Biotech News

Agrobacterium microbe — the very same bacterium that scientists typically use to create GM crops. Though much of the controversy around genetically modified crops is driven by the belief that the process of moving genes from one species to another is “unnatural,” new research shows some 1 in 20 flowering plants are naturally transgenic. Dozens…

GM crops prevent cancer? Hogwash!” you might say. “Genetically modified (GM) crops and food are supposed to cause cancer aren’t they?” Well, that is what many anti-biotech activists would like you to believe. These campaigners have alleged for years that eating foods made from GM crops leads to dozens of serious health issues, all to…

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…

A new study confirms that genetically modified insect-resistant eggplant (Bt brinjal) has successfully reduced pesticide use and improved livelihoods among the Bangladeshi farmers who grow it. Conventionally grown brinjal is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in South Asia. Historically, brinjal farmers have sprayed as many as 84 times in a growing season to…

The European Court of Justice dismissed an action brought by three German NGOs against the authorization of genetically modified soy products. The NGOs argued more research was necessary to determine the product’s risks. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled on Thursday that the authorization of genetically modified soy produced by former agrochemical corporation…

“GMOs are not saving farmers money, they’re not producing higher yields, and perhaps most significantly they’re wrecking the environment and human health,” the anti-biotech outfit Natural News warned in December 2014. Such claims are recycled endlessly by environmental activists and widely circulated thanks to social media, but they are wholly unsupported by the evidence, according…

If so, new research says, learning the science behind them could change your mind. Scientists can do some amazing things with genes, from saving papayas from extinction, to making apples last longer before turning brown, to creating variants of crops that reduce pesticide use. Some of these things may sound too good to be true…

Shares in Davis-based Arcadia Biosciences Inc. shot up 124% Friday on news of a USDA approval for drought-tolerant soybeans the company has developed in a joint partnership with Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. Arcadia (Nasdaq: RKDA) is part of a joint venture with Argentina-based Bioceres (NYSE: BIOX) developing traits for stress-tolerant soybeans. News of the U.S.…

Plant genetics startup Inari, which is developing crop varieties that produce higher yields and use fewer resources, has raised $89 million to advance its research toward the US and international markets. Corn, soybean, wheat, and tomatoes are the Cambridge, MA-based company’s initial target crops. CEO Ponsi Trivisvavet says the company aims to launch several products…

Scientists in the US have engineered tobacco plants that can grow up to 40% larger than normal in field trials. The researchers say they have found a way of overcoming natural restrictions in the process of photosynthesis that limit crop productivity. They believe the method could be used to significantly boost yields from important crops…