Bridging the policy-practice divide in genome-editing for agriculture
Posted 18th March 2019 by Joshua Sewell
Regulation of emerging technology such as genome editing has mainly focused on responding to the consequences of innovation. The classical regulatory model of “identification-quantification-assessment-safety management” takes a risk-oriented approach to regulation of emerging technology and focuses on constraining the practice of science based on ethics, and administrative and risk management procedures.
Bringing your Biopesticides to Market
Posted 7th May 2018 by Jane Williams
The application of crop biotechnology in agriculture has permitted an enhanced level of income to farmers and environmental benefits, while also reducing cropland expansion. Insect-protected crops, such as corn, showed more than 10% increase in yield worldwide and insect-protected corn and cotton augmented farm income by >$56 billion between 1996 and 2001.
There are important factors to consider to ensure the value and the benefits of these products. These relate to their mode of delivery from suppliers to end users, including correct shipping, storage as well as user education.
The Second Green Revolution: An Open Letter from Donald R. Marvin
Posted 18th April 2018 by Jane Williams
Dear Colleagues,
Our vision of the Second Green Revolution goes beyond genetics, synthetic fertilizers, and chemical controls. It is a more holistic approach that integrates biologicals to optimize agriculture in a way that balances the immediate need for high yields and the long-term considerations for soil health.
Exploring the Orphan Crop: Pearl Millet
Posted 22nd January 2018 by Jane Williams
As an awardee of Global Engage’s Early Career Research grant, we are pleased to announce that Ambika Dudhate will be presenting her research about the drought tolerance in pearl millet in detail at the 6th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress: Europe. It will be a great opportunity to discuss the topic on a large platform.
A Vision for the Second Green Revolution
Posted 8th December 2017 by Jane Williams
There is a Second Green Revolution underway that is harnessing precision agriculture, no-till farming practices, biological, rather than chemical crop inputs and other new, innovative tools that improve soil health and water quality.
Phytobiomes: Embracing Complexity to Achieve a New Vision for Agriculture
Posted 2nd October 2017 by Jane Williams
Imagine a world in which farmers have at their disposal analytical tools that help them determine the crop, management practices, and inputs to apply to a specific field in a given year, taking into consideration all physical (climate, soil…) and biological conditions (microbes, pests, disease, weeds, animals…)
Probiotic Consortia Applications In Non-Sterile Soil
Posted 18th August 2017 by Jane Williams
Plants feed microbial communities that, in return, provide the plant with growth hormones and antibiotics. Alexandre Jousset’s research focuses on probiotics consortia in tomato plant roots that form a shield defending plant tissues from Ralstonia solanacearum (Wei et al., 2015). This is an aerobic non-spore forming plant pathogenic bacterium colonising the xylem and causing bacterial wilt in its host. It can affect most world crop species including tomato, potato, banana and tobacco and there’s still no cure for this disease (Hu et al., 2016).
Biofuels; The Energy Resource Of Our Future
Posted 4th August 2017 by Jane Williams
Norman Lewis’ research currently focuses on the composition of phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway, which provides plants with neolignans and lignans. These are organic compounds giving structure and rigidity to the cell wall and allowing the normal growth and developments of plants. We interviewed him about his research.