Biotech Updates

Researchers from various Japanese institutions developed NICER, which is a novel method that offers a precise strategy for gene correction. This technique can be used as a substitute for CRISPR gene editing.

GM Bacteria to Fight Ocean Pollution by Breaking Down Plastics in Saltwater

Researchers from North Carolina State University have successfully engineered a marine microorganism that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a highly recyclable plastic that is a major contributor to plastic pollution in the ocean.

Kenyan Journalists Feted for Outstanding Reporting on Agri-Biotech

The Kenyan media has been hailed as a key driver of science and innovations and an enabler of agricultural transformations in the country. Speaking during a media awards gala held in Nairobi on September 15, 2023, science and agricultural stakeholders heaped praises on the media for promoting public understanding and acceptance of agricultural biotechnology. The gala was organized by the Kenya Chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) to celebrate exemplary science journalism and recognize excellence in reporting agri-biotechnology.

ASCA6 Focuses on Crop Improvement Technologies, Biotech Stewardship, and Communication Strategies

ISAAA Inc. and partner organizations have successfully conducted the 6th Asian Short Course on Agribiotechnology, Biosafety Regulation, and Communication (ASCA6) at Hotel Santika, Bogor, Indonesia on September 11-15, 2023. ASCA is a capacity-building initiative by ISAAA Inc. and the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) that was started in 2018 to create a platform for Asian scientists and regulators to be competent in the regulations and policies related to agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech).