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PhilRice, PhilMech launch new brown rice technology in Negros

The Philippine Center for PostHarvest Mechanization and Development (PhilMech) in partnership with  a farmer-organization in Murcia, Negros Occidental recently launched their project “Brown Rice Processing Impeller Technology” at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Murcia, Negros. Prior to the launching, PhilMech conducted a two-day business planning workshop with RiceBIS farmers. The discussion covered managerial,… Continue reading PhilRice, PhilMech launch new brown rice technology in Negros

Genetic resistance to wheat fungal disease identified

Wheat researchers have discovered a combination of genes that provide resistance to the significant fungal disease Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB) in Western Australian varieties. The discovery was made as part of a research project by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre at Murdoch University, with funding from… Continue reading Genetic resistance to wheat fungal disease identified

British seed potato varieties approved for export to Kenya

Approval has been confirmed for British producers to export potatoes to Kenya, where the crop is the second most important after maize. Ten potato varieties were trialled at three separate farms over two seasons with free variety Cara, and two James Hutton Ltd varieties, Gemson and Lady Balfour, making the grade. In the trials Cara… Continue reading British seed potato varieties approved for export to Kenya

Gene editing approach aims for broad disease resistance in staple food crops

Dr. Junqi Song, Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathologist in Dallas, believes his team has discovered a system for achieving broad disease resistance in a number of staple food crops. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Gabe Saldana) A novel gene editing approach could hold the key to broad-spectrum disease resistance in certain staple food crops… Continue reading Gene editing approach aims for broad disease resistance in staple food crops

Soybeans supplant corn as dominant U.S. crop

Soybeans are the dominant crop nationwide at 89.6 million acres and there’s plenty of oilseeds leftover from last year to sell, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed today. The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and industry partners are going on the offense to market what’s left of last year’s 4.4-billion-bushel record crop and this year’s… Continue reading Soybeans supplant corn as dominant U.S. crop

How sorghum’s drought-resistant genes could benefit other crops

University of California researchers are on the path to discovering genes that assist in drought resistance in sorghum, which could potentially be applied to other important cereal crops like corn, wheat, rice and barley in the years to come. “We’re going to need crops that have better drought tolerance in the future,” said Jeff Dahlberg… Continue reading How sorghum’s drought-resistant genes could benefit other crops

Survey: Nearly half of U.S. consumers avoid GMO foods; Large majority primarily concerned about human health impact

Labels proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to disclose “bioengineered” (BE) foods dramatically increase a wide variety of consumer concerns, especially regarding human health. Those are among the findings of new research by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation into areas where AMS sought comments on its proposed BE… Continue reading Survey: Nearly half of U.S. consumers avoid GMO foods; Large majority primarily concerned about human health impact

India agricultural growth has to be export driven for doubling farmers’ income

The value of agriculture products in overall exports from India in percentage terms has been on the fall for decades now. Agricultural exports accounted for 44 percent of total exports in 1960 falling to about 31 percent in 1980 and further to 15 percent in 1993. More recently, agricultural exports have fallen in absolute term… Continue reading India agricultural growth has to be export driven for doubling farmers’ income

Vegetable harvest in Antarctica boosts scientists’ plan to grow greens on Mars, moon

The Antarctic greenhouse EDEN ISS has reached full operation, providing valuable experience for future plant breeding on Mars and moon, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced on Monday. In contrast to previous plant breeding experiments in Antarctica, the EDEN ISS greenhouse is characterized by a closed cycle in which all water not contained in the… Continue reading Vegetable harvest in Antarctica boosts scientists’ plan to grow greens on Mars, moon

Australia to approve Monsanto’s GM canola for field trial

Monsanto proposes to conduct a field trial of one canola line genetically modified for tolerance to dicamba herbicide, and dual herbicide tolerant GM canola produced by conventional breeding between the dicamba tolerant GM canola line and MON88302 GM canola. MON88302 canola is tolerant to glyphosate herbicide and has been commercially released in Australia since 2014… Continue reading Australia to approve Monsanto’s GM canola for field trial