Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – August 2016

Fungus destroy at least 125 million tons of food every year.  They take their energy from the plants on which they live.  They are responsible for a great deal of damage to crops and are characterized by wilting, scabs, moldy coatings, rusts, blotches and rotted tissue. Check out the crime files of our top 5 Fungus Felons:

1 – WANTED: Anthracnose AKA The Extreme Exterminator

2 – WANTED: Coffee Rust AKA The Caffeine Fiend

3 – WANTED: Grey Mold AKA The Toxic Intruder

4 – WANTED: Rice Blast AKA The Virulent Villain

5 – WANTED: Stem Rust AKA The Comeback Killer

Researchers from Purdue University investigated the global economic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts of GM crops by modeling two counterfactual scenarios and assessing them apart and in combination. The first scenario explored the effect of global GMO ban, while the second one modelled the effect of increased GMO penetration with specific focus on the impact on price, welfare, and GHG emissions linked to GM technologies.

Results showed that food prices might increase from 0.27 to 2.2 percent, depending on the region. Total welfare losses linked to GM technology ban may sum up to $9.75 billion. Aside from economic effects of loss of importantbiotech traits, environmental effects can also take place. Full environmental analysis was not conducted in the study, but possible land use change due to loss of GMO traits and GHG emissions were analyzed. It was predicted that a significant increase in GHG emissions will occur if GMO technology is banned.

Download a copy of the paper in AgEcon.

Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – July 6 2016

Maize (corn) originated from teosinte – a grass that was only two or three inches long with 12 hard kernels. After a few thousand years of selective breeding we now have modern maize which is 10 times bigger, has 500+ soft kernels and tastes delicious! Maize is now one of the most important crops on the planet. 

Source: CropLife International

The crops the world relies on aren’t as natural as we might think. This month, we look back at their ancient ancestors.

Without plant breeding, we would have little to eat and what we did have, wouldn’t be very tasty or nutritious. Most of the crops familiar to us today didn’t even exist in the wild! Humankind has been breeding plants for 10,000 years to improve yield, quality and taste and plant breeders today continue to improve crops with modern tools like biotechnology. Continue reading…