed the world
In agricultural circles, they’re renowned water misers — a power that could one day help other food crops survive drought, local researchers have …
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The Independent
Kenya’s Rain Lady shows Paris climate change summit how to battle drought
On a succession of terraces, built to catch every drop of rain that falls, she is growing maize, bananas, beans, millet and other food crops. Last year …
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CBC.ca
Agribition food pavilion celebrates homegrown Saskatchewan cuisine
Agribition food pavilion celebrates homegrown Saskatchewan cuisine … Schulhauser said the pulse crops (from the legume family) carry flavour very …
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The Straits Times
Ride, play and eat
Learn what life was like during the Japanese Occupation at the exhibition gallery and wander behind the museum to see food crops such as …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 28, 2015

NEWS

Have strong bio-safety systems for GM crop: Swaminathan
“There are concerns about safety aspects of GM crops. … Appreciating the right to food approach adopted under the National Food Security Act …
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Drought-proofing Qld’s crops
Researchers from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) have forecast a relatively healthy future for sorghum crops, but …
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FeedNavigator.com
Food production goals attainable, but focus on water
The only real stumble in meeting growing demand for major crops was in the early-to-mid 2000s, when an unusual string of bad weather hit several …
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iSchoolGuide
Never heard of CRISPR? You will.
Food powerhouses like the U.S., Brazil and Argentina now grow genetically modified (GM) crops on 40, 23 and 13 percent, respectively, of their arable …
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UN News Centre
UNESCO: Reinforcing the resilience of indigenous peoples and sharing knowledge to address
“Diversity of food crops is very important. With climate change, we are losing the diversity of key crops. We must teach the youth to keep the diversity of …
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Tengrinews
Use of GMOs debated in Kazakh Senate
As for the use of GMOs in food crops and forage crops, we will make expert examinations of the crops first, and only then will make the decision,” …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 27, 2015

NEWS

Securing our food security without GM crops
We wish to respond to the article ‘Securing our food supply with GM crops‘ by Dr Hoe-Han Goh published in the New Straits Times on Nov 14, 2015.
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Irish Times
Gardens: Big plans to grow food in small spaces
She also gives plenty of useful tips on growing many other more unusual food crops in the smallest of spaces, including shiitake and tree oyster …
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House weighing options on genetically modified crops
The House Committee on Food Security is taking its time to study the possibility of legalizing the use of biotechnology or genetically-modified crops in …
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WPTV.com
Nevada Researchers Trying to Turn Roadside Weed Into Biofuel
… sunflower that grows across much of Nevada’s high desert and doesn’t compete for acreage with animal feed or food crops used to make ethanol.
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Business Weekly
Alliance to tackle African food security challenges
Projects include improving food crops using modern breeding techniques, reducing the levels of toxins found in certain African crops and transferring …
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AlterNet
30 Reasons to Be Thankful This Thanksgiving
Pesticides that are killing critical food crop pollinators like bees and butterflies and endangering human health continue to be used worldwide.
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The Ecologist
EPA bans toxic pesticide mix on GM crops
George Kimbrell, Center for Food Safety’s senior attorney, said:”The decision by EPA to withdraw the illegally approved Enlist Duo crops is a huge …
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Cropping season starts
Agritex head for Manicaland, Mr Godfrey Mamhare, said farmers in areas with sufficient soil moisture could start planting food crops. Mr Mamhare said …
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Manitoba Co-operator
Research unleashes power of pulses
“In terms of research excellence, the pulse crop research and breeding … awareness about the crops‘ benefits in terms of nutrition, sustainable food …
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Radio New Zealand
The toxic legacy of superphosphate
Dr Joy said it was not possible to say how much land was now too contaminated to grow food crops. “The only real published work we can use is the …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 26, 2015

NEWS


Atlas Obscura
Cranberries Are the Only Thanksgiving Food That Actually Came From North America
Most of that food, though, isn’t actually native to the United States. … If Thanksgiving dinner were relegated only to crops that were truly North American …
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Firm warns of PH food shortage, offers GMO
“The population is growing and the demand for food is growing very quickly. In fact it is growing faster than the production of food crops. Farmers are …
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TakePart


EcoWatch
Bee Thankful This Thanksgiving: Demand Big Food Stop Killing Our Pollinators
Bee Thankful This Thanksgiving: Demand Big Food Stop Killing Our … tea, rice and a host of other food crops and further testing confirmed that the …
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Columbus Dispatch
A small but growing number are finding success growing crops within the city
Hogan saw an opportunity to help folks interested in growing food in the city by tapping into Ohio State’s massive agricultural knowledge and …
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US FDA finalises GM food labelling guidance
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalised guidance for … labelling of foods made with ingredients from genetically modified crops, …
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Nevada Appeal
Lease OK’d for food hub
The future of a downtown food hub received good news late last week … a space at the Fallon Food Hub/Co-op where specialty crops from regional …
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Minnesota Public Radio News
When a big food firm wants a smaller footprint, the farmer steps in
Grove’s job is to help farmers grow bigger and better crops. Now he’s working with 25 farmers to help them to adapt more sustainable practices.
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Financial Times
Another shortage scare? Canned pumpkin could beat the odds
The rumored turkey shortage isn’t the only scare buzzing around the food … However, despite the heavy damage to Libby’s pumpkin crops, O’Hearn …
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Forbes
How Agricultural Technology Has Shaped Your Thanksgiving Feast
In addition to nutritional value and a multitude of uses for food, fuel and … man who taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn and fertilize crops with fish.
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Crop Biotech Update
November 25, 2015
The Cornell Alliance for Science converged in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, on November 17 to launch a global conversation on ending world hunger. The Alliance’s 25 newly graduated Global Leadership Fellows mingled with diplomats, journalists, academics, and science allies, sharing the personal stories that prompted them to embrace technological tools in the quest for food security. The Fellows, who represent 10 nations, had just completed a 12-week intensive course on science, communications, and grassroots organizing at Cornell University. They were the first cohorts in a pioneering program conceived by Cornell plant biologist Dr. Sarah Evanega and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“We must use the tools of science to end the disparity we see around the world,” Evanega told the crowd of 100 persons assembled at the gala. “I’d like to work toward ensuring that every parent has the opportunity to put warm nutritious food in front of their children three times a day, and that every mother can both feed her children and send them to school.”
The Fellows, who returned to their countries this week, will pursue the implementation of campaigns and communication strategies aimed at improving public understanding of the role that biotechnology and science can play in ending hunger.
Among those sharing their personal stories was Fr. Emmanuel C. Alparce of the Philippines, who said that millions of his countrymen are hungry. “I’m here because I believe biotech will improve the lives of my people, especially the farmers,” he said.
Nassib Mugwanya spoke of how farmers in his home country of Uganda are suffering from hunger and economic setbacks because plant viruses are ravaging the essential cassava crop. Scientists have genetically engineered cassava to resist these viruses, but political activists have blocked its introduction. “Even though the solution is right in front of us, right within our reach, the legislative climate has not been right for farmers to have this crop on their farms,” he said.

