Tag Archives: plant biotechnology

AGRICULTURE NEWS UPDATES IN ASIA – February 2025

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Global News

EU drops pesticide reduction plan amid political opposition

The European Commission has abandoned its plan to halve pesticide use by 2030, shifting focus to trade and innovation instead of mandatory cuts. Read more…

European governments heading towards GMO deregulation

The EU has moved a step closer to lifting the stringent regulation of a new generation of genetically modified crops created using new genomic techniques (NGT), Read more…

UK rules out trade deals which undercut food standards

Britain will not sign trade deals with potential suppliers such as the U.S. that open the way for food imports that are produced in a way that would be illegal for the country’s farmers, environment and farming minister. Read more…

Gates Agricultural Innovations and Corteva forge new collaboration to drive Ag Innovation

Gates Ag One and Corteva, Inc, a global agriculture technology company, announced a new collaboration to accelerate agricultural innovations in support of global food security. Read more…


Country News

Australia

Australian agriculture – competitive, resilient and up for the challenge

Agriculture, fisheries and forestry is well placed to take on future challenges and opportunities, according to the latest ABARES Snapshot of Australian agriculture. Read more…

Massive invasion spreads across Australia and what you need to know

They advised residents to inspect ‘bare, compact soil’ and ‘hard, well-drained ground along contour banks or open areas’ for locust eggs. Read more…

Australia – Early alert system for crop disease infection

In an Australian first, grain growers now have access to accurate, localised data to improve disease management through a project harnessing technology to track airborne disease spore movement. Read more…

‘Poultry have been infected’: Bird flu confirmed at Victorian chicken farm

Bird flu has been detected at a chicken farm in northern Victoria, leading biosecurity officers to put the farm into lockdown. Read more…

Bangladesh

Lack of policy likely to affect export of farm products

Lack of a pesticide policy in Bangladesh prompts incessant use of chemical pesticides, offering a challenge to achieve the country’s ambitious goal of earning $5.0 billion in agricultural exports by 2030. Read more…

Bangladesh set to surpass China in cotton imports, USDA reports

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Bangladesh is poised to overtake China as the world’s leading cotton importer during the 2024-25 trading year, which runs from August to July. Read more…

China

China’s bold new agricultural plan puts AI, biotech and seeds behind self-sufficiency push

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has outlined 10 critically important areas to prioritise while keeping a close eye on advancements in the world’s technological frontiers… Read more..

Syngenta Group to open major R&D facility in Shanghai

Switzerland-headquartered crop protection and seeds provider Syngenta Group on Monday announced it will open a crop protection innovation center in Shanghai. Read more…

China to expand plantation of ratoon rice by over 666,000 hectares

China plans to expand its ratoon rice cultivation area by approximately 10 million mu (about 666,666 hectares) by 2030. Read more…

China pushes for high-level self-reliance in agricultural tech

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice on Friday outlining key sectors for agricultural technology innovation from 2024 to 2028, with the goal of accelerating progress toward high-level self-reliance in agricultural technology. Read more…

India

India a trusted friend, looking to elevate strategic ties: EU President

Modi and von der Leyen are to meet Friday. Her visit to India is taking place at a time when the trans-Atlantic partnership between Europe and the US is navigating uncertainty. Read more…

Satya Nadella Shares Video Of AI-Powered Farming In India, Elon Musk Reacts

In a post on X, Mr Nadella shared the story of small-town sugarcane farmers who have historically faced significant challenges. Read more…

Punjab faces cotton diversification challenge ahead of sowing season

Punjab agriculture director Jaswant Singh said efforts are being made to encourage farmers to return to cotton cultivation, with the government standing in support. Read more…

5-Day HRD Programme on Integrated Pest Management takes off at Kisan Kendra

 The HRD programme has been designed to enhance participants’ understanding of the safe and judicious use of pesticides, promote the use of CIB&RC- approved pesticides, and highlight the role of botanicals in agriculture for achieving sustainable agricultural practices. Read more…

Indonesia

Join The Potential Of GMO Plants As Agricultural Innovation And Sustainable Lifestyle

Indonesia is entering a new era in the agricultural world, where genetic engineering technology or GMO (Generally Modified Organization) is the main focus to overcome the challenges of food security and climate change. Read more…

Source: https://voi.id/en/lifestyle/462690

CropLife Indonesia Promotes Sustainable Pesticide Management

Head of the Pesticide Supervision Substance Group of the Pesticide Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Budi Hanafi, emphasized that synergy between stakeholders is key to maintaining agricultural productivity without sacrificing health and environmental sustainability. Read more

