Agricultural Biotechnologies
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The News items relate to applications of biotechnologies in food and agriculture in developing countries and their major focus is on the activities of FAO, other UN agencies/bodies and the 15 CGIAR research centres. The News items cover all food and agricultural sectors (crops, forestry, fisheries/aquaculture, livestock, agro-industry) and a wide range of biotechnologies (e.g. use of molecular markers, artificial insemination, triploidisation, biofertilisers, micropropagation, genomics, genetic modification etc.). New documents are included as News if they are freely available on the web and, for people who can't download them or who wish further information, an e-mail contact is also provided. The News service was launched in January 2002 and all News items posted since then (there were 800 in the first 9 years) are available here. The news and event items on this website are also disseminated through an e-mail newsletter called FAO-BiotechNews that is published in six different versions, one per language i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. To subscribe, send a message to [email protected] indicating which e-mail addresses are to be subscribed and in which language they wish to receive the newsletter.

News

14/02/2023

FAO has just published an Issue Paper entitled “Gene editing and agrifood systems”. Developed by a team of authors with oversight from the Office of the Chief Scientist, this 86-page document is organized in the following six chapters: introduction; advances in plant and animal breeding; gene editing - potential hazards, benefits and impacts on the environment and society; governance and regulation; roles of the private and public sectors and transformative partnerships; and the way forward. The foreword is written by Jennifer Doudna, a joint winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 for her work on gene editing. See https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3579en or contact [email protected] for more information.

13/02/2023

The Twelfth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture take places at FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy on 18-20 January 2023. Several biotechnology-related items are on the agenda for this meeting. These include ‘Monitoring the diversity of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture’ (agenda item 4), for which an information document entitled “Methods for estimation of within-population genetic variation” has been prepared which explores the availability of, access to, and optimal use of genomic and/or breed demographic data to estimate parameters that may be suitable to complement breed population size data as indicators for monitoring the genetic diversity within livestock breeds. The agenda also includes ‘“Digital sequence information” and animal genetic resources for food and agriculture’ (agenda item 9), for which the working document “Digital sequence information and genetic resources for food and agriculture” has been prepared which provides information on how “Digital sequence information” is generated, stored, accessed and used for research and development related to genetic resources for food and agriculture, and summarizes relevant developments that have taken place in other fora, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, prior to 15 November 2022, drawing on a longer study that is also provided as an information document. See https://www.fao.org/animal-genetics/events/events-detail/en/c/1603813/ or contact [email protected] for more information. Working documents for the meeting are provided in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish while information documents are provided in English.

12/02/2023

On 7-19 December 2022, Part II of the UN Biodiversity Conference took place in Montreal, Canada, including the Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15); the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP-MOP 10); and the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (NP-MOP 4). Part I of the UN Biodiversity Conference took place in a hybrid setting (online and in Kunming, China) in October 2021. The documents and decisions from COP 15, CP-MOP 10 and NP-MOP 4 are available at https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-15, https://www.cbd.int/meetings/CP-MOP-10 and https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2021-2022/NP-MOP4 respectively. For more information, contact [email protected].

11/02/2023

The Ninth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture took place in New Delhi, India on 19-24 September 2022. The report of the meeting, as well as the 17 resolutions adopted, are now available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. One of the resolutions adopted was entitled "Consideration of digital sequence information / genetic sequence data on genetic resources for the objectives of the International Treaty". See https://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/meetings/meetings-detail/en/c/1259571/ or contact [email protected] for more information.

10/02/2023

On 17-21 October 2022, the first FAO Science and Innovation Forum took place at FAO headquarters, highlighting the centrality of science, technology and innovation for transforming agrifood systems. It was organized together with the World Food Forum and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. One of the Science and Innovation Forum’s sessions was dedicated to ‘Gene editing techniques and agrifood systems’ and Ismahane Elouafi, the FAO Chief Scientist, delivered the introductory remarks. See the session agenda at https://www.fao.org/science-technology-and-innovation/gene-editing-techniques-and-agrifood-systems/en, its recording at https://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6007/icode/ or contact [email protected] for more information.

09/02/2023

The FAO Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries took place virtually on 4-5 November 2021. The proceedings are now available for download. Edited by J. Ruane, C. Mba and J. Xia, they provide a record of the highlights of the conference, covering the opening and keynote address plenary session; the eight parallel sessions dedicated to the conference themes of advanced technologies, conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, crop varietal development and adoption, and seed systems; the high-level ministerial segment; and the conference recommendations. The two parallel sessions for the theme of advanced technologies were entitled 'Modern plant breeding technologies' and 'Emerging biotechnologies and informatics technologies' respectively. See https://doi.org/10.4060/cc1220en or contact [email protected] for more information.

08/02/2023

As part of its Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular series, FAO has recently published “Current and future genetic technologies for fisheries and aquaculture: implications for the work of FAO”. Written by K.J. Friedman and co-authors, this 68-page publication offers insights into the likely implications of new genetic technologies on the fisheries and aquaculture sector over the next 10 years. Specialists in the fields of genetics, genomics, fisheries, aquaculture and conservation were interviewed in 2018-2019 and requested to articulate the expected changes, and the likely responses that FAO may consider. Expert responses were collated into four key thematic areas: fishery stock management; genetic improvement and domestication; trade, marketing and traceability; and biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecosystem functions, in addition to the overarching theme of governance. The collation was returned to a subset of experts and FAO staff for further review, additional inputs and to refine the report. See https://doi.org/10.4060/cc1236en or contact [email protected] for more information.

07/02/2023

On 14-15 November 2022, the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture organized the “Global workshop on digital sequence information and genetic resources for food and agriculture”. It was held virtually and was convened in collaboration with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, CAB International and the CGIAR Genebank Initiative. Presentations as well as recordings of the workshop are available at https://www.fao.org/cgrfa/meetings/dsi_workshop_2022/en/. Contact [email protected] for more information. 