Read the original article at Cornell Alliance for Science website. For details, contact Dr. Sarah Davidson Evanega at snd2@cornell.edu.
The Philippines celebrates the National Biotechnology Week 2015 (NBW 2015) from November 23 to 28, 2015 in SM Dasmariñas, Cavite, focusing on the theme, Biotechnology: People’s Partner in National Development. The NBW 2015 is spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Engr. Mario Montejo, DOST Secretary, delivered the inspirational message, which was read by Dr. Reynaldo Ebora, Acting Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development. According to Engr. Montejo, biotechnology continues to be a controversy in the country, thus, there’s a need to continuously open channels of communication about the issues and implications through public engagement. He also said that DOST commits to come up with policies that promote biotech innovation and development while maintaining safeguards for public health and privacy.
Dr. William Padolina, President of the National Academy of Science and Technology, delivered the keynote speech, emphasizing that agriculture must be a knowledge intensive activity to attain global competitiveness. He said that the decision to adopt biotech products relies on the government, and delaying such decision affects innovation and development, further causing poverty and suffering in the country.
“What difference are we making in the lives of these poor farmers, whom we engage in these debates? If we believe that technology can add value to the development agenda and deepen capital investments, why can we not work together? In good faith, let us have reason and informed public discussion knowing fully well that our understanding of genetics has deepen, thus challenging our traditional ideas and values. A strong partnership is needed among all sectors engaged in research and development to ensure the effective delivery of new technologies to our resource-poor farmers,” said Dr. Padolina.
ISAAA also launched its latest publications: 50 Biotech Bites, Voices and Views:Why Biotech?, and Biotech Corn in the Philippines: A Country Profile.
The week-long celebration is comprised of several activities hosted by different government agencies and organizations. These include health forum, crop biotech seminar, biotech writeshop, biotech journalism awards, teachers’ conference, career orientation, photo contest, among others.
The conduct of the event is in accordance with the national government policy to promote safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology and its products, as stated in Presidential Proclamation no. 1414, s. 2007.

For more information about the NBW, visit the DOST website.
Nature reports the virtually complete genome of Oropetium thomaeum, which is known as the resurrection grass because of its ability to regrow after extreme drought when water becomes available. The sequencing was made possible by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center researchers and Pacific Biosciences’ grant program, “Most Interesting Genome in the World.”
The resurrection grass has 245 Mb genome, grows on rock outcrops in Africa and India, and is closely related to major food, feed, and bioenergy crops. The genome sequence will help researchers understand the novel drought tolerance mechanisms for efficient and productive agricultural land use.
Get more information from Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Based on sound science and a comprehensive review, the US Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) has approved AquaBounty Technologies’ AquAdvantage Salmon, a genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon that grows to market size more quickly than non-GE farm-raised Atlantic salmon.
The FDA determined that food from AquAdvantage Salmon is as safe to eat and as nutritious as food from other non-GE Atlantic salmon and that there are no biologically relevant differences in the nutritional profile of AquAdvantage Salmon compared to that of other farm-raised Atlantic salmon.
In a statement, Bernadette Dunham, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said, “The F.D.A. has thoroughly analyzed and evaluated the data and information submitted by AquaBounty regarding the AquAdvantage salmon and determined that they have met the regulatory requirements for approval, including that food from the fish is safe to eat.”

For more information, read the FDA news release.
Sections
News from Around the World
Research Highlights
Beyond Crop Biotech
From the BICs

food crops
Daily update⋅November 25, 2015

NEWS


Penn State News
Smartphones enlisted in the battle versus crop disease
Global population is predicted to reach 9 billion by 2050, and the need for food security is becoming increasingly urgent. Meanwhile, crop diseases …
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Scoular Completes Acquisition of Legumex Walker Inc.’s Special Crops Division
… (LWI) Special Crops Division, a global merchandiser and processor of special crops, pulses, and associated healthy, specialty food ingredients.
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One Green Planet
3 Sometimes Forgotten Reasons Organic Whole Foods Are Better for the Environment
These crops are mostly used for livestock feed, to bolster processed foods, and a small section is designated directly for human consumption.
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Washington Post
Yet another way that poor countries will suffer the most from climate change
… is that warming temperatures will disrupt the world’s food supply. Many countries will find their staple crops don’t grow as well, or at all, and the ones …
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Community Call for Proper, Increased Food Aid Distribution
The East Hararege Zone collects an average of 60-80 quintal per hectare. But, this crop season, such harvest has turned out to be unattainable.
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Making genetic diversity part of climate change adaptation
Genetic resources for food and agriculture encompass the diversity of plants, … and to collect and conserve the wild relatives of important food crops.
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IRINnews.org
Food prices rise sharply after fighting disrupts Afghan harvest
CHARDARA DISTRICT, Afghanistan, 24 November 2015 (IRIN) – Food … “The crop is ready for harvest but we cannot touch one fruit or vegetable.”
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KOLO
Common Weed May Be Fuel Of The Future
Most biofuel crops are grown on our most productive soil and either are or compete with food crops. Grow corn for biofuel and you’re raising food …
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The Heartland Institute
Bill Banning State GMO Food Labels Reintroduced in Congress
The bill would also tighten the standards companies must use to designate their food as GMO-free: Crops must not be planted with bioengineered …
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New Era
CA key to Namibia’s self-sufficiency in crop production
A study by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United … the secret to high yielding rain-fed crop farming is about how farmers treat the …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 24, 2015

NEWS


Tech Times
‘Resurrection Plants’ That Come Back From The Dead Could Lead To Drought-Resistant Crops
Genetic secrets of plants that play dead during drought but can come back to life could help food crops do the same thing, scientists suggest.
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The New Indian Express
Chandy to open Tuber Crops Food Festival
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate a Tuber Crop Food Festival as part of the observation of Tuber Crops Day, at Kanakakunnu …
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Earth Island Journal
Seeking Crop Elders
Each of Rupple’s crops, indeed all domesticated plants grown for food or fiber, face disease and pest challenges of some sort. Agriculturalists are …
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The New Indian Express
Two-day Tuber Food Fest to Kick off Tomorrow
The two-day food fest is expected to provide a vast variety of tuber crops grown in around twenty states in the country. The fest will be held in …
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West Hawaii Today
Be thankful for more than just food this year
Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, we are blessed with the abundance of a great variety of food crops. Many fruits …
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Forbes
Embracing Technology: A Young Farmer’s Manifesto
… wrestling with, you could imagine that being tasked with producing food crops armed with a mule and a sense of determination is no small feat.
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Agriculture.com
Rodale Institute Director Says Healthy Soils Mean Healthy Foods
And healthy food equals healthy people,” says Moyer, who is executive … Moyer explains that soils covered with plants (cash crops or cover crops) are …
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Mail & Guardian Africa
Crops that ‘die and resurrect’ could help Africa beat climate change—including this ‘superfood’ from
One possible candidate is the teff grain grown predominantly in Ethiopia and Eritrea and which has received rave reviews from food scientists globally.
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Hindustan Times
Time we gave science its fair due when it comes to GM crops
Sceptics often question the safety of GM crops but it is important to note that 20 years of consumption of food derived from the products of GM crops …
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KOLO
Common Weed May Be Fuel Of The Future
A new crop for Nevada agriculture as water gets scarce, oil more expensive … on our most productive soil and either are or compete with food crops.
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 23, 2015

NEWS


Syracuse.com
Syracuse church harvests farms’ leftover crops to feed the hungry
Each year in America, as much as one-third of farm-grown food goes to waste. Crops are discarded when they don’t meet size or quality standards or …
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The Zimbabwe Standard


Quartz
If you want to keep eating french fries, you’d better start drinking strange wine
QZ: Right—you say that when it comes to climate change, we need to diversify food crops in order to hedge our bets, since we don’t know which ones …
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The Japan Times
As Earth warms, scientist leading research into drought-resistant crops
Food security doesn’t only depend on climate, it depends on markets and trade, prices and access by households to food,” said Jim Verdin, a drought …
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Mail & Guardian Africa
How mosquitoes ‘fought for’ the Bantu as they migrated, and other surprising ways African groups
But plants are deficient in salt, and with diets switching to domesticated crops, adding salt to food became an absolute necessity for maintaining life.
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Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette
Sandra Mason: A sweet holiday staple
Sweet potatoes are one of the most important food crops in tropical and subtropical countries, where both the roots and tender shoots are eaten.
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Odisha Sun Times
Tobacco doesn’t just kill smokers
According to Sainath, generally suicide cases are found mostly among cash crop farmer. Among farmers engaged in growing food crops, suicide …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 22, 2015


