Publications: Newsletters

May 1, 2017    Volume 15, Issue 12

Welcome to May 2017 edition of the Biotechnology Update. In this edition, a high-level delegation from Kenya visited Malawi's Bt Cotton National Performance Trial (NPTs) fields on May 11, 2017. The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) called for submissions on an application to permit food from a number of genetically modified potato lines. An Indian environment ministry panel has recommended to the government that it allow the cultivation of genetically modified mustard variety, taking it closer to becoming the country's first GM food crop for commercial production. Finally, there seems to be a ray of hope for farmers growing cassava in Uganda since the Scientists at the National Agricultural Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in the country have been breeding cassava varieties with resitance to CBSV and CMV since 2013 using modern biotechnology approach.

August 3, 2015    Volume 14, Issue 1

Welcome to June 2015 edition of the Biotechnology Update. In this edition, the Pope believes GMOs are safe as the BBC panorama accuses anti-GMO activists of ignoring science. In East Africa, Tanzania sees bene- fits in GM adoption but bemoan low awareness and opinion has it that Museveni could win another term if GM crops’ benefits were realized in Uganda. Further east, China’ investment in biotech paying off as it becomes a hub of biotech research and Water Effi- cient Maize released to the pub- lic in South Africa. Production of microalgae is now a large scale business while 2020 pro- jection of the value of GM seeds climbs to $35.3 billion.

August 3, 2015    Volume 14, Issue 2

Welcome to July 2015 edition of the Biotechnology Update. In this edition, India quietly changes mood on GM crops as Turkey approves five more traits since 2011. In Africa, politics and fear of trade cuts with the EU slow down GM crops uptake yet EU countries import large but sow less of GM crops. Still in Africa, Uganda continues to lose its staple, banana, to dis- eases while resistant bananas wait in labs. Elsewhere, GM rice to join the fight against climate change by reducing methane emissions to 1% and fungi en- gages in a clean up campaign of bunker oils. Finally, yeast used in bread, wine yields better fla- voured chocolate.