Can crops be climate-proofed?
Climate change threatens food crops across the world. Now scientists are re-focusing their efforts on crop resilience, rather than yields.
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Here is a list of the latest articles
GM crops — Asian farmers have their say
Despite pest and pricing worries, many Asian farmers welcome GM crops. Jia Hepeng heard their stories during a farmers' exchange programme.
Agri-biotech in Africa: Safety first?
Maryke Steffens reports on the influences behind Africa's diverse attitudes to transgenic crops, and the need for a unified agenda.
12 June 2007 | EN
Agri-biotech in sub-Saharan Africa: Facts and figures
Dominic Glover outlines the status of agricultural biotechnology research, development and commercialisation in sub-Saharan Africa.
5 June 2007 | EN
March of killer fungus sparks race for resistant wheat
The spread of deadly wheat rust to Yemen has triggered a rush to pin down wheat varieties that are resistant to it.
Source: Science
2 April 2007 | EN
From UN conventions to African farms
Ebenezer Bifubyeka asks African delegates at the Convention on Biological Diversity what they plan to do to spread awareness of the uses and risks of GM farming.
Source: Panos
31 March 2006 | EN
Genetic research to rescue Mexico's tequila plant
Mexican tequila producers are turning to modern plant science to improve the genetic diversity and resilience of their crop, reports Rex Dalton.
Source: Nature
As drought takes hold, Zambia's door stays shut to GM
Gripped by severe drought for the third time in recent years, Zambia has reaffirmed its resistance to imports of genetically modified crops, reports Brenda Zulu.
21 April 2005 | EN
Wearing down resistance to GM crops in Egypt
As Egypt prepares to launch its first genetically modified crops, Joseph Krauss investigates how the country plans to make the industry a commercial success.
Source: Truth About Trade & Technology
15 April 2005 | EN
Scientists battle to bust soybean rust
Erik Stokstad reports on international efforts to tackle a fungal disease that is spreading through soybean crops around the world.
Source: Science
3 December 2004 | EN
Wheat, maize and food security
Masaru Iwanaga, director general of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre discusses food security, GM crops and bio-regulation.
Controversy and science reporting in South Africa
Tamar Kahn describes some of the problems faced by South African science journalists, who report on controversial issues such as HIV/AIDS and genetic modification.
8 October 2004 | EN
Does hunger outweigh GM doubts?
Robert Scalia reports on how farmers in different African countries are faced with different choices in their efforts to tackle the crop pests that reduce their yields and profits.
Source: Scoop
10 August 2004 | EN
African farmers to reap benefits of technology transfer
Victor Bwire describes how small-scale farmers across Africa can access high yielding crops under a special arrangement linking the needs of farmers with better farming methods and technologies.
Source: The Daily Nation
2 July 2004 | EN
Africa: a continent divided over GM
Ehsan Masood reports how African activists, backed by wealthy supporters in the United States and Europe, are in combat over the merits of GM crops.
Source: Nature
Mexican maize: probing the GM controversy
Controversy over possible 'contamination' of native Mexican maize with genes from GM varieties made world headlines two years ago. This article explores what Mexican scientists have to say.
Source: Agbiotech Buzz
10 November 2003 | EN
The roots of the GM debate in Brazil
André Deak looks at the controversy surrounding GM food in Brazil since 1995, when the national biosafety law was set up and the issue started to be hotly debated across the country.
Source: Coletivo EmCrise
11 July 2003
Ghana trumps mighty Microsoft
Briony Hale describes how — starting with a battered old computer — Hermann Chinnery-Hesse developed Ghana's own software firm, which appears to be holding Microsoft at bay.
Source: BBC Online
6 June 2003 | EN
The contradictions of China's GM policy
Colin Macilwain investigates why China is reluctant to approve the commercial use of GM crops and yet is investing heavily in research on transgenic agriculture.
Source: Nature
13 March 2003 | EN
What's behind China's GM caution?
Ding Yimin and Jeffrey Mervis ask whether China's growing concerns about biosafety are in fact a smokescreen for a tougher trade policy.
Source: Science
20 December 2002 | EN
