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Simon Sretenovic is designing the tools for a gene-edited future
For scientist Simon Sretenovic, seeing was the first step in believing. As a kid in Slovenia, Sretenovic recalls his elementary school class placing pond water under the microscope to reveal the hidden world within. He was deeply impressed by microscopy and the way that it could…
Plant microbiome: Key to weaning agriculture off chemical inputs?
All plants interact with bacteria and fungi in the soil. Some plants are especially good at it. Understanding what drives those interactions could be the secret to shifting from a chemical-based agriculture system to a biological one. The plant microbiome Plants need a host of nutrients…
In boost for agriculture, India exempts gene-edited crops from biosafety assessment
In a bold move with far-reaching consequences for the country’s agricultural development, India’s government has issued an order exempting certain gene-edited plants from stringent biosafety regulations. The move exempts SDN1 and SDN2 plants from the cumbersome and time-consuming regulations currently imposed on the commercialization of genetically modified transgenic crops. Regulators…
Gene-edited cows just secured record-fast FDA approval — here’s why
Old McDonald had a farm, it was GMO. With an oink and a moo and a…that’s about it. Though the technology behind genetic modification has been around since the 1980s, the lineup of genetically modified (GM) food animals has been limited to just one fast-growing fish and a hypoallergenic pig.
Public sector research leading LATAM’s foray into crop biotechnology
Embrapa, a government-funded, Brazil-based company, is challenging the private sector in bringing biotechnology innovations to Latin America. It’s significant that a public research institution is leading Brazil’s foray into genetically engineered crops. It ensures the research being done by Embrapa resonates with the needs of Brazilian consumers and farmers…
RNA vaccines for plants?
The threat of COVID-19 spurred innovation at unprecedented rates. Moderna and Pfizer’s RNA vaccines were approved in about a year. The impact? Hundreds of thousands of saved lives. Similar innovations have been occurring in agricultural research — albeit much more slowly. For the last 10 years, a niche group of…
South Africa should rethink regulations on genetically modified plants
Food security is a global priority — and it is becoming more urgent in the face of climate change, which is already affecting crop productivity. One way to improve food security is to increase crop yields. But this is not easy. Research has shown that in the past…
Young gene editors share hopes for the future of the field
From a ranch in the American Midwest to a farm in India and a takeout lunch restaurant in New York, three young scientists are maintaining their disparate roots in food and agriculture as they pursue gene editing research to address global issues of food security and severe climate change. I’m…
The quest for delicious decaf coffee could whet the appetite for gene editing
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, but that cup can come with a price of jitters or sleeplessness. The stimulant in coffee — the thing that gives it its kick and can lead to those jitters — is caffeine and it can be addictive. Decaffeinated coffee is…