NEWS


FarmingUK
New thinking needed in order to prevent crops being attacked by slugs
The John Innes Centre (JIC) warns new thinking is needed if we are to protect valuable food crops from future attacks and this is the subject of the …
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The Straits Times
FDA nod for GM salmon created by Singapore don
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) told The Straits Times GM food crops and animals sold in Singapore have to undergo safety …
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City to host tuber food festival
The two-day Tuber Food Fest 2015 to be held at the Kanakakunnu Palace … The festival is being organised by the Central Tuber Crops Research …
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The Guardian Charlottetown
Soil and organic food production conference coming to PEI
Moyer’s presentations will cover topics related to organic crop production systems, … “Healthy soil equals healthy food equals healthy people. Share in …
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Climate Change Will Impact Commercial Agriculture
There are also some interesting experiments with a technique called “hosting”, where food crops are planted between rows of trees so that there is a …
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food crops
Daily update⋅   November 21, 2015
NEWS

NDTV
Fake Pesticides Endanger Crops and Human Health in India
Millions of unsuspecting Indian farmers are spraying fake pesticides onto their fields, contaminating soil, cutting crop yields and putting both food …
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KSHB
The great GMO foods debate: Are they safe? Are consumers in the dark about what’s in our food?
Mike Pompeo (R-KS 4th District) introduced the Safe and Accurate Food … Pesticides, including those bioengineered into food crops, are regulated …
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Agricultural Research
Camelina ‘Partnered’ with Soybeans for Food and Fuel Benefits
Once considered a weed, camelina is gaining popularity in some parts of the country as a soil-protecting winter cover crop. Additionally, its seed …
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Los Angeles Times

Delta Farm Press
FDA denies request to require labeling of GMO-containing foods
“The petition does not provide evidence sufficient to show that foods … require labeling of foods made with ingredients from genetically modified crops.
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The Australian
growing food in the desert
The company that’s growing food in the desert … Sundrop grows crops in a protected environment, with stable and predictable energy, labour and …
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Moneycontrol.com
Indian crop protection chemicals market to reach $7.5 bn by FY19
Rising population is leading to a shift in the food consumption patterns in the country. Shrinking arable land and loss of crops due to pests pose a …
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The Sun Chronicle
Attleboro High students farming their own veggies
They raised larger food crops like corn in season in outdoor garden beds. … Finale, whose students are among many helping to raise food at school.
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Tom Karwin, On Gardening: Labeling pesticides, food among top issues of the day
Food suppliers have responded in several ways to consumers’ concerns … together with the sale of seeds for crops that are immune to its effects.
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CounterPunch
Who Needs Gates And Monsanto?
Paterson warned that a food revolution that could save Africa from hunger is being held back. … We are told by the GMO biotech lobby that GM crops are essential, are better for the environment and will provide the tools that farmers …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 20, 2015

NEWS

Acceptance of GM Crops Spreads As Agricultural Challenges Increase
Two of Uganda’s major food crops, cassava and bananas, are facing extinction thanks to the Banana Bacterial Wilt, Cassava Mosaic, and Cassava …
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‘The role of crop diversity and food resilience in a changing climate’
We have many different collections across the country, ranging from peas to fruits, to the wild relatives of cultivated food crops. These living collections …
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Manitoba Co-operator
Canada could do better in agri-food
Canada shouldn’t be content with its status as the world’s fifth-largest food … of basic research that will yield more suitable crops and livestock, he noted. … The two-day conference, organized by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy …
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Country Guide
New in food-grade and edible beans
OAC Thamesville is an IP food-grade variety suited to the 3150 crop heat unit (CHU) region of Eastern Canada, with a relative maturity (RM) of 2.3.
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Holyrood.com
Scottish scientists concern over effect of GM crops ban
The multi-site James Hutton Institute is one of the biggest research centres in the UK, specialising in environmental, crop and food science, and …
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Newsweek
Breakfast in Post-Apocalypse America: Inside Colorado’s Fort Knox of Food
Otherwise, the material could be lost forever—and when crop and livestock diversity is lost, so is our food supply’s resiliency to environmental threats.
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The Siasat Daily
Crop protection chemicals to boost 25-50% productivity: FICCI
With the rising population in India, there has been a shift in the food consumption patterns. Shrinking land and loss of crops due to pests has lead to a …
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Business Standard (press release) (registration) (blog)
Punjab govt not to conduct field trials of GM mustard
Accusing GEAC of being non-transparent and biased, she said, “it is outrageous that GM food crops are being pushed without adequate safety …
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The Guardian
Pesticides stop bumblebees from pollinating apple trees, research shows
The finding has important implications for agriculture and the natural world, say the researchers, as many food crops and wildflowers rely on bee …
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USDA.gov (press release) (blog)
Alternatives to Antibiotics to Keep Food Animals Healthy
Alternatives to Antibiotics to Keep Food Animals Healthy … which includes food, animals, crops and the environment—water, soil and climate.
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 19, 2015

