Researchers, through a Policy Forum article published in Science, are calling for a new approach to regulating genetically engineered (GE) crops. The researchers argue that current approaches for triggering safety testing vary dramatically among countries and generally lack scientific merit, particularly as advances in crop breeding have blurred the lines between conventional breeding and genetic engineering.
Saffron, the most expensive spice in the world is obtained from the stigma of Crocus sativa flowers. To produce a kilogram of saffron, it takes 150,000–200,000 flowers. Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have found a way to use a common garden plant to produce crocins, saffron's active ingredient, a compound with important applications in the therapeutic and food industry.
Genetically modifying trees to increase resilience has long been hounded by regulatory hurdles and public opposition, but the latest findings of the University of Manchester's scientists offer an important contribution to this debate.
