New ground broken by Michigan State University biochemists helps explain how plants protect themselves from freezing temperatures and could lead to discoveries related to plant tolerance for drought and other extreme conditions.

In a study published in the Aug. 27 edition of PLoS ONE, the NC State researchers show that water fleas take up nitrates and nitrites -- common chemicals used primarily in agriculture as fertilizers -- and convert those chemicals into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide can be toxic to many organisms.

The Philippines will be the first to grow “Golden Rice,” the only rice variety to be fortified with Vitamin A to prop up the immune system and combat blindness, particularly among children.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects 40 percent of Filipino children aged between six months and five-years old, according to the 2003 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

With imports cut off and sugar available for purchase only with the right ration coupon, the federal government during World War II put out a poster that said: "Plant More Sugar Beets!"

Now sugar beet growers are wondering if the federal government policy for the 2011 crop year will be "Plant No Sugar Beets!"

BEIJING --The Chinese consume millions of tons of genetically modified (GM) soybean oil every year without fuss despite the fact that attitudes toward GM food remain as divergent in the nation as they are in the rest of the world.

China needs to step up agricultural innovation, including development of its own GM varieties, in response to climate change and to reduce reliance on foreign technologies, top agricultural experts and scientists told China Business Weekly last week.

There is a new glyphosate-resistant weed. It is so new it’s not anyone’s fault.

Cannot blame this one on overuse of Roundup or poor weed resistance management.

It’s a volunteer that in California blindsided farmers and researchers.

Camson Biotechnologies, an agricultural biotechnology firm, plans to set up joint ventures in Singapore, Dubai and Egypt, a top company official said.

"Our innovative R&D led approach to farming and agriculture inputs has seen international interests and we are setting up business in Singapore, Dubai and Cairo in Egypt to meet the growing demand for zero residue agri-inputs," Camson Biotech's Managing Director Dhirendra Kumar told PTI here.

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) confirmed that at yesterday's National Technical Biosafety Committee (CTNBio) meeting in Brazil, the committee approved Monsanto's Bt Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean product for planting in Brazil.