41 Swedish plant scientists speak out against harmful EU regulation of modern plant genetics

Quasi-science prevents an environmentally friendly agriculture and forestry (see original blog post here) European legislation in the field of genetic engineering is so narrow that it blocks the ability of researchers to take progress from publicly funded basic research on plants…

Major NGO gets it right. Global agriculture faces a challenge. But with will and goodwill we can freeze the footprint of food.

At last the Pundit is seeing a major NGO (namely the WWF) say many of the things that he has been trying to popularise for several years at GMO Pundit and elsewhere.As we peer into the future of this planet,…

Threat to world’s wheat being met with money from Bill and Melinda Gates

 Armed with US$40 million, global research team to fight Ug99; Wind-borne wheat pathogen endangers food security worldwide With grant from DFID and Gates Foundation, Cornell University and partners will ramp up surveillance; provide farmers with resistant wheat varieties   ITHACA, NY (27 February 2011)—The United…

Gilles-Eric Séralini concerned that practical classes erode the time spent imparting knowledge of biology.

The genetic modification of bacteria in French science classes has sparked concern.Nature Magazine News 31 January 2011A row has broken out in France over whether 15- and 16-year-olds should be allowed to create transgenic Escherichia coli bacteria in the classroom.Practical…

Investment matters when it comes to gains in economic productivity over time – even in the cornfield.

In an earlier post, we quoted Klaus Ammann's investigation of maize yields and the differences between the United States and Europe in improvement in these yields over time.This post provides an update of this story, showing encouraging recent progress in…

The End of Poverty Part VI. Effects of high-quality modern agricultural technology on food production in Malawi

Maize (corn) production, and net exports trade statistics for the African country of Malawi for the period 1998 to 2008, based on FAOSTAT data. Graph prepared by D Tribe.There is much debate and concern about food security and development for…

250 g rice from a single maize-rice hybrid plant announced by China

"Maize rice" developed in Henan, ChinaSeedQuest AnnouncementChinaOctober 14, 2010Recently, over 30 experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology and Department of Agriculture, and some other organizations were…