Archive for February 2024
EU Parliament: A Positive Vote for Innovation and Plant Breeding
The European Parliament’s vote in support of new genomic techniques, marks a significant step forward for agricultural innovation and sustainability in Europe, according to a press release from Euroseeds. The plenary vote backed the “adoption of these cutting-edge technologies, recognizing their potential to revolutionize farming practices while ensuring food security and environmental stewardship.” The European Parliament’s affirmative…
Read MoreTomatoes ready for harvest in 40 days? Gene edited prototypes could transform one of the world’s most popular fruits
Scientists have just genetically modified cherry tomatoes to make them easier to grow, and the future applications could include making them more viable for indoor farming and even space travel, their creators say. The scientists, working out of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, used a gene-editing technology called CRISPR to make changes to three key genes within the cherry tomatoes’ DNA. Two…
Read MoreDisease is poised to wipe out much of Africa’s rice crop. Still-unapproved gene edited varietals may be the only hope
A new study has found that CRISPR technology can be used to edit genes in some strains of rice, developing resistance. Rice is a key staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 60% of rice produced consumed there. However, the Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) causes a disease that has the propensity to wipe out…
Read More