NEWS


Deccan Chronicle
Bio-fortified rice, food crops to hit market in 2 years
Bio-fortified rice and other food crops will be made available in the market within two years, said V. Ravindra Babu, director, ICAR-Indian Institute of …
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Business Insider
One of the South’s biggest cash crops is on a long decline
One of the South’s biggest cash crops is on a long decline … of further exodus from the fiber in areas where growers can grow food crops such as corn, …
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Manitoba Co-operator
Farmers asked to speak up on GE technology
No other type of crop breeding even looks at this aspect,” said Wager. … allergenic response to a GE crop or derived food, in the history of GE crops.”.
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Inter Press Service
Zimbabweans Align With Climate-Smart Agriculture Amid Food Deficits
According to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation, … have opted to reduce on crops and concentrate more on livestock production. … But as food deficits rise, Climate-Smart Agriculture has apparently become a …
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USDA.gov (press release) (blog)
Tribal Communities Strive to Regain Food Sovereignty
A crew from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians takes care of crops inside a high tunnel constructed with Community Food Projects (CFP) funds.
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The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists (blog)
A Better Way for Our Food System
At some point, we have to ask: if our food system causes nitrate pollution, … At this year’s joint meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop …
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Genetically Modified Foods
This has triggered a huge uproar across the country over the merits and demerits of the GM foods in general. In India, a GM crop Bt Cotton has already …
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Firstpost
Tomato terror: As prices go north, govt pins hopes on new crops
While the tomato prices have gone up in other parts of the country as well, the food and consumer affairs ministry said in a statement that a high-level …
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Hail hits Goulburn Valley fruit crop again
Damage has been caused to pear orchids as another hail storm hit the Goulburn Valley last week, presenting another blow to Victorian pear growers.
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FoodNavigator.com
Strong pulse: UN’s International Year of Pulses targets trade boost
Pulses, which include beans, peas and lentils, are particularly important food crops in Latin America, Africa and Asia, where they are often part of …
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Crop Biotech Update
November 18, 2015
In spite of the rapid adoption of GM crops, their use remains contentious. Public opposition and overregulation have become real threats to further developments in modern plant sciences. It is widely believed that GM crops are bad for human health, damage the environment, and hurt smallholder farmers in developing countries, but research shows that the opposite is true. Matin Qaim, a professor of agricultural economics in Germany, has studied the impacts around the world. He has now written a book about his 20 years of experience. The book “Genetically Modified Crops and Agricultural Development” was recently published by Palgrave Macmillan.
In the book, Qaim reviews the impacts of current and possible future GM crop applications and shows that these technologies can contribute substantially to sustainable agricultural development and food security. Popular narratives about “Frankenfoods,” “Genetic Contamination,” and “Terminator Genes” are deconstructed. Qaim uses a political-economy perspective to explain the emergence and success of the protest industry. He concludes that continued opposition to technologies that were shown to be beneficial and safe entails unnecessary human suffering and environmental degradation. But he remains optimistic and shows what needs to be done in order to advance GMOs responsibly in the future.
In his foreword to the book, Professor Chris Barrett (Cornell University) writes: “I can think of no better scholar to introduce this hot-button topic than Matin Qaim.” Professor Calestous Juma (Harvard University) says: “This path-breaking book combines intellectual courage and analytical rigor. It brings balanced research and sobriety to one of the most controversial technological developments of the early twenty-first century.”
Read more at Palgrave Macmillan.
A peer review expert group composed of scientists from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and representatives of risk assessment bodies in EU Member States have finalized the reassessment of glyphosate. The report concludes that glyphosate is unlikely to be genotoxic (damaging to DNA), or to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans, and proposes a new safety measure that will tighten the control of glyphosate residues in food.
The group has set an acute reference dose (ARfD) for glyphosate of 0.5 mg per kg of body weight, the first time such an exposure threshold has been applied to the substance. Glyphosate is not to be classified as carcinogenic under the EU regulation for classification, labeling, and packaging of chemical substances. All the Member State experts but one agreed that neither the epidemiological data nor the evidence from animal studies showed causality between exposure to glyphosate and the development of cancer in humans.
The review also proposed toxicological safety thresholds. The acceptable operator exposure level (AOEL) was set at 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day and an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for consumers was set in line with the ARfD at 0.5 mg/kg body weight per day. Jose Tarazona, who heads EFSA’s Pesticides Unit, said “By introducing an acute reference dose we are further tightening the way potential risks from glyphosate will be assessed in the future. Regarding carcinogenicity, it is unlikely that this substance is carcinogenic.”
For more information, read the news release at the EFSA website.
A team of scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico, together with partners in China, Norway, and Australia have sequenced and described a gene that can help wheat to resist four serious fungal diseases. The research team isolated the wheat gene Lr67, revealing how it hampers the growth of fungal pathogen through a novel mechanism.
Lr67 belongs to a group of three known “magic” genes that help wheat to resist all three wheat rusts and powdery mildew. The genes act in different ways, slowing rather than totally stopping the development of disease. According to CIMMYT scientist Ravi Singh, they created and field tested genetic mutations of Lr67, to identify the gene’s exact location in the wheat genome. The cloned gene will be much easier to deploy widely in CIMMYT breeding lines, he said.
For more information, read the news article at the CIMMYT website.
International Plant Biotechnology Outreach of VIB and Ghent University, in collaboration with International Potato Center (CIP) conducted a 10-day course on November 4-13, 2015 in Entebbe, Uganda. The course was on regulatory and biosafety issues of agricultural biotechnology in the East-African region, with GM late blight resistant potato as the case study.
The workshop was attended by 20 participants who represented a broad spectrum of professionals – scientists, regulators, and science communicators from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. After outlining the challenges faced by potato farmers in the East African region, ongoing crop improvement research with potential solutions for the future was presented. This part of the course was strengthened by a visit to GM banana field trials in Kawanda, Uganda.
The second part of the course focused on the regulatory and risk assessment principles. Participants received a global overview of these issues, followed by specific discussions pertaining to the potato case in East Africa. The final section of the course, conducted by ISAAA AfriCenter, focused on science and risk communication and inspired the participants to discover the art of communicating scientific research to the general public. The different sessions were articulated around theoretical lectures and group exercises.
The overall course was an excellent opportunity for regulators and scientists to network, discuss, and discover the different aspects related to the potential implementation of biotech crops in the African continent. The lessons learnt from the case study were very helpful. The GM late blight resistant potato was generally perceived by the participants as having great potential to benefit Ugandan farmers who largely depend on potato farming.

For more details, contact Dr. Marc Heijde of VIB-International Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO) at marc.heijde@vib-ugent.be.
Sections
News from Around the World
Research Highlights
From the BICs
food crops
Daily updateNovember 18, 2015
NEWS

NewsDay
Climate change ignorance threatens food security in Zim
According to statistics, Mashonaland East failed to meet its projected crop output resulting in the province accruing a food deficit of 36 500 metric …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 17, 2015
NEWS

The Salinas Californian
Local crops on top of food safety
Every day, farmers are juggling all of the factors vital to bringing a successful crop to market: soil, water, nutrients, weather, worker welfare, and plant …
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Economy Lead
Continue ban on GM crops, activists urge Bengal Govt.
“It has been reported that the GM mustard (DMH-11) the first ever GM food crop that could potentially reach our plates, will be considered for approval …
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The Hill
Concerned Americans Urge White House to Overhaul GMO Regulations by the Thousands
“U.S. rules meant to oversee genetically engineered crops are not only … the pike,” said executive director of Food & Water Watch, Wenonah Hauter.
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ESI Africa
Industry Insight: A virtuous cycle—bioenergy for food production
We only consume a small fraction of the biomass in food crops. Whether cacao, cassava, coffee or corn, the majority of the plant or fruit biomass is …
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Boise Weekly
Idaho Students, Professors Theorize Growing Crops on Mars
This morning’s Lewiston Tribune reports U of I food science professor Helen … a thesis that asked students to (theoretically) grow crops on Mars.
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eco-business.com
How will climate change affect Queensland’s crops?
Researchers from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) forecast a relatively healthy future for sorghum crops, but see …
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Greenhouse Grower (blog)
How To Choose The Right Hydroponic Production System For Growing Basil
However, for growers interested in beginning to produce food crops, starting a new production scheme may seem like a daunting task. Common …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 16, 2015


NEWS


NJ.com
Are GMOs regulated? Scientist betting $10 million they aren’t
“GM crops undergo safety assessments that are more rigorous and thorough than assessments of any other food crop in history,” the spokeswoman …
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ABC Online
Sorghum to beat wheat in weathering climate change impacts in Queensland
While sorghum is regarded as one of the “ancient grains”, and a staple food crop in developing countries, it is predominantly used domestically in …
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The Wire
Urban India’s Quinoa Craze Is Further Endangering Millets
Many experts, including the architect of Green Revolution M.S. Swaminathan, have called for diversifying crops and food preferences to eliminate high …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 15, 2015

NEWS


New Straits Times Online
Securing our food supply with GM crops
In contrast, the Philippines has been planting GM crops for years, while Vietnam and Myanmar are growing GM corn. Indonesia has followed suit with …
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Valley morning Star
Crops for the Community
HARLINGEN — Local residents are learning lessons on crops and soil … In a joint effort of the Harlingen Neighborhood Food Pantry, Harlingen …
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Portland Tribune
Mt. Hope Farms is finalist for Good Food Awards
The Good Food Award is a national, distinguished award for food crafters who … “As a family, we want to grow crops that have great flavor, are highly …
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GreenBiz
Bread, wine, chocolate: The slow loss of foods we love
In its best manifestation, food is love — one of the most intimate … (The Trust provides funding for important crop collections and oversees the …
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Speakers say a consumer trend toward non-GMO foods is growing
Speakers say a consumer trend toward non-GMO foods is growing … In crops, it’s quite often done to make plants resistant to disease, pests and …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 14, 2015