06/02/2023

Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources through gene banking provides a powerful tool for governments and other stakeholders to manage genetic diversity in both the short and long term. In 2012, FAO published guidelines on cryoconservation of animal genetic resources. To complement and update these guidelines, FAO recently developed a practical guide on “Innovations in cryoconservation of animal genetic resources”, prepared with the assistance of an international team of scientists and gene bank managers. The publication provides a comprehensive and updated guide to aid gene bank managers, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders for decision making in the optimal use of cryoconservation as a tool in the management of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. To raise awareness and support regional and subregional networks in capacity building for implementation of these new guidelines, FAO organized a comprehensive series of webinars in 2022 on cryoconservation of animal genetic resources in cooperation with the Nordic Genetic Resources Center. The recordings and presentations from the webinars are now available. See https://www.fao.org/animal-genetics/events/intergovernmental-technical-working-group-on-angr/webinars/en/ or contact [email protected] for more information.

05/02/2023

As part of its Animal Production and Health Guidelines series, FAO has recently published “Genomic characterization of animal genetic resources – Practical guide”, edited by P. Ajmone-Marsan, P.J. Boettcher, L. Colli, C. Ginja, J. Kantanen and J.A. Lenstra. The broad objective of this 163-page book is to provide guidance on performing molecular characterization studies of animal genetic resources by employing the most advanced technologies that are feasible considering the given context. The document generally targets the scientists wishing to undertake a molecular genetic characterization study of their local animal genetic resources. However, all or parts of the document may be of interest to other stakeholders. The book was prepared by FAO in partnership with members of the International Society of Animal Genetics. See https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3079en or contact [email protected] for more information.

04/02/2023

In 2014, FAO, through its Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, published the Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. They provide international standards for ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in seed genebanks, field genebanks, in vitro culture and cryopreservation. To increase the utility of these standards, FAO has been developing a series of practical guides that will be useful for genebank technicians as operational handbooks; for genebank managers as streamlined instructional materials and for all interested in genebank operations, a handy reference material. One of the recent practical guides is dedicated to “Conservation via in vitro culture”. In vitro culture is a plant biotechnology that involves application of tissue culture procedures to germplasm accessions, which are kept under slow-growth conditions as sterile plant tissues or plantlets on nutrient gels. See https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0025en or contact [email protected] for more information.

03/02/2023

A recent FAO Feature Story entitled “How Somalia used biopesticides to win against desert locusts” describes how, during the 2019-2022 desert locust crisis, the Government of Somalia, together with FAO, used biopesticides and insect growth regulators to control these pests, setting an example for locust management worldwide. Biopesticides are mass-produced, biologically-based agents used for the control of plant pests. One fungus, Metarhizium acridum, used in Somalia has proven to be particularly effective in controlling locusts by feeding on the targeted insects, killing them in a week or two. See https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1604415/ (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) or contact [email protected] for more information.

02/02/2023

FAO and John Wiley & Sons Limited have recently published “Veterinary vaccines: principles and applications” aiming to provide readily available information on vaccinology and vaccine immune response in animal populations to a wide audience, including government authorities, decision makers, field veterinarians, livestock keepers, scientific community, vaccine producers and veterinary students. Edited by S. Metwally, G. Viljoen and A. El Idrissi, this authoritative 442-page book encompasses 29 chapters written by 97 international leading experts. Section I of the book covers the importance of veterinary vaccines for animal health, animal welfare and public health; section II provides an update on current and future vaccines for diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoans, rickettsia and parasites in terrestrial and aquatic animals; section III is dedicated to all aspects of vaccine production, quality control, licensing and accessibility; and section IV provides a comprehensive review of vaccines for 13 high-impact transboundary and zoonotic diseases. See https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc2031en or contact [email protected] for more information.

01/02/2023

The OECD Conference on Innovating Microbial Pesticide Testing took place in Paris, France on 13-16 September 2022, organized by the Expert Group on Biopesticides, a sub-body of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Party on Pesticides. The goal of the conference was to agree upon, and begin to implement a workplan to improve current test guidelines for microbial pesticides, defined as “microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses) that are used to control a wide range of agricultural pests, including plant disease-causing microorganisms, fungi, insects, and weeds”. More information about the conference, including relevant links, can be found in the latest OECD Biotechnology Update (December 2022). The 33-page newsletter, issued twice a year, provides an update on OECD activities related to biotechnology. See https://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/biotrack/biotech-update-issue-42-december-2022.pdf or contact [email protected] for more information.

25/05/2022

FAO has just launched an open call for case studies of the use of agricultural biotechnologies to meet the needs of smallholders in developing countries. In 2012, FAO published Biotechnologies at Work for Smallholders, a collection of case studies of the applications of biotechnologies to serve the needs of smallholders in developing countries. To build upon, complement and update this publication, FAO intends to publish a new set of case studies of the applications of agricultural biotechnologies to solve the problems that constrain smallholder production systems in developing countries in the crop, forestry, livestock and fisheries/aquaculture sectors. FAO invites interested practitioners to submit an abstract (maximum 300 words, in English) of a proposed case study to [email protected] by 22 June 2022. For more information on the call, see https://www.fao.org/research-extension-systems/resources/detail/en/c/1492888/ or contact [email protected]

24/05/2022

The FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has just published “Recent developments in biotechnologies relevant to the characterization, sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture”. The 22-page covers developments relevant to all sectors of genetic resources for food and agriculture as well as those specific to forest genetic resources and to animal, aquatic, micro-organism and invertebrate, and plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. See https://www.fao.org/3/cb8956en/cb8956en.pdf or contact [email protected] for more information.

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