<
https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-02-03/in-kenya-nigeria-and-malawi-gene-editing-is-saving-crops.html>
"On the African continent, a dozen genetic-editing projects are being put at
the forefront of agriculture. However, for the past 20 years, European
countries have been repressing this technology, due to pressure from certain
environmental groups and — above all — uncritical acceptance by a large part of
upper-income countries. These opinions contradict science. As Norman Borlaug —
the father of the Green Revolution — noted in a past interview with
EL PAÍS:
“environmentalists oppose GMOs because their bellies are full.”
Greenpeace made the biggest mistake in its history by turning its opposition to
GMOs into one of its main campaigns, alongside the rightful battles that it
wages against radioactive waste, ocean pollution and climate change. Scientists
have been pointing out this anomaly for decades, but the directors of
Greenpeace have insisted on being on the side of irrationality… even after a
hundred Nobel Prize winners accused them of crimes against humanity for
maintaining this position. Fortunately, the situation is changing, right where
it’s most-needed.
Sorghum is an essential crop in many African countries, not only for food, but
also as building material. However, 60% of the continent’s fields are suffering
from a devastating invasion of Striga hermonthica, a parasitic plant sometimes
called “witchweed.” This weed attaches itself to the roots of sorghum and sucks
away water and nutrients, until it destroys the entire crop.
Scientists from all over the African continent have solved the problem with
CRISPR, the groundbreaking gene-editing technique that has revolutionized
biology laboratories in recent years. Field trials will begin this year.
Molecular biologist Steven Runo — from the University of Kenya in Nairobi —
announced this at the Plant & Animal Genome Conference held in mid-January in
San Diego, California."
Via
Fix the News:
<
https://fixthenews.com/good-news-human-rights-greece-education-burundi-reforestation-america/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