NEWS


MyStatesman.com
Collect seeds to preserve plant, food heritage
By Sustainable Food Center – Special to the American-Statesman … crops and passing these crops down to each new generation of food growers.
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YES! Magazine
The USDA Is Putting $34.3 Million Into Local Food Projects. Will It Be Enough?
A food hub gives farmers the opportunity to aggregate their crop and market collaboratively. The farmer-led Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative is using …
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Crop Protection Association Taps Cohn & Wolfe
Crop Protection Association Taps Cohn & Wolfe … plant science technologies, which help cultivate and protect food crops, gardens, woodlands …
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PBS NewsHour
Why do potatoes grow pink slime?
Every year, pathogens and the diseases they cause can greatly impact the quality and yield of crops. “Food spoilage is a real issue in our world – and …
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NewsDay
Farmers urged to adapt to climate change
Farmers should grow the most suitable crop varieties for their agro-ecological and climatic conditions to ensure food security, a seed company official …
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WTOL.com
El-Nino to impact food production for millions, UN agency says
El-Nino to impact food production for millions, UN agency says … and their families will need food assistance because of significant crop losses due to …
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Farm Futures
How biofuel from corn stover could impact grain markets
“First-generation biofuels, produced from food crops, will not be able to replace a large portion of the oil-based liquid fuels because a rapid expansion …
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Food Tank (blog)
Community Forests International Plants Trees and Livelihoods on Pemba Island
… essential in order to provide an income and nourishment while waiting for the trees to mature, and began planting rows of food crops, such as millet, …
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Outlook India
Telangana set for GM trials by seed giants
Telangana is set to become the sixth Indian state to allow field trails of GM food crops – Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh …
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Inter Press Service
One-Third of Papua New Guineans Suffering Drought Crisis
It is much harder to work in the more extreme heat and the heat causes our food crops to wither and dry up,” Selau, in Siar, said. Women food growers …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 13, 2015

NEWS


Huffington Post
Squash Pots and Bad Bananas: The Cultural Myopia of American Food Activists
Some of the discussion centered on the need for GMOs (genetically engineered crops) that could help food stability in parts of Africa. This offended …
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Sudan expects below-average levels of sorghum, millet crops
The upcoming annual government-led Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) is planned for December and will be supported by FAO …
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ITV News
Alternative crops and eelworm are a farming priority
Scott Meadows, our Head of Plant Health, is working on new ideas and new initiatives,mainly around non-food crops, and there’s some potential in …
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Medical Daily
Food Scientists Fix Stevia’s Bitter Taste; Beverage Industry May Turn To Stevia As Sugar
Recently, however, food scientists at Cornell’s International Crops and Weed Garden discovered the part of stevia that stimulates the bitter receptors …
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WKMS
Kentucky Department of Agriculture awarded $300K for specialty crop projects
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture was awarded a Specialty Crop … working with the food industry to highlight the values of the crop, including …
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Mashable
How to build and maintain your settlements in ‘Fallout 4’
Everything other than food requires scrap, both broken down from the … Food is a special case in that the only thing you need to plant a crop is the …
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The Conversation UK
GM crops and the developing world: opposing sides miss the bigger picture
The majority of genetically modified (GM) crops are now cultivated in the … Probably the best known was Zambia’s 2002 rejection of GM food aid …
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UPI.com
EU agency: Weedkiller glyphosate unlikely to cause cancer
Concerns about chemicals used in the growth of food crops causing cancer have grown significantly as studies have shown glyphosate can cause …
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UN News Centre
Over 2 Million In Central America Will Need Food Assistance Due To Drought, El Nino
… mostly subsistence farmers, day labourers and their families, will need food assistance because of significant crop losses due to prolonged drought …
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35 year old banished from Village over food theft
Farida Nasolo Kyekulura Village Chairperson, says that she had earlier received complaints from at least three people whose food crops had been …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 12, 2015

NEWS


Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
Food Sovereignty Ghana to appeal against court ruling for GM crops trial in Ghana
Food Sovereignty Ghana, FSG says it will appeal against a ruling by the Human Rights Court dismissing an application for Interlocutory Injunction …
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FRANCE 24
Is Bangladesh becoming a new laboratory for GM crops?
The country is in the midst of a pilot project promising cheap food for the masses, with the “BT Brinjal” GM aubergine as its flagship pest-resistant crop.
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Floods, Riots in Mock 2026 Food Crisis Test Government Response
“Something is going to happen,” he said at a forum on food security in … threatening crops in both regions and helping push world food prices up in …
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The Daily Meal
Tribal Leaders Propose Reintroduction of Traditional Native American Foods to Reverse Diabetes
Studies show that traditionally Native American foods, such as yucca, … leaders are seeking to reintroduce nutritious traditional foods and crops.
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Food World News
Open-Source Food Tech Is The Future That Wil Change One’s Diet
This means the involvement of boxes where people can grow their crops and take control of the production of their food. It is quite impressive and …
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New Era
The Importance of Healthy, Productive Soils to Grow Food for Namibia
“SOIL – building a productive, food-secure Namibia from the ground up”, was … of soils in order to increase production and offer more nutritious crops.
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Crop Biotech Update
November 11, 2015
Scientists from the University of Geneva and ETH Zurich reported a new genetically engineered cassava variety that produces high levels of vitamin B6. The results are published in Nature Biotechnology.
Cassava is rich in calories but lacks vitamin content. It has a small amount of vitamin B6, and to achieve the required daily amount of vitamin B6, one has to eat over 1 kilogram of cassava everyday. Prof. Teresa Fitzpatrick from the University of Geneva discovered two enzymes (PDX1 and PDX2) in Arabidopsis which are involved in the production of vitamin B6 and used this discovery to pump up vitamin B6 in cassava. The scientists introduced the genes that code for the production of the enzymes into the cassava genome, leading to new cassava lines with increased amounts of vitamin B6. Furthermore, greenhouse and field trials showed that the new cassava lines are stable and vitamin B6 is bioavailable in the plants.
When these cassava lines become available to the public, it could prevent vitamin B6 deficiency particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where cassava is considered as one of the most important staple crops.
Know more about the project from ETH Zurich.
Scientists at the John Innes Centre have discovered a technique to boost the amounts of natural compounds in tomatoes. The compounds are classified as phenylpropanoids like Resveratrol and Genistein. Resveratrol is a compound in wine, which was found to extend life in animal studies. On the other hand, Genistein is present in soybean and has been linked to prevention of steroid-hormone related cancers such as breast cancer.
The researchers focused on the protein AtMYB12 in Arabidopsis which activates several genes involved in metabolic pathways leading to the production of natural compounds in plants. Introducing both AtMYB12 and genes from plants encoding enzymes specific for making Resveratrol in grape and Genistein in legumes, led to tomatoes that could produce as much as 80mg of novel compound per gram of dry weight.
Furthermore, one tomato resulted to have the same amount of Resveratrol with 50 bottles of red wine. Another tomato was also able to produce Genistein equivalent to the amount found in 2.5 kg of tofu.
Read more about the study from JIC.
A technology developed for plant research by The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL)  scientist Dr. Matt Moscou has helped cure a one-year-old girl of leukemia. Dr. Moscou’s research, which centers on how some plants are susceptible to diseases while others are not, has developed a new genome editing technique. The technology was used to precisely edit the genes in bone marrow tissue that was removed from the patient, so that it can be reintroduced back into the patient and promote the establishment of a second bone marrow transplant.
Dr. Moscou was looking at the effect of the bacterium Xanthomonas on crops. The pathogen’s genes manipulate the plant’s sugar production, increasing sugar in order to feed the bacterium which in turn has a detrimental effect on the plant. To understand how this works, Dr. Moscou discovered the TAL (transcription activator–like) technologies, which enabled him to understand how the genes within the bacteria could change the sugar response in the plant.
“The irony is that bacteria which causes diseases in plant has led to a technology that saves human lives,” he said. “When we made this discovery six years ago we could not have predicted where it would lead today, with a little girl now cured of leukemia,” he added.