2025 Agrinovation Conference: Encourage Innovation And Collaboration For The Future Of Indonesian Agriculture

This conference opened with a key speech from President Prabowo Subianto who emphasized the important role of innovation in realizing food sovereignty and Indonesia’s economic growth. Read more…

Indonesia’s Palm Oil at Risk as Rising Temperatures Kill Pollinating Beetles

A recent study presented at the International Conference on Oil Palm & Environment (ICOPE) 2025 in Bali reveals the impact of rising temperatures on these crucial insects. Read more…

Japan

Japan’s farm exports up 3.7% to 1.5 tril. yen in 2024, new record

The value of Japan’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry product exports rose 3.7 percent in 2024 from a year earlier to 1.5 trillion yen ($9.6 billion), setting a new record. Read more…

Amid climate change, LED-lit ‘plant factories’ enter spotlight

A roughly 60-square-meter hydroponic farm was installed on the 11th floor when the Itoya building was rebuilt in 2015. Read more…

Korea

Dabeeo, Sooin partner to expand smart agriculture in Southeast Asia

South Korean geospatial artificial intelligence firm Dabeeo said Friday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with controlled-release fertilizer specialist Sooin… Read more…

Korea’s National Bio Commission plans regulatory reforms for stem cells, gene editing

Korea’s bio sector awaits significant regulatory enhancements amid global competition. Read more…

South Korea eases farmland regulations to boost agricultural investments

New measures aim to stimulate rural investment and simplify land regulations in South Korea. Read more…

Malaysia

‘Stakeholders consulted on Crop Seed Quality Bill amendment’

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) remains committed to ensuring national food security while safeguarding the environment and public health… Read more…

KPKM approves RM9.25 million allocation to empower Johor’s food security agenda

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has approved an allocation of RM9.25 million (Phase 1) to empower the food security agenda. Read more…

Anwar urges swift action on five-season padi cultivation project in Kedah

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the implementation of infrastructure to support the ‘five-seasons in two years’ padi cultivation programme… Read more…

Pakistan

President for greater cooperation with China in agriculture, communication, space, technology, industry

President Asif Ali Zardari desired that Pakistan, due to its closer geographical proximity with China, would like to take advantage from the Chinese advancements in different fields including agriculture, communication space, technology and industry. Read more…

Pak-Vietnam Ties To Be Strengthened: Envoy

Ambassador of Vietnam H.E Pham Anh Tuan on Tuesday said that Pak-Vietnam ties would be strengthened further in agriculture by taking benefit from each other’s experience. Read more…

SUPARCO, BKK join forces to revolutionize agriculture with space technology

Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and Bakhabar Kissan (BKK), with M/S JAZZ as its communication partner have signed an agreement to empower farmers with smart agricultural solutions using space technology. Read more…

Philippines

Philippine ministerial delegation tours Middle East for trade, agriculture deals

In an effort to strengthen the Philippines’ trade presence in the Middle East, a government-led business mission is touring Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE to explore new market opportunities for the country’s agricultural and non-food products. Read more…

ISAAA and DA Biotech Program to Hold a Webinar on Regulatory Frameworks for New Breeding Techniques in Crops

ISAAA Inc., in collaboration with the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA Biotech Program), will hold the webinar titled Global and Local Perspectives on the Regulatory Frameworks for New Breeding Techniques in Crops on March 6, 2025, via Zoom. The registration is now open to all interested participants. Read more…

Philippine partners plan to use videos to help indigenous farming communities and foster peace

Participants attending a training programme held recently in Mindanao, Philippines, announced their plans to show local language farmer training videos on agroecological practices to the indigenous communities they work with… Read more…

Taiwan

Taiwan deepens agricultural cooperation with Australia

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture attended the Australia-Taiwan 19th Agricultural Working Group Meeting Feb. 19 in Brisbane, underscoring the government’s commitment to forging strong partnerships through agriculture. Read more…

Lai meets Eswatini delegation

President William Lai (賴清德) met with a visiting delegation led by Thulisile Dladla, deputy prime minister of Eswatini in Southern Africa, and expressed hope for increased collaborations between the two countries. Read more…

Taiwan extends mandatory inspection on Vietnamese durian imports

Taiwan will continue inspecting every shipment of fresh durian from Việt Nam until April 30 to ensure food safety compliance. Read more…

