Biotech News

Developments in regulations of genome-edited plants are rapidly changing and continue to evolve as more countries firm up their regulatory policies. This is according to the Transgenic Research article authored by international biotech experts. The article presents the latest legal and regulatory developments in various jurisdictions including Canada, Argentina, Brazil, the USA, Kenya, Nigeria, South…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is extending deregulation to J.R. Simplot Company’s (Simplot) potato variety developed using genetic engineering, designated as Snowden Z6 (Z6 potato). The potato variety is engineered for late blight protection, lowered reducing sugars, low acrylamide potential and reduced black spot bruising. APHIS previously…

The Sicilian Rogue High GABA tomato, developed by Japan’s Sanatech Seed, is said to help lower blood pressure. Rich with amino acid, the new variety is expected to help lower blood pressure; 5,000 home gardeners in Japan will grow the tomato in May this year Japan has launched a tomato variety rich with amino acid…

Health Canada has declared that gene-edited crops are safe. On March 25, the department launched a public consultation for what it’s calling a “Proposed new guidance pieces for the Novel Foods Regulation, focused on plant breeding.” In simpler terms, Health Canada is proposing new rules to deal with plant breeding innovation, including gene-edited crops. To…

How the latest breeding techniques are saving the taste of our most cherished grape vine varieties European Seed (ES): Could you tell me a bit more about your project? Michele Morgante (MM): We started 21 years ago at the University of Udine with a program to create new wine grapevine varieties resistant to powdery and…

While the climate change crisis is nothing new, the agriculture industry is constantly finding ways to play their part in the solution. Gene editing technology will play a vital role in climate-proofing future crops to protect global food supplies, according to scientists at The University of Queensland. Biotechnologist Dr. Karen Massel from UQ’s Centre for…

This article or excerpt is included in the GLP’s daily curated selection of ideologically diverse news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology innovation. By almost any metric, the American chestnut was a perfect tree. Massive, fast-growing, and rot-resistant, it was easy to mill into cabin logs, furniture, fence posts, and railroad ties. But the dominance wouldn’t…

This article or excerpt is included in the GLP’s daily curated selection of ideologically diverse news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology innovation. [Guatemalan] President Alejandro Giammattei announced that the distribution of seeds and planting of “vitaminized potatoes” will begin, which are being genetically modified at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (ICTA). [The President…

At the very moment when Kenya is confirming itself as a GMO success story, our neighbor to the south and fellow East African Community member-state has turned its back on the future of agriculture: Tanzania’s government just canceled the GMO field trials that could have helped its farmers improve their country’s food security. “We shall…

A study lead by researchers at the University of Calgary used gene editing to modify canola’s genes, producing shorter plants with more branches and flowers which could potentially increase the crop’s yield, the university says in a news release on Feb. 1. “We showed that gene editing actually works in canola, and simultaneously improved agronomic…