For more information, read the news release at the TSL website.
The book “Extreme Misunderstanding of GM Crops”, the first science based publication on GM crops was recently released in Japanese by Mr. Masami Kojima. Mr. Kojima was an active anti-GM newspaper reporter of The Mainichi, one of the three most popular newspapers in Japan. The book documents scientific information and benefits of GM crops from credible scientific studies, as well as accounts of his “seeing and believing” trip, and observations of farmer fields and laboratories in the USA. Mr. Kojima apologized for his previous anti-GMO stance and acknowledged that he was wrong in writing and talking about GM crops, without knowing and understanding the truth about the technology.
The book also criticizes the media and academia in Japan that have been disseminating wrong information, and urged them to tell stories based on science and not on politics. Views and opinions of various stakeholders including farmers, local and foreign, are also included highlighting the importance of science-based understanding of GM crops as well as safety tests of crops and foods derived from them. This is most useful in Japan where biotech crops acceptance is still a problem.

For further details, see the original article at Blogos. The book can be purchased through Amazon. For information on biotechnology in Japan contact Nippon Biotechnology Information Center Director, Dr. Fusao Tomita, at ​ftomita@a-hitbio.com and yrl05042@nifty.com.
Sections
News from Around the World
Research Highlights
From the BICs

food crops
Daily updateNovember 11, 2015


NEWS


USgamer (satire) (registration) (blog)


FG Urged to Embrace Bio-Crops Biotechnology to Address Food Challenge
Abuja — Renowned agriculturist and food security expert, Dr. Joseph Odusanya, has called on the federal government to embrace the cutting-edge …
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WKYT
US corn, soybean crops up from October
WASHINGTON — U.S. 2015 corn production was estimated at 13,654 million bus, up 99 million bus, or less than 1%, from 13,555 million bus forecast …
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The Guardian
Open-sourced food production – the future of urban diets?
… sharing open-source technologies that encourage local food production, including specialised boxes designed for a specific crop, such as tomatoes.
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UN News Centre
UN launches 2016 International Year of Pulses, celebrating benefits of legumes
“Pulses are important food crops for the food security of large proportions of populations, particularly in Latin America, Africa and Asia, where pulses …
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UT The Daily Texan
UT should develop energy efficiency beyond biofuels
Finally, biofuel crops have contributed to food price increases. According to Environmental Health Perspectives, the diversion of food crops for biofuels …
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Voice of America
S. African Drought Threatens Crops, Herds
That may fuel food prices and inflation at a time when the central bank is in a … Dry conditions last year cut South Africa’s maize crop by a third.
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WAND
Epicuriosity 101: Finding fresh farm food in winter
Depending on the severity of the winter, hardy greens and root crops can grow all winter under high tunnels in Central Illinois. In addition, long-time …
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Pilot Tribune
SILT plants seeds for sustainable food farms in area
Humes, a proponent of locally-raised food crops, said he was also taken with the idea of encouraging veterans to farm land in the future that may …
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Ancient Origins
Native Americans revive squash from seeds found in an 800-year-old pot
There is a worldwide movement to keep the planet’s rich heritage of food crops safe from genetic modification, catastrophe and loss of diversity that …
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food crops
Daily updateNovember 10, 2015
NEWS
FG Urged to Embrace Bio-crops Biotechnology to Address Food Challenge
Renowned agriculturist and food security expert, Dr. Joseph Odusanya, has called on the federal government to embrace the cutting-edge bio-crops …
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The CT Mirror
Herbicide finding intensifies battle over GMO labeling
The food and biotech industries are fighting Connecticut’s law and two … undesirable plants in and around fields where the food crops are grown.
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Voice of America (blog)
Banana Protein May Be Virus Killer
Now the fungus has moved into Africa and is killing banana crops in … Bananas are ranked fourth among the world’s food crops in monetary value.
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Grist
What would happen to your diet if bees completely disappeared?
… lot of crops that actually don’t need bees for pollination. Take grains, for instance. Grain pollen is spread primarily by wind, and so grain-based foods …
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The Land Newspaper
What Indonesia wants
“Indonesia has a strong agriculture industry, characterised by the production of both food and non-food cash crops, such as natural rubber, copra, …
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Time to Implement Low-price strategy
We have had now three seasons of good global grain crops that have put prices back …. “There’s an entire chapter dedicated to food safety,” he said.
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Geotrack mealybug invaders and more: CIAT Asia team received support from Dow
6 October, 2015
by (comments)
When we hear Dow at CIAT, most of us think about the collaboration of CIAT’s forages team with Dow AgroSciences who work together on ensuring farmers to have the high-quality forages they need to fatten their livestock and boost their incomes. Geotrack mealybug invaders and more: CIAT Asia team received support from Dow
Kris Wyckhuys and his team seized a new opportunity for collaboration that emerged with the Leadership in Action program of the Dow Chemical Company. The program offers its employees to partner with on-the-ground, local organizations in emerging geographies to develop sustainable community-driven solutions. As part of Dow’s 2025 Sustainability Goals, the company has committed to positively impacting the lives of one billion people over the next 10 years.
sim4web
Hampered by the ongoing cassava pest and disease crisis in Asia, Kris Wyckhuys took advantage of the program and applied successfully for support. Indonesia lacks the finances and manpower to rely on state-funded monitoring of cassava pests and diseases and so the winning idea was a crowdsourcing approach that can serve the dual purpose of assisting farmers and extension workers to identify and report pests, while simultaneously gathering data generated to build maps of pest occurrence and geographical distribution. Ultimately, these data could be used by researchers and government, to guide preventative actions, and strengthening of quarantine barriers.
sim3web
“The expectations were met. Over 5 months and in collaboration with Bogor Agricultural University, based in Jakarta, the volunteers provided virtual backstopping and a recent visit to the CIAT’s ongoing work in Indonesia on promoting sustainable control of the cassava mealybug”, says Kris who supervised the collaboration.
Through feasibility studies and surveys we aim to make progress on further monitoring, farmer extension and capacity building efforts, as such: 1) Evaluate the potential for crowd-sourcing to geotrack mealybug invaders; 2) Explore how to best feed into existing farmer-field schools or Community IPM networks for further farmer awareness raising and extension efforts, and 3) Assess the potential use of cell phones and mass media promoting of IPM concepts & technologies.
See Dow’s press release: Dow Employees Travel to Indonesia to Develop Sustainable, Community-Driven Solutions while Enhancing Leadership Skills
Read more on CIAT’s cassava research
Video: the stakes are high
by Georgina Smith (comments)

