By: CropLife International
We asked plant scientists from around the world what inspires them about their job. Here’s what a few of them had to say:
Category Archives: Feature Section
MEET THE SCIENTISTS SOLVING THE WORLD’S GREATEST CHALLENGES
Article by: CropLife International
Food and nutrition security, climate change and biodiversity loss are just a few of the major challenges facing the world today. And while farmers are on the front line to meet those challenges, plant scientists are working behind the scenes, in field trials and laboratories, to develop new tools that growers need to produce nutritious and plentiful crops under difficult conditions.
PLANT SCIENCE NEWS AND UPDATES RECAP – OCTOBER 2016
PUBLIC SECTOR BIOTECH CROPS TO HELP SMALL-SCALE FARMERS BEAT POVERTY
Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – October 2016
Although the majority of today’s commercialized biotech crops are developed by large private companies, there is an enormous amount of plant biotech research being done by public sector institutions worldwide. Much of this research is focused on local crops in Asia and Africa, which could have a significant impact on food and nutrition security, as well as improve community health and farmer livelihoods. We talked with CropLife International’s John McMurdy, Director of Emerging Markets & Development Partnerships to learn more about public sector research of biotech crops. Continue reading..
6 DEVELOPMENT TWEETERS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW
Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – October 2016
For those interested in the role of plant science in international development, here are six Twitter handles you should have a grip on:
- @worldfoodprize: Recognizing achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. (Read about the 2016 World Food Prize laureates who created biofortified crops where critical nutrients are bred into staple crops.)
- @mark_lynas: Advocate for plant biotechnology who busts myths about GMOs.
- @farmingfirst: A global coalition calling on world leaders to increase agricultural output in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.
- @JulieBorlaug: Granddaughter to the Father of the Green Revolution Norman Borlaug advocates for innovation and technology to end hunger and poverty.
- @globalfarmernet: The Global Farmer Network are farmer’s voices in support of free trade and the freedom to choose technologies needed to sustainably maximize productivity and profitability.
- @kevinfolta: Land-grant scientist exploring ways to make better food with less input as well as effectively communicating science to the public.
BILL GATES SAID IT BEST
Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – October 2016
SMALLHOLDER FARMERS PROSPERING WITH PLANT SCIENCE
Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – October 2016
For a small-scale farmer in the developing world, a healthy crop can be the difference between prosperity and poverty. Watch three farmers from India, Ghana and Honduras explain how their lives have transformed thanks to plant science knowledge and training.
INSIDE THE WORLD’S MOST DIVERSE GARDEN
Visited by more than a million tourists each year the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens are one of London’s top attractions with the world’s largest and most diverse collection of living plants. Sara Redstone, plant health and quarantine officer at Kew, discusses the importance of plant science tools, such as crop protection products and Integrated Pest Management, to keep the garden in good condition as well as safeguard rare and endangered plants.
What plant science tools does Kew use to maintain the gardens?
Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – September 2016
Time To Move Beyond GMO Controversy And Take Advantage Of Scientific Progress
Source: www.forbes.com
“The scientific consensus for the safety of GM crops is clear, yet controversy remains. To make the most informed decisions about the food we eat, it’s important to listen to the science, not the myths.” (Image Credit: GMO Answers)
HOW TO SAVE 125 MILLION TONS OF CROP EVERY YEAR
Source: CropLife International Plant Science Post – August 2016
More than 600 million people could be fed each year if fungal diseases were controlled in the world’s five most important crops – rice, wheat, maize, soybeans and potatoes. Fungal infections destroy at least 125 million tons of these top crops each year, which provide the majority of calories consumed by people. Other crops like coffee and grapes can also be hugely impacted by fungi, with estimated crop losses globally of 15 and 20 percent, respectively. We need resistant varieties and crop protection products to keep our foods healthy.
