Biotech Updates

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) bestowed the 2016 Borlaug CAST Communication Award to Dr. Kevin Folta, Chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Through the annual award, CAST recognizes science or agriculture experts who demonstrate an exemplary ability to communicate through various forms of media. Dr. Folta is known for his efforts to educate students and the public about science, especially about facts on agricultural biotechnology. He has been previously honored with the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award for undergraduate mentoring, and the University of Florida Research Foundation Award.

Study Finds that Adoption of GM Crops Could Improve Health of Chinese Farmers

The use of glyphosate-tolerant GM crops not only increases glyphosate use, but also reduces the use of non-glyphosate herbicides, while adoption of GM insect resistant crops significantly reduces insecticide use. While the hazards of pesticide use are well known, little is known about the effects of different pesticides related to GM crops in an integrated framework.

Mindanao Farmers and Local Agri Officials Updated on Latest Biosafety Guidelines

Filipino farmers, local government constituents, and students and faculty from General Santos City and surrounding municipalities in the southern island group of Mindanao, Philippines took part in the third leg of the series of public briefings on the Joint Department Circular No. 1 (Rules and Regulations for the Research and Development, Handling and Use, Transboundary Movement, Release into the Environment, and Management of Genetically-Modified Plant and Plant Products Derived from the Use of Modern Biotechnology) and symposia on agricultural modernization.

Stacking Sequence-Specific Nuclease-Induced Mutations Using TALENs to Improve Soybean Oil

Controlling levels of individual fatty acids in soybean oil can be used to increase its shelf-life, frying stability, and nutrition. In previous studies, soybean lines with knockout mutations within fatty acid desaturase 2-1A (FAD2-1A) and FAD2-1B genes were generated, resulting in oil with increased levels of monounsaturated oleic acid and decreased levels of linoleic and linolenic acid.