Cassava in Cambodia: The stakes are high
Demand for cassava in Asia is on the rise. As wet or dry starch, it’s in everything from noodles to pharmaceutical products, and has a growing niche in gluten-free and low fat foods. In Cambodia, this is a massive opportunity for smallholder farmers, who depend on income from the crop to support their livelihoods.
But cassava intensification could have dramatic environmental costs if it’s not managed properly. And farmers face mounting challenges in cultivating cassava profitably: from a swathe of emerging pests and diseases devastating harvests to declining soil fertility, climate shocks and volatile market prices.
Huong Sokhang on the front line: safeguarding cassava.
Huong Sokhang, a group leader of 30 farmers since 2013, knows the value of cassava for her family. She is one of around 40 million people across Southeast Asia who depend on the annual production of about 75 million tons of cassava grown as a cash crop on four million hectares.
Since the market is broad, it offers many opportunities for income generation. The crop can be stored in the soil throughout the year if it can’t be sold – and it’s relatively climate hardy. That’s especially important in Southeast Asia, which is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Dramatic impacts if not properly managed
Since 2009, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Training of Trainer courses – complete demonstration and field activity courses on sustainable cassava production – have been provided by CIAT staff, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries across Cambodia.
More than 100 extension staff linked to the IFAD-funded Rural Livelihoods Improvement Project (RULIP) alone, in Ratanakiri, Preah Vihear and Kratie provinces, received training through demonstrations and on-farm trials, delivered by CIAT.
Topics on the training curriculum included management of high-yielding, improved cassava varieties; land preparation and weeding techniques; appropriate use of fertilizers; soil erosion control; planting other crops with cassava for alternative incomes, soil fertility and pest and disease management options, as well as market options.
This year, Huong Sokhang planted cassava vertically, so the stake can take in more moisture from the soil if it’s dry. She learnt about this technique through a training day near her village, and since then, has made significant improvements in her farming.
She now saves US$200 in fertilizer each harvest, for example. She has boosted her yield five tons per hectare, after learning how to apply fertilizer more efficiently.So far, she has invested in new planting material, and can pay school fees and medical bills for her children, as well as buying more regular food for the family.
A pest and disease crisis
Cassava witches' broom is a key cassava threat.
But despite, improved management techniques, cassava production is under threat. Emerging pests and diseases are phytosanitary threats which endanger the gains of these initiatives. For example, the cassava witches’ broom disease – a systemic disease resulting in 10–15% yield loss and 20–30% starch content loss – continues to threaten farmers’ yields and income.
In key cassava cropping areas of Cambodia, virtually all cassava fields are infected, and farmers with little choice are planting infected stakes, risking their income.
Investigations are underway by CIAT and national research partners in Southeast Asia through an Emerging Pests and Diseases Project, supported by IFAD, to assess the cause and transmission of emerging threats, and control options. Until then, farmers can only take minimal precautions to prevent disease spread and safeguard their livelihoods.
Video on YouTube
Picture credits: G.Smith/CIAT
Brief: Improved cassava management and looming crisis
Download farmer testimonials
Photo album on Cassava Witches’ Broom devastation and threat from mealybug
– See more at: http://www.ciatnews.cgiar.org/2015/09/11/looming-threat-for-asias/#sthash.8NRf6iLO.dpuf
 
Related Posts
– See more at: http://www.ciatnews.cgiar.org/2015/10/06/geotrack-mealybug-invaders-and-more-ciat-asia-team-received-support-from-dow/#sthash.7CNBTSjl.dpuf
food crops
Daily update⋅November 8, 2015


NEWS

Can University of Minnesota make Kernza the wheat of the future?
The Land Institute in Kansas took over from there and has been leading the charge to convert wheatgrass into a food crop. It is the one that …
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Boom Live
How We Got To Now: Why The US And Europe Went Different Ways On GMOs
In India, genetically modified (GM) mustard is edging closer to becoming the first officially approved GM food crop to be placed on the market. This is …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 7, 2015


NEWS


KOSU
Tribes Try to Reintroduce Nutritious Food and Crops
In this interview with Rachel Hubbard, she talks about the progress they’re making in reintroducing nutritious food and crops to tribal members.
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Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun
Professor Explains Rising Food Prices
Professor Explains Rising Food Prices … De Gorter also said the specific time period these crop prices started to increase can be pinpointed. In 2008 …
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ScienceAlert
Scientists have found a gene that could be the key to growing food in space
If applied to other plants, this gene could be the key to getting crops to survive and grow fast enough in the harsh environment of space, such as on …
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Grand Forks Herald
Ross Lockhart: Family farmer makes case for labeling GMO food
Producers and farmers like me who choose to grow non-GMO crops would … Consumers want to know more about their food — how it’s grown and …
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Times of India
Centre urged to reconsider decision to approve genetically modified mustard
Since both are food crops “which are more or less directly consumed, unlike in the West where processed and packaged foods are consumed,” he …
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Why India needs a slow food movement
We often forget how our food too has a huge carbon imprint. … And that’s why a slow food movement in this day and age assumes greater significance. … 167 species of crops, 320 species of wild crop relatives and several species of …
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Las Cruces Sun-News
New Mexico proud of its bountiful nut crops
Few crops are more diverse and more individually tied culturally and … HomeGrown: New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov.
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Juicy Pineapple Genome Provides Insight into Drought Resistance
This is an important finding that could have major implications for the development of drought-tolerant varieties of essential crops. Adapting food crops …
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Center for Research on Globalization
Poisoned Agriculture: Depopulation and Human Extinction
And now, there is an attempt to push GM food crops into India in a secretive, non-transparent manner that smacks of regulatory delinquency …
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ABC Online
Zambia shapes up as competitor for role as Asia’s food bowl
Zambia’s government has banned genetically modified crops and is offering incentives to move from low grade crops like maize to high grade …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 6, 2015


NEWS


NJTV News
Surplus Crops Stock Local Food Pantries
“Certain crops we may not have a good marketable crop, but it may be good enough to eat still. A lot of fruit crops have trouble just with blemishes.
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Hindu Business Line
The case for banning GM crops
Fortunately, in India, so far only one GM crop — cotton — has been … Another argument in favour of GM food crops is that we need more food to meet …
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Press & Sun-Bulletin
A thought for food: Group wants to make Binghamton a hub
They see two parts: A food factory where year-round greenhouses grow crops such as lettuce, greens and tomatoes, and where they’re prepped and …
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Newsmax



KFYR-TV
Students Learn How Food Gets From Farm to Table
“Just a good way to relate to kids that food comes from the crops that farmers grow,” Oliver said. And it made an impact on the kids who visited.
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Argonaut Online
The need for technological agriculture
Better yields on crops means more food from smaller farms and a more sustainable food industry as a whole — something we must focus on to keep …
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NDTV
Centre Hikes Minimum Support Prices for Rabi Crops to Boost Production
Centre Hikes Minimum Support Prices for Rabi Crops to Boost Production … Food Corporation of India has been made the nodal agency for better …
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Concord Monitor
A grateful tradition: Celebrating food predates Thanksgiving
Squanto, an American Indian who learned English after being brought as a slave to England, gave the colonists food and taught them to grow crops.
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Poughkeepsie Journal
Learn why fall’s bounty increases Lyme disease risk
Not every year produces such a bounty; this season’s bumper crop of wild foods will impact local plants and animals for years to come.
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News24
Growing food more than just a job – drought-hit farmer
Buthelezi is one of thousands of farmers countrywide struggling to maintain her business due to natural and financial challenges. With KwaZulu-Natal …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 5, 2015


NEWS


BBC News
The gloomy Arctic seed bank that’s key to future crops
One key concern is that global warming could affect food crops. To help guarantee that key plants survive the worst possible scenarios, samples of …
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Nearly $300000 in grants awarded to help promote Iowa’s specialty crops
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship – $46,693 to conduct the Iowa commercial horticulture food crops survey and economic impact …
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The Express Tribune
Food security survey on the cards
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has … an attempt to gather tangible data about food crops and access for people.
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Farm and Ranch Guide
International Year of the Pulses proclaimed by United Nations
As Montana and North Dakota producers grow the most pulse crops in the U.S., … Pulses can serve as a food crop, fodder crop and rotation crop.
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EcoWatch
Is GMO Pork the Future of Our Food?
U.S. consumers are already widely skeptical about genetically modified (GMO) crops, but could genetically modified meat ever make it onto our plates …
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Express.co.uk
Eden Project gardener Julie Kendall and her tips for winter gardens
“In the UK so many of our food crops are pollinated by different types of bees, and we would have a much more restricted diet than we do now if there …
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Food World News
UN Expert: Climate Change Is A Major Threat In International Food Security
Global warming poses major threats to international food security. … “All these climate incidents will negatively impact on crops, livestock, fisheries, …
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Barbados Today
Paul: Local farmers reeling under drought conditions
Barbadians have been put on notice of a possible shortage of some basic food crops early next year, if current drought conditions persist.
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Crop Biotech Update
November 4, 2015


