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 …
Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) is seeking regulatory approvals for field trials in genetically modified (GM) rice and cotton lines that can grow under water-stressed and saline environments, besides requiring less nitrogen fertilisers. The ₹700-crore company has developed these new plants using proprietary genes belonging to Arcadia Biosciences, a privately-held …
Country's private seed companies sought government permission to produce and market genetically engineered (GE) variety Bt Brinjal, officials said. "Six Bangladeshi seed companies including Supreme Seed Company Ltd, GETCO Agro Vision Ltd and Lal Leer Seed Co Ltd, who are engaged in vegetables, rice and maize seed business, have sought …
After more than 15 years of using genetically modified crops, U.S. farmers are continuing to see an array of benefits, but the impacts on the environmental and on food production are mixed, and high farmer use of a popular herbicide on GMO crops is a cause for ongoing concern, according …
France published a decree on Monday to prevent the planting of genetically modified maize as a stopgap measure, while the government works on changes to domestic and European laws to ensure a longer-term ban. The French government, which maintains that GM crops present environmental risks, has been trying to institute …
British scientists have developed genetically modified potatoes that are resistant to the vegetable's biggest threat - blight. A three-year trial has shown that these potatoes can thrive despite being exposed to late onset blight. That disease has plagued farmers for generations and it triggered the Irish potato famine in the …
India has overtaken Canada to emerge as the fourth largest country to grow biotech or genetically modified (GM) crops in 2013 as farmers here planted Bt cotton in about 11 million hectares. In the previous year, farmers in India had planted Bt cotton — the only approved GM crop for …
Campaigners against genetically modified crops on Tuesday urged the government to immediately withdraw genetically modified Bt brinjal sapling and stop the process of introducing other GM crops including ‘potato and golden rice.’ At a human chain formed in front of the National Press Club, they also warned that European countries …
European Union ministers hit deadlock on Tuesday on whether to let a new strain of genetically modified (GM) maize be grown on EU soil for human consumption, clearing the way for the bloc's executive arm to approve the crop automatically. European Commission endorsement of insect-resistant Pioneer 1507, developed jointly by …
The government has allowed commercial cultivation of Bt cotton, while moratorium has been put on Bt brinjal There are no "credible scientific reports" to prove that genetically modified (GM) crops have adverse impact on environment, human health and livestock, the government said in Parliament today. "No madam, there are no …
Environment and Forests Minister Veerappa Moily has confirmed to The Indian Express that field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops will be supported by his ministry and it will be reflected in the joint affidavit that will be filed before the Supreme Court very soon. Saying that the benefits of …
Urges people not to be swayed by “unscientific prejudices” Underscoring food security, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday favoured genetically modified crops, urging the people not to be swayed by “unscientific prejudices.” “Use of biotechnology has great potential to improve yields. While safety must [also] be ensured, we should not …
This study analyzes the impact of transgenic crop adoption on agricultural production risk and agrobiodiversity. The genetic erosion hypothesis suggests that global biodiversity is affected by various anthropogenic stresses that have caused serious biodiversity loss over the past few decades. This also applies to agrobiodiversity, comprising the diversity of species …
Bangladesh ranked 169th among 178 countries in the Global Environmental Performance Index 2014. Bangladesh scored 25.61 out of 100 taking into consideration indicators like health impacts, air quality, water and sanitation, water resources, agriculture, forests, fisheries, biodiversity and habitat. Read more in this January 2014 edition of the Monthly Overview …
Critics of genetically modified crops protested at Monsanto Co's annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday, calling for the world's largest seed company to provide a report on contamination in non-GMO crops and to stop fighting mandatory labels on foods containing GMO ingredients. The requests came in the form of two shareholder …
The Supreme Court today continued its stay order against the ban on the import and distribution of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds. A division bench of Justices Kalyan Shrestha and Tarka Raj Bhatta issued the order following today’s hearing on a petition to ban GMO seeds. It pointed that such …
Authorities in Bangladesh have released the country’s first ever genetically modified crop to farmers amid criticism from environmental groups, officials said on Friday. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has begun distributing the seedlings of four types of genetically modified aubergine following approval from the government’s biosafety regulator. “We have released …
The Supreme Court on Sunday continued its previous stay order banning the import of genetically modified (GM) seeds, including those supplied by Monsanto, a US-based chemical and agricultural biotechnology company. A division bench of justices Kalyan Shrestha and Tarka Raj Bhatta maintained such seeds could have effects on food security …
It is essential to introduce genetically high-bred seed paddy that ensures higher crop harvest among the Galle district paddy farmers and if not they would discontinue paddy cultivation, Galle Deputy Agriculture Director Senani de Silva said. He was making a presentation on the contemporary issues on the district’s paddy cultivation …
While the government is looking to deliberate on the bio-safety bill in the upcoming session, some sections are cautioning more awareness and consultation on the subject before finalising the law. The highlight of the bill is on regulating and monitoring genetically modified organisms (GMO) and other products derived from GMOs. …
Bt Brinjal, (also known as eggplant, begun, or aubergine), a genetically modified food crop, inserted with a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis, has been approved by the National Committee on Biosafety (NCB) in Bangladesh for limited scale cultivation by farmers. In an October 30 notification (reference No.22.00.0000.073.05.003.2012-271), last …
