The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
UPLI NAGNI, TEHRI-GARHWAL: The words 'seed capital' take on a whole new meaning in the hills of Uttarakhand. Far from the networks of seed corporations, farmers here still do agriculture in the traditional way where they are not only cultivators but also field scientists and seed tinkerers. Most farmers in …
The anti-GM mustard grouping assured the path to commercialisation of India’s first genetically modified food crop will not be easy. Apart from protests by environmentalists, activists and states over the central biotech regulator GEAC’s recent nod to commercial cultivation of GM mustard, top BJP leaders are also propagating extra caution …
A parliamentary panel headed by Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury will discuss the issue of genetically modified (GM) crops with multinational seed firms and activists. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, headed by Chowdhury is reviewing the GM crops and their impact on environment and human …
Noting that air and water pollution were a "matter of concern" for the whole country in general and Delhi and NCR in particular, Harsh Vardhan said Best efforts would be made to address all environmental issues, including “contentious” ones, in a “meticulous and scientific” manner, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said …
Anti-GM groups argue conflict of interest in Harsh Vardhan's appointment as he holds S&T; portfolio After withdrawing it for a few days, the ministry of environment and forests has brought back its ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (and Answers) list on genetically modified (GM) mustard. These say that safety of GM foods …
Centre to operationalise Rs 5,000 crore fund for micro irrigation in NABARD Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said that his ministry will promote all notified crops irrespective of the fact whether it is genetically modified or not as that is its mandate and it has no reservations on the …
Dave’s body was flown to Bhopal on Thursday and kept at the BJP headquarters there. The cremation is set to take place on Friday. JUST A week ago, Anil Madhav Dave was entrusted to take a decision that could have turned out to be the defining moment of his stint …
The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, farmers' group linked to the RSS, on Wednesday joined hands with anti-GM groups in their protest against regulatory clearance to transgenic GM mustard and demanded rejection of the regulator's recommendation of allowing commercial cultivation of the genetically engineered oil-seed in the country. They met environment minister …
The recommendation for clearance has been sent to Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave who has to approve the decision. AFTER MONTHS of suspense, a genetically-modified variety of mustard, developed by a Delhi-based institute, has been cleared for commercial cultivation by the country’s top regulator on genetically-engineered organisms. The GEAC, or …
IDUKKI: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forest, chaired by former minister Renuka Chaudhary, on Wednesday took a direct account of the impact of deforestation and excessive construction activities on the ecology of Munnar. The committee members also interacted with representatives of NGOs and civil society and collected details …
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) released its annual report showcasing the 110-fold increase in adoption rate of biotech crops globally in just 21 years of commercialization – growing from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 185.1 million hectares in 2016. ISAAA’s report, “Global Status of …
Will it, will it not? Uganda teeters on the brink of having a new bill to regulate genetically modified goods after President Yoweri Museveni cleared the air about which side he supports, writes JUSTUS LYATUU. The pressure to pass the Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2012 has started building up in …
Judgement of the High Court of Delhi in the matter of Monsanto Technology LLC & Others Vs Nuziveedu Seeds Limited & Others dated 28/03/2017 regarding Nuziveedu Seeds Limited continuing to “market and sell” Genetically Modified Hybrid Cotton Planting Seeds inspite of termination of the sub-license agreements and use of trademarks …
Kenya is withholding approval for field trials of genetically-modified corn because some officials argue that a ban on GMO imports applies to controlled growing tests as well, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. Talks involving representatives from the health and environment ministries and the National Biosafety Authority reached …
Agricultural productivity depends on several factors. These include the availability and quality of agricultural inputs such as land, water, seeds and fertilizers, access to agricultural credit and crop insurance, assurance of remunerative prices for agricultural produce, and storage and marketing infrastructure, among others. This report provides an overview of the …
This paper is a critique of Srivastava and Kolady1 who reported a macro analysis of the benefits of Bt cotton in India using state wide average data. The analysis is in error with respect to the economic benefits, biological underpinnings, and the effects of Bt cotton technology adoption on resource-poor …
RNA silencing is an adaptive, inducible antiviral defence mechanism in the host against invading viruses. The adaptive antiviral function is characterized by the formation of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) during viral infection. As a counter defense strategy, a number of plant viruses evolve viral suppressors to target antiviral silencing. …
New review from Brazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development highlights hazards and uncertainties of GM crops. The Brazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA) has published an important new book: “Transgenic crops hazards and uncertainties: More than 750 studies disregarded by the GMOs regulatory bodies”. It examines research showing hazards to human …
In the article Herbicide Resistant Crops: The Truth About the World’s Most Widely Grown Engineered Plants, debunks the agrochemical industry’s claims that genetically modified (GM) crops are the solution to world hunger and malnutrition. Citing various evidence, the fact sheet reveals that the use of glyphosate-resistant seeds (GRCs) has worsened …
This book makes the “business case” for the role of biotechnology innovations for sustainable development in emerging and developing economies. It seeks to support the factual debate on biosciences and technology for developing and emerging economies. The book argues that careful applications of biosciences and technology to clearly identified development …
