Researchers at the James Hutton Institute in the UK have developed potato cyst nematode-resistant potatoes using marker assisted selection, a biotechnology that doesn't result in a GMO. According to the Institute, potato cyst nematodes (PCN) cause damage valued at over £50 million in the UK each year. They are present in two thirds of potato growing fields in the UK and the withdrawal of nematicides used by farmers to control PCN means that the future of the crop is threatened for many growers. On a worldwide basis plant parasitic nematodes are thought to cause damage valued at over 100 billion US dollars each year. (There's a podcast here. Coverage starts at 08:25 mins.) BBC

 

 

A crimson beer made from red barley has been created that is healthier and tastier than normal pints, according to brewers. ‌Scientists at beer giant Carlsberg have created "crossover" beers that are imbued with the colourful chemicals found in wines that have been linked to a host of health benefits. ‌The experimental lager is less bitter and contains fewer hops than normal beer thanks to the addition of anthocyanins, chemicals in grape skins that make wine red. ‌These compounds are naturally occurring and red barley has been bred to contain a high concentration of the chemicals, which have been shown to boost memory as well as reduce the risk of cancer, inflammation and diabetes. Red barley is not made by gene editing or other GM techniques but with the biotechnology known as marker assisted selection. [GMW: It's interesting that while non-GMO, referring to older style GM, has been a selling point for many years, "non-gene-edited" seems to be a newly emerging selling point!] The Telegraph

 

 

A proposed law in Zambia would make it illegal for farmers to save and share seeds, a fundamental practice for food sovereignty. Stand in solidarity with Zambian farmers by signing the petition before Sept 9. Thousand Currents on X @1000currents

 

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