New Breeding Techniques: cloning major resistance genes in cereals
Posted 13th March 2020 by Liv Sewell
Advances in breeding techniques for cereal crops will be a focus at the 8th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress: USA. We asked Burleigh Dodds, an agricultural science publisher, to share an extract from one of their recent publications, ‘Advances in breeding techniques for cereal crops’.
Plant biotech in Europe: Present and future
Posted 4th March 2020 by Liv Sewell
Marcel Kuntz is a panellist for the panel discussion on the regulatory landscape for plant biotechnology at the 8th Plant Genomics & Gene Editing Congress: Europe. Here he provides us with some background for the discussion.
Integrating new breeding technologies: a game changer for developing future crops
Posted 27th January 2020 by Liv Sewell
With an ever-increasing human population, predicted to be 10 billion people by 2050, studies estimate that we need to double the rate of genetic gain in our crop improvement programs globally to meet this demand. Dr Lee Hickey is a plant breeder and crop geneticist. He and his team are seeking to develop plant breeding tools that could help to enable this genetic gain.
The future of GMOs, gene editing and plant biotechnology in post-Brexit UK
Posted 10th January 2020 by Liv Sewell
Growing and selling genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is permitted in the UK but GMO products are subject to a lengthy and stringent EU authorization process. There are currently no GM crops grown commercially in the UK, but they are imported. So, what is the UK’s relationship with GM products, and where do we stand on gene editing? We spoke with Nigel Halford, Principal Research Scientist at Rothamsted Research, UK.
Acrylamide, Plant Genomics and the Food Industry
Posted 30th December 2019 by Liv Sewell
Ahead of the 8th Plant Genomics and Gene Editing Congress, we asked keynote speaker Nigel Halford, Principal Research Scientist at Rothamsted Research, UK, to share with us the background to his research…
Presentation Slides from the 7th Plant Genomics & Gene Editing Congress: USA
Posted 29th November 2019 by Joshua Sewell
The recent 7th Plant Genomics Congress: USA provided a fantastic opportunity to discover how novel gene-editing technologies, CRISPR and other ‘omics’ technologies are being applied to research and product development. We have made the following slides from Jerry Feitelson, Lynne Reuber, Greg Bryan and Chloe Pavely available to view.
Even with genetic modification, resistance may be a nasty problem
Posted 22nd November 2019 by Liv Sewell
Natural resistance to our methods to control pests and weeds is a brand new phenomenon, historically speaking. It only evolved as mankind started to use chemical, and later biotechnological means to control nature. Genetic modification may not be the answer to resistance. Attempts to control pests and weeds by growing GM plants run into the same problem as the application of chemical agents. But still, nature may provide some answers.
A global perspective on the developments in biotech regulations
Posted 28th June 2019 by Jane Williams
The ECJ ruling on GMOs has raised pertinent issues. How will it impact on current and future research? What are the optimum routes to progressing plant research?
In light of the ruling, it was a good time to welcome experts in policy and regulatory affairs to the recent 7th Plant Genomics & Gene Editing Congress: Europe to explore these issues. We’re lucky to be able to share this presentation from the event for those that weren’t able to make it. Watch it here.
