Iowa State University Study Says Anti-GMO Sentiment Has Repercussions for Developing World

Scientists Discover Way to Make Rice Plants Replicate through Seeds as Clones

Rwandan Women in Biosciences Embrace Science Communication

Rwanda women scientists have applauded effective science communication as key to ensuring smallholder farm families appreciate the role of advanced biosciences in addressing food insecurity, malnutrition, and environmental conservation. This came up during a series of stakeholder experience-sharing sessions on contributions of agricultural biotechnology in transforming African agriculture. Lessons learned over 22 years of adoption indicate benefits to farmers, consumers, and the environment with more than 10% of arable land under biotech crops. Dr Marie-Christine Gasingirwa, Higher Education Council and formerly Director General for Science, Technology and Research in the Ministry of Education in Rwanda said the country is at a vantage position to tap into regional experiences from neighboring countries instead of re-inventing the wheel. Acknowledging the primary role of women in raising awareness about scientific innovations from family, school, and the community, she encouraged the women scientists to increase interaction with stakeholders to correct long-held myths and misinformation about modern biotechnology. "Together as women in bioscience, let's start from what is working, while enhancing the capacity of our researchers to develop relevant GM crops as regulators conduct risk assessment on biodiversity and biosafety in general," she advised. 

Researchers from Rwanda Agricultural Board informed participants that the Government has commissioned a feasibility study to fully map out appropriate areas for biotech application including agriculture, health, and animal biotechnology. They called on partnerships for strengthening their research and communication skills in readiness for full implementation of the biotechnology program once the studies are completed. The biosafety focal point from Rwanda Environment Management Authority Emmanuel Kabera assured the researchers of government's commitment to facilitate agri-biotech research even as the Biosafety Bill enactment process awaits parliamentary approval. The biotech sensitization sessions took place in Kigali on December 11-13, 2018 and were facilitated by the US Embassy in partnership with ISAAA AfriCenter under the African Women for Biosciences (AWfB) platform and co-supported by the Ram and Rashmi Charitable Foundation of the St. Louis Community Foundation.

For more information on the events, contact: Dr. Margaret Karembu, chair, African Women for Biosciences at mkarembu@isaaa.org and Dr. Marie-Christine Gasingirwa at cgasingirwa@mineduc.gov.rw.

CRISPR-Cas9 Used in Breeding Indica Glutinous CMS Line WX209A

Glutinous cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line is vital for the selection of hybrid glutinous rice combination with high yield and quality. To develop glutinous CMS with low amylose content, researcher Xin Wang and team knocked out the granule-bound starch synthase OsWaxy in 209B using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing technology and successfully obtained a glutinous maintainer line WX209B. 

When compared with maintainer line 209B, WX209B exhibited reduced amylose contents and similar agronomic characteristics. After one generation of hybridization and two generations of backcrossing with WX209B as the male parent and 209A as the female parent, the glutinous CMS line WX209A was successfully achieved. 

Read the research article from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

SCIENCE SPEAKS

• Third Issue of Double Helix Magazine Features Animal Biotechnology (April 17, 2024)
  
  

GM APPROVAL UPDATES

• The Philippines approved the canola event LBFLFK for food, feed, and processing.
• The Philippines approved the cotton event GFM cry1A for commercial cultivation.
• Brazil approved the wheat event HB4 for commercial cultivation.
• The Philippines approved the soybean event GMB 151 for food, feed, and processing.
• The Philippines approved the eggplant event EE-1 for cultivation
• The USA approved the canola event MON94100  for food and feed.