Crop Biotech Update

September 25, 2019

Bt Brinjal Technology Boosts Yield, Reduces Pesticides in Bangladesh, IFPRI Reports

Bt brinjal increased yield by 42%, reduced cost of growing brinjal by 31%, reduced pesticide applications by 51%, leading to fewer reports of pesticide exposure symptoms. These are according to the report on the Impacts of Bt Brinjal (Eggplant) Technology in Bangladesh published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Biologists Identify Six Genes in Maize Responsible for Production of Plant Antibiotics

Yezhang Ding, Alisa Huffaker, and Eric Schmelz of the University of California San Diego and their colleagues have developed a systematic and combined approach to identify genes in maize that will produce surprisingly diverse antibiotic cocktails that can be produced as defensive blends against numerous disease agents.

Nigeria Stresses Importance of Biotechnology for Food Security

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, announced that the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria is working hard in applying genetic engineering and biotechnology. This is to ensure food safety and security in the country, as it recognizes the importance of both fields in boosting local food production and decreasing the need for continuous importation of food and commodities from other countries.

Hydrophobic Forces, Not H-Bonds, Bind DNA Together

Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden refuted the prevailing theory that hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) bind the two strands of the DNA together. They found out that water is the key. The results are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

PLANT BREEDING INNOVATIONS

GM APPROVAL UPDATES

The Philippines approved cotton MON88701 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved corn MON87427 x MON89034 x TC1507 x MON87411 x 59122 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved eggplant EE1 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved corn MON87429 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved rice GR2E for commercial propagation.
The Philippines approved (renewal) corn MON89034 for commercial propagation.

Visit GM APPROVAL DATABASE

The Crop Biotech Update is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a non-for-profit organization. The CBU is distributed for free to over 23,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in agricultural biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.

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