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BULLETIN 1
ICRISAT Brings Frontier Agricultural Science to the Caribbean in Landmark Partnership
ICRISAT Brings Frontier Agricultural Science to the Caribbean in Landmark Partnership
ICRISAT 3 OCTOBER 2025
The world’s premier institute for dryland agriculture and a globally acclaimed research center, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has brought its frontier science to Jamaica through a landmark partnership with the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) and SEPROD, the region’s largest food and FMCG distributor.
Backed by ICRISAT’s global expertise, the project will fast-track the development of superior forage and dual-purpose sorghum varieties in Jamaica, to address fodder shortages, enhance livestock yields, and improve climate resilience to strengthen food and feed security and help cut CARICOM’s US$6 billion food import bill by 25% by 2030.
Applauding the collaboration, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, said that with CPSO’s visionary leadership in convening this partnership and SEPROD’s drive to champion its success, ICRISAT is proud to bring advanced agricultural innovation to CARICOM, complementing local expertise.
“ICRISAT is part of the CGIAR system and committed to sharing frontier science that delivers strong economic and social returns, and we look forward to making a lasting impact across the region through this initiative,” said Dr Pathak.
See https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/icrisat-brings-frontier-agricultural-science-to-the-caribbean-in-landmark-partnership/
The world’s premier institute for dryland agriculture and a globally acclaimed research center, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has brought its frontier science to Jamaica through a landmark partnership with the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) and SEPROD, the region’s largest food and FMCG distributor.
Backed by ICRISAT’s global expertise, the project will fast-track the development of superior forage and dual-purpose sorghum varieties in Jamaica, to address fodder shortages, enhance livestock yields, and improve climate resilience to strengthen food and feed security and help cut CARICOM’s US$6 billion food import bill by 25% by 2030.
Applauding the collaboration, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, said that with CPSO’s visionary leadership in convening this partnership and SEPROD’s drive to champion its success, ICRISAT is proud to bring advanced agricultural innovation to CARICOM, complementing local expertise.
“ICRISAT is part of the CGIAR system and committed to sharing frontier science that delivers strong economic and social returns, and we look forward to making a lasting impact across the region through this initiative,” said Dr Pathak.
See https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/icrisat-brings-frontier-agricultural-science-to-the-caribbean-in-landmark-partnership/
BULLETIN 2
John Innes Centre and Quadram Institute to Conduct Gene-Edited Tomato Food Trial
John Innes Centre and Quadram Institute to Conduct Gene-Edited Tomato Food Trial
Photo Source: John Innes Centre
ISAAA October 1, 2025
A groundbreaking human trial for gene-edited food is currently underway, aiming to combat the widespread Vitamin D deficiency using biofortified tomatoes.
Researchers from the John Innes Centre and the Quadram Institute have developed a tomato that accumulates high levels of pro-vitamin D3—a precursor to vitamin D, also known as the "sunshine vitamin." By precisely tailoring the plant's genes, the tomatoes now contain as much Vitamin D as two eggs, with levels increasing further upon exposure to UV light. This approach offers a sustainable and accessible solution, especially benefiting the nearly one billion people globally who lack sufficient Vitamin D.
The trial, named the ViTaL-D Study, is recruiting 76 participants with low vitamin D levels, aged 18 and above, who live within 40 miles of Norwich, to consume a portion of tomato soup daily for three weeks. The primary goal is to determine whether eating these biofortified tomatoes successfully leads to higher levels of active Vitamin D in the participants' blood. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and phosphorus, maintaining strong bones and teeth, and boosting the immune system; deficiency has been linked to various serious health issues, including depression and increased cancer risk.
This first-of-its-kind gene-edited food trial represents a significant step forward in using science to address global nutritional needs. If successful, these Vitamin D-enriched tomatoes could be introduced into the food supply, moving away from a reliance on supplements and limited dietary sources. The study's chief investigators emphasize that "Food is health care," viewing the trial as a crucial effort to identify novel ways to leverage healthy, fresh food to improve public health and help individuals worldwide fight the rising prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency.
