
Are we about to edit bread? Just don't mention the Frankenfoods
How would you like your bread of the future? Would you prefer to: a) expose wheat seeds to chemicals, induce loads of mutations, ignore the abominations of nature, then pick the best seedlings? b) borrow a bacterial trick and insert an extra gene into wheat to make it disease resistant? or c) borrow a bacterial trick and rewrite bits of the wheat DNA to make it disease resistant?
If a), you're not that weird: it's called mutagenesis and Britons have chomped its results for decades. If b), there's bad news. This is genetic modification or, to use the term that effectively barred it from EU crops entirely, Frankenfoods. Britons don't eat GM. Unless, of course, you're in the US, where people have done so for
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The Guardian
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- The Guardian
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Edinburgh Reporter
21 hours ago
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CTLGH's Centre Operations Manager at Roslin, Mrs Jen Meikle explained: 'Our booth was visited by farmers, pastoralists, community workers, school teachers, pupils and university students all with an interest in science and increasing livestock production and welfare. CTLGH have a capacity in building knowledge that we hope to be able to expand to schools in Africa. Professor Chagunda added: 'Our work supports the main CGIAR mission to transform food, land and water systems by ensuring that genetic innovations reach smallholder farmers improving productivity, resilience and livelihoods. 'Our presence at the first CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi highlighted the importance of science-based solutions tailored to LMICs (low to middle income countries) and showcased how targeted genetics research can contribute to sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, environmental impact mitigation and food security.' 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One of the funders of CTLGH is the Gates Foundation and two of the scientists in the film below conduct research work for CTLGH. Food and nutrition security remains a challenge in Africa. However, biotechnologies for livestock conservation and development offer potential solutions. There are African instruments to support the needed transformation, those instruments are embedded in the Agenda 2063-The Africa we want, and in the STISA 2024 to 'Accelerate Africa's transition to an innovation-led, Knowledge-based Economy', and in the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026-2035 (Building Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Africa). Professor Mizeck Chagunda CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi At the CLTGH booth Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, Jen Meikle, Centre Operations Manager and Andy Peters, Chair of ILRI Like this: Like Related