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From Organic Center found report, the amount of herbicides used on genetically engineered crops has increased in the past 10 years. Since many genetically engineered crops were modified so that farmers could spray Roundup, or Glyphosate, to kill the weeds in their fields but not the crops themselves, the expectation was that less herbicide would be required. But the new report found that this is not what happened.

The collection of papers presented in this special issue results from the 11th international symposium on pre-harvest sprouting in cereals which was held in Mendoza, Argentina, in November 2007. The 11th symposium was the first one sponsored by the international society for seed science (ISSS). Other sponsors were the National Research Council (CONICET), the ANPCyT, University of Buenos Aires, Monsanto Argentina, and Cargill Argentina.

Since the 70s of last century, the hybrid rice in China has been promote large-scale. And hybrid rice played an irreplaceable role in the issue of food security in China. Although the heterosis in agricultural production was widely used, but its genetic basis and molecular mechanism is still poorly understood, this is a classic of scientific problems. Chinese researchers get a major breakthrough achieved about the advantages of hybrid rice, and the molecular mechanism of heterosis. They are Zhu Lihuang、Zhu Zhen and Yu jun form The Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), also Hunan Hybrid Rice Center Yuan Longping Academician. Related papers published in the Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) says it has determined genetic engineering is unlikely to play a significant role in increasing food production. According to a report by UCS expert Doug Gurian-Sherman released in March 2009. Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase U.S. crop yields.

A recent study conducted in the Midwestern United States examined the effects of harsh wet conditions on both cultivated and uncultivated soils, vastly advancing the knowledge of water’s effects on aggregation. Soil aggregation is an important soil attribute that is related to the physical-chemical state of the soil, and is one of the essential processes that determine soil quality. During the wet season in the U.S. Midwest, upland soils are often under water for days or weeks, causing oxygen depletion, or reducing conditions, which may in turn affect the chemistry of the soil-water system and, consequently, soil aggregation. Loss of soil aggregation impacts agriculture by decreasing soil quality and crop production.

Land degradation – the decline in the quality of soil, water and vegetation – is of profound importance but until now there have been no consistent global data by which to assess its extent and severity. A new study published in the journal Soil Use and Management attempts to measure the extent and severity of land degradation across the globe for the first time. They concludes that 24% of the land area is degrading, and often in very productive areas.

A new muscadine grape cultivar called ‘Delicious’ have been introduced, ‘Delicious’ ripens early, produces high yields, and is disease-resistant. The black fruit features exceptional taste and texture with an edible skin, making it well-suited for fresh fruit consumption and the potential for wine production. The name ‘Delicious’ was selected based on the comments of vineyard visitors who sampled the fruit.

Today we will discuss how can biotechnology be applied to agriculture? We have knew What is biotechnology? but it’s general, We need apply to reality. begin with genes. Genes are the pieces of DNA code which regulate all biological processes in living organisms. The entire set of genetic information of an organism is present in every cell. The most significant breakthroughs in agricultural biotechnology are coming from research into the genetic mechanisms behind economically important characteristics and from genomics.

Plant geneticist Stephen Moose from University of Illinois, has developed a corn plant with enormous potential for biomass. It yields corn that would make good silage, due to a greater number of leaves and larger stalk, which could also make it a good energy crop. This research were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States.