For more details about this gene-edited food trial, read the press release from the John Innes Centre.
A groundbreaking human trial for gene-edited food is currently underway, aiming to combat the widespread Vitamin D deficiency using biofortified tomatoes.
Researchers from the John Innes Centre and the Quadram Institute have developed a tomato that accumulates high levels of pro-vitamin D3—a precursor to vitamin D, also known as the "sunshine vitamin." By precisely tailoring the plant's genes, the tomatoes now contain as much Vitamin D as two eggs, with levels increasing further upon exposure to UV light. This approach offers a sustainable and accessible solution, especially benefiting the nearly one billion people globally who lack sufficient Vitamin D.
The trial, named the ViTaL-D Study, is recruiting 76 participants with low vitamin D levels, aged 18 and above, who live within 40 miles of Norwich, to consume a portion of tomato soup daily for three weeks. The primary goal is to determine whether eating these biofortified tomatoes successfully leads to higher levels of active Vitamin D in the participants' blood. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and phosphorus, maintaining strong bones and teeth, and boosting the immune system; deficiency has been linked to various serious health issues, including depression and increased cancer risk.
This first-of-its-kind gene-edited food trial represents a significant step forward in using science to address global nutritional needs. If successful, these Vitamin D-enriched tomatoes could be introduced into the food supply, moving away from a reliance on supplements and limited dietary sources. The study's chief investigators emphasize that "Food is health care," viewing the trial as a crucial effort to identify novel ways to leverage healthy, fresh food to improve public health and help individuals worldwide fight the rising prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency.
For more details about this gene-edited food trial, read the press release from the John Innes Centre.
SCIENTIFC NEWS
Development of Or-gene-based co-dominant markers and their utilization in marker-assisted breeding for ß-carotene biofortification in different maturity groups of cauliflower
Shrawan Singh, Vinay Verma, Bhagchand Shivran, Rahul Kumar Meena, Anamika Chandel, Sandhya Saroha & Navinder Saini
Theoretical and Applied Genetics; October 4 2025; vol. 138; article 264
Shrawan Singh, Vinay Verma, Bhagchand Shivran, Rahul Kumar Meena, Anamika Chandel, Sandhya Saroha & Navinder Saini
Theoretical and Applied Genetics; October 4 2025; vol. 138; article 264
Abstract
β-Carotene biofortified crops are the most effective and sustainable components in food-based approaches to tackle vitamin A deficiencies in public. Orange cauliflower (Or gene) is one such options; however, co-dominant marker(s) are an essential requirement to deal with a semi-dominant Or gene for foreground selection in marker-assisted breeding. Thus, the present study aimed to develop and validate co-dominant marker(s) for the Or gene and deploy them for rapid recovery of homozygous OrOr progenies in three different maturity groups of Indian cauliflower. Consequently, three crosses from the early (PA/PKVA-1HM), mid-early (DC 325/PKVA-1HM) and mid-late maturity (DC 244/PKVA-1HM) groups were advanced to F2, F2:3, BC2F1 and BC1F2. The segregation pattern of these populations demonstrated the impact of a single semi-dominant Or gene on petiole base pigmentation and curd colour at maturity. The homozygous OrOr genotype was linked to curd deformity. However, these traits were stage-dependent. Two candidate gene markers, namely CFOr-123 and CFOr-346, were designed utilizing the Or-gene BAC sequencing data. These markers were validated in F2 population and proved useful in distinguishing homozygous and heterozygous individuals in F2 and BC1F2. Carotenoid content was highest in DC 244/ PKVA-1HM followed by DC 325/ PKVA-1HM and PA/ PKVA-1HM. A total of 16 promising homozygous F2:3 progenies were developed in tropical cauliflower backgrounds coupled with two Or-gene-based co-dominant markers, which are crucial in managing the ß-carotene biofortification programme of cauliflower.
See https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-025-05047-y