The European Parliament rejected the draft EU law that allows any EU member state to ban or restrict the sale or use of EU-approved GM product in its territory. Members are concerned that if the law is approved, it would lead to reintroduction of border checks between pro- and anti-GMO countries. They asked the Commission to draft a new proposal about the issue.
“I believe that this proposal could have negative consequences for agriculture in the EU, which is heavily dependent on protein supplies from GMO sources. It could also have indirect negative effects on imports. Finally, there are concerns over whether this proposal could even be implemented, because there are no border controls in the EU”, said rapporteur Giovanni La Via (EPP, IT), whose recommendation to reject the proposal was approved by 577 votes to 75, with 38 abstentions.
Read the press release from the European Parliament.
Scientists from Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center are working towards developing vitamin A-enriched tubers. Assistant Professor Joyce Van Eck of BTI developed a new technique for building up beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A, in potatoes. With the help of experts from Danforth, this technique will be used to develop biofortified cassava roots.
The new technique includes inserting of a specially designed DNA segment into the genome of potato to turn off the gene that codes for the enzyme that converts beta-carotene into zeaxanthin, a carotenoid like beta-carotene but cannot be converted into vitamin A. This then leads to accumulation of beta-carotene, in such amount that is enough to satisfy up to 18 percent of a toddler’s required daily intake of vitamin A. The team is planning to add more strategies to further increase the levels of beta-carotene.
Van Eck is now working with the Danforth team to transfer the technology to cassava plants. If successful, the vitamin A-enriched cassava will help decrease the number of children with vitamin A deficiency (VAD), particularly in Africa and South Asia where VAD is prevalent.
Read more about the study from BTI.
Pineapple has been cultivated for more than 6,000 years, thriving in water-starved environments. To understand how pineapples grow to be juicy under such conditions, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign took a closer look at the plant’s genes and genetic pathways.
The researchers, led by biology professor Ray Ming, found that pineapple share ancestors with sorghum and rice. Like many plants, the ancestors of pineapple experienced multiple doublings of their genomes, so the researchers tracked the remnants of these “whole-genome duplications” to trace the plant’s evolutionary history.
The team found that pineapple uses a special type of photosynthesis called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), while most plants use C3 photosynthesis. Ming said that CAM plants use only 20 percent of the water used by typical C3 plants, and CAM plants can grow in dry, marginal lands that are unsuited for most plants. The genome revealed that some genes that contribute to CAM photosynthesis are regulated by the plant’s circadian clock genes, which allow plants to differentiate day and night and adjust their metabolism accordingly. “This is the first time scientists have found a link between regulatory elements of CAM photosynthesis genes and circadian clock regulation,” Ming said.
For more information, read the news release at the Illinois News Bureau.
Researchers from The University of Queensland in Australia have identified a key gene in barley that allows the plant to get water stored deep in the soil during drought. Dr. Lee Hickey from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation said that the gene promoted narrow root growth, which allowed the plant to grow roots that penetrate down to water stored deep within the soil.
Hannah Robinson, UQ PhD student, has undertaken the first study of its kind that aims to connect root architecture to yield in barley, and her findings will impact everything from predicting yield to modelling.
“Worldwide, the largest limitation on barley production is water,” said Ms. Robinson. She added that even in a drought, there is water deep underground, and to be able to breed plants with the type of root system to access this water means growers can maintain barley yields in drought conditions.
Read more about this at the University of Queensland website.
Sections
News from Around the World
Research Highlights
Beyond Crop Biotech
From the BICs


food crops
Daily update⋅November 3, 2015


NEWS


New Vision
High Food Prices, Power Tariff Push Up Inflation to 8.8 Percent
Kampala — Reduced supply of food crops in the market coupled with high electricity tariff have pushed Uganda’s annual headline inflation rate to 8.8 …
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CNBC
What the future of food looks like
Farmers for decades have relied on gut checks and generations-deep knowledge to make crop decisions. This tradition of land stewardship has …
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Courthouse News Service
Dow Chemical Fights Proposed Pesticide Ban
(CN) – Fifteen years after prohibiting in-home use of chlorpyrifos, the EPA has proposed banning the pesticide in food crops – a move opposed by its …
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agprofessional.com
UC Davis, Pakistan launch food and agricultural partnership
The new U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, will …
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AG Week
Editorial: Sprinkle on the beet sugar, and smile
“America’s sugar beet growers are under siege as U.S. food companies increasingly shun genetically modified crops,” as Reuters reported recently.
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No Inflation – Food Prices Are Too Cheap
Perfect growing conditions in many regions have resulted in bumper crops of … and increasing stockpiles have all contributed to lower food prices.
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Independent Online
Food prices to soar
Johannesburg – South Africans will have to pay more for food in the new … It shows that farmers intend producing fewer commercial crops including …
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Livemint
Making India’s agriculture sustainable through PPPs
… on better farming practices and adopting protein-based crops; encouraging food processing industry to make alternate crops worthy of consumption; …
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Sudan Tribune
FAO – ‘Delayed Planting in May Lead to 50 Percent Crop Loss’
These crops comprise the main sources of food for the majority of the Sudanese living in rural areas. Post-harvest vegetation is also used as fodder to …
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Telegraph.co.uk
The unpalatable effects of tree disease
Not only do trees produce food in abundance, planted in the right places they … as a result of tree pests and diseases, could be catastrophic for crops.
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 2, 2015


NEWS


Food Tank (blog)
Harvesting the Research: Natural Enemies of Crop Pests Can Replace Insecticides
Food Tank spoke with Dr. Mattias Jonsson, lead author of a paper on … of aphid pests could reduce damage of cereal crops by 45-70 percent and that …
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The Missoulian
Most Americans believe GMO foods are unsafe; they need labels to avoid them
Health and food safety are hot-button issues for millions of Americans — and … Washington, Oregon and Hawaii have banned GMO crops altogether.
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Anniston Star
Volunteers help find a new home for spare sweet spuds
The crops are taken to host organizations that then distribute the food, via a crop drop, to people who need it. Potatoes are a favorite crop because …
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Uganda inflation rises above 8%
“The 1.6% point increase in Headline Inflation in October was driven by increase in annual food crop inflation which increased to 20.2% compared to …
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AGT Food and Ingredients Receives C$35.17 Average PT from Analysts (TSE:AGT)
AGT Food and Ingredients (TSE:AGT) has been given an average … crops and an international company, processor and exporter of staple food …
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RINF Alternative News
Seeds of Corruption: “Unneeded, Unwanted and Unsafe,” the Case of Genetically Modified
In India, genetically modified (GM) mustard is edging closer to becoming the first officially approved GM food crop to be placed on the commercial …
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food crops
Daily update⋅November 1, 2015


NEWS

GMO labels won’t make foods safer, only more expensive
It’s amazing that, after 20 years of GM crops, there is still controversy. In fact, manipulation of food genes is just an extension of natural plant breeding …
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The Courier
Acorn crop has effect on wildlife, hunting plans
Ohio’s fall crop of acorns are an important food source for more than 90 forest species, and crop abundance can affect wildlife survival and influence …
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Ensure Your Berry Production Success With Pollinators
Planting bee-friendly food sources help native pollinators to continue their valuable work in your crops. We berry growers may spend a lot of thought …
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A Plan for the Future
The need to reduce fossil fuels and energy consumption, and using less water to grow crops, are compelling reasons why food production in city farms …
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Business Standard
Centre receives proposal for hybrid variety of mustard
… first- ever proposal for clearance in five years to let farmers grow a transgenic food crop – a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard plant.
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Dry Zone Agriculture:Past, present and future
It supplemented food (rice) from irrigated farming; acted as crop insurance against failure of the irrigated crop, provided a variety of foods early and …
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