Thailand

Smart drive to boost rice farming

Thailand is looking to strengthen its rice farming sector by introducing a climate-smart initiative for growers nationwide. Read more…Thailand unveils AI-, IoT-based smart agriculture platform

Thailand has launched a new smart farming platform named “HandySense B-Farm” which harnesses the power of smart sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to help farmers control and manage their farms efficiently. Read more…

Thai durians remain China’s top choice amid safety upgrades

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has expressed confidence that Thai durians will continue to be the preferred choice in China, following enhancements to food safety and contamination screenings. Read more…

Vietnam

Vietnam: A ‘hot spot’ for international cooperation in agricultural sciences

During the workshop, SPIA representatives presented their assessment of CGIAR research outreach among farmers. Read more…

Sri Lanka wants Vietnam to support urea fertilizer for the main rice crop

Minister Lalkantha affirmed that there are no obstacles to expanding agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Read more…

Vietnam must tighten food safety controls after 130 EU export warnings

The EU has tightened food safety checks on Vietnam’s exports, issuing 130 warnings in 2024 over pesticide residues and microbial contamination. Read more…

The Canadian province stands ready to exchange agricultural research with Vietnam

(VAN) Minister Warren Kaeding is willing to collaborate with Vietnam on the application of science and technology in agriculture to enhance production efficiency and protect the environment. Read more…


Plant Science Updates

Antioxidants in fruits and flowers seem to counteract harmful effects of microplastics, study shows

Australian-led research discovers weapon used by fungi to destroy food crops

UK biotech firm Tropic to launch non-browning bananas in March, extended shelf-life bananas by year-end

China’s new rapeseed variety increases yield, enhances food security

Chinese scientists develop rice strain to support heart health

Scientists Have Identified Genetic Defense Against Soybean Cyst Nematodes

This tiny plant could revolutionize agriculture and combat climate change

How peaches get their color: scientists discover key regulatory genes

Researchers Identify Genes that Help Sorghum Resist Striga by Preventing its Germination


Credits to the owners of the news embedded on this post.

CASSAVA: HOW PLANT SCIENCE IS HELPING IMPROVE THIS STAPLE CROP

Today, PLANT SCIENCE INNOVATIONS are making staple crops more profitable, more nutritious and better protected against unpredictable weather. Cassava is no exception. Both farmers and consumers throughout the world can reap the benefits of varieties that are healthier, heartier and more abundant.

Cassava provides sustenance for over 800 million people. A perennial woody shrub native to Latin America, cassava is primarily grown as an annual crop in the humid tropics. Studies indicate it is the only staple crop that stands to benefit from climate change. As more land is rendered unusable due to changing temperature and rainfall patterns, cassava will likely gain ground as a staple around the globe.

We spoke with Chiedozie Egesi of NextGen Cassava Breeding Project, who is at the forefront of new innovations to enhance this already resilient and hearty staple crop. Read our interview with him to learn how and why cassava is a major staple crop of the developing world and what its future holds. (This interview has been formatted for brevity and clarity.)

Chiedozie Egesi – Project Leader at NextGen Cassava Breeding Project
Chiedozie Egesi, leader of the NextGen Cassava Breeding Project, tells us how he and his team are developing better cassava plants to resist challenging growing conditions, be more productive and deliver more nutrition.

Tell me about your role at NextGen Cassava. What type of research do you lead?

Our main objective is to empower African cassava farmers through innovative, sustainable cassava breeding. We have begun the process of modernizing cassava breeding institutions in Africa and use cutting-edge tools for efficient delivery of improved varieties of cassava.

My role includes project coordination, charting the course we take and ensuring that our partners are supported to deliver on the project mandate. We specialize in cassava breeding implementation—cutting-edge research technologies that make for more efficient processes and demand-led breeding.

Why is cassava a staple crop in South America, Africa, and other developing countries?

Cassava is a major calorie source for over 800 million people. It has high productivity in marginal environments, making it an invaluable asset for food security—it survives where other crops fail. It also has naturally high resilience to climatic changes. Finally, it is produced mainly by smallholders [farmers with less than 2 hectares of land] – mostly women – with simple technologies, allowing it to be easily grown across multiple countries and environments.

What challenges have cassava farmers faced in recent years?

Cassava producers face several main challenges these days. First, many pests and diseases have constrained production for cassava growers. Part of this is actually because of cassava’s long growth cycle—its long duration in the field increases its exposure to pests and viruses. Also, cassava is perishable, which leads to limited flexibility in handling. Lastly, poorly linked value chains in Africa cause frequent boom-and-bust cycles of high and low productivity. The markets have not been well developed to make for sustainable agribusiness.

How have plant science innovations helped cassava farmers?

A recent example is the timely delivery of new, “best-bet” varieties to cassava farmers. Genomic selection is an integral technology that has enabled us to get these more resilient, more productive and more nutritious varieties. We have employed innovative “citizen science” approaches to enable participatory selection of improved varieties. In addition, new technologies have helped us rapidly screen large breeding populations. Others include techniques to improve flowering in cassava, an essential step for hybridization through pollination. Application of a combination of hormones has enabled us to make cross combinations that were not very easily done due to the poor flowering of some cassava varieties.

Which plant science innovations does NextGen Cassava utilize in its work with smallholder farmers?

We predicted the performance of new varieties based on the genetic information of their parents using modeling systems. This allowed us to reduce the generational cycle time for cassava from about 10 years to five. Better varieties can now get to farmers faster, and we are still working on further improving this. We are designing research that maps preferences and links to social differences such as gender, age, education, region, poverty and food security levels.

How will climate change continue to impact cassava and smallholder farmers?

Cassava is one of the most climate-smart crops in the tropics and has the capacity to withstand changes in the atmosphere, which it can use to its advantage for more productivity. As climate change continues to be a challenge for smallholder growers in Africa, cassava farmers stand a better chance to make more profitable agribusiness due to the robustness of the crop. 

How will supporting plant science innovations help communities that depend on cassava?

Support for plant science innovations is needed to help communities that depend on cassava in Africa. New technologies will transform cassava production and deliver the best varieties for maximum impact on growers and their families.

For more information about cassava and its role as a staple crop in different countries around the world, please check out these resources:

Kenya Approves Disease-Resistant Biotech Cassava

In June 2021, the Kenya National Biosafety Authority approved the environmental release of genetically modified cassava, which is resistant to cassava brown streak disease. The disease-resistant cassava was developed under the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa Plus project, a collaborative program between Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute of Uganda and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Learn more about this breakthrough from the Cornell Alliance for Science and ISAAA.

Repairing the Root of the Problem

Despite the ability to turn cassava into an endless number of palatable dishes, the tuber has two major issues affecting the people who rely on it the most. First, cassava faces the threat of brown streak disease, limiting available food and second, the crop has a natural toxin that can cause severe physical and mental damage in the populations who need it most. For the millions it feeds, this important crop must be usable. That’s where plant biotechnology and gene editing come in. This video from the American Seed Trade Association and University of California at Berkeley shows the research being done to improve this staple crop for the millions who depend on it.

Save and Grow Cassava: A Guide to Sustainable Production Intensification
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has published a booklet about the production of cassava. It notes that cassava was first cultivated 9,000 years ago on the southern edge of the Brazilian Amazon, where it is still grown. Today, around 300 million tons of cassava are produced globally, with Nigeria as the world’s largest producer. Around 90 percent of harvested roots are destined for human consumption, while about 10 percent are semi-processed on-farm as animal feed. Read the entire 100-page PDF on the FAO website.

African Scientists Improve Cassava to Help Feed the World
2019 article in the journal Nature explains how researchers at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria are using both traditional breeding and genetic modification to improve the starchy staple crop. In Africa, where consumption is highest, cassava plants bear smaller yields than their cousins in Asia and South America. But African varieties tend to be more tolerant of blights, such as the deadly cassava mosaic disease now spreading across Asia.

Source: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

Breeding Better Crops, From Maize to Cassava
In this video from the Gates Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (ARS) and Cornell University, plant geneticist Ed Buckler explains that cassava has not been bred as effectively as other crops – such as maize – and there is tremendous potential including disease and insect resistance, by taking new, modern breeding tools and applying them to cassava.

Developing GM Super Cassava For Improved Health and Food Security: Future Challenges in Africa
The potential for GM cassava also includes biofortification. According to a study in the open access journal Agriculture & Food Security, more than 800 million people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition in developing countries with Africa accounting for almost 50 percent of the children who are clinically or sub-clinically deficient in vitamin A, particularly under five years of age. The study found that an overwhelming majority of scientists agree that GM biofortified cassava will benefit the health of millions in Africa and that GM cassava conferred with disease and pest resistance will increase cassava production as it is currently plagued by cassava mosaic diseases (CMD).