Biotech Updates

British American Tobacco (BAT) has joined the race in developing a potential vaccine for COVID-19 using a new, fast-growing tobacco plant technology. BAT's biotech subsidiary in the United States, Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP), is developing the potential vaccine for COVID-19 and is now in pre-clinical testing. BAT and KBP work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the United Kingdom's Department for Health and Social Care.

Argentina's Years of Experience in Gene Editing Regulation

While many countries are still deliberating about regulating products of new breeding techniques, Argentina has now accumulated four years of experience in implementing a pioneer regulation for NBT products. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology released an article with an analysis of the effects on economic innovation of such regulations.

A Call to Action for World Leaders: Prevent Global Food Security Crisis in COVID-19 Fight

A coalition has called on world leaders urgently to maintain open trade of their surplus food products. The Call to Action has been made as the group is alarmed by the risk of global and regional food shortages triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Published on April 9, 2020, and signed by 60 experts, the call to action urges world leaders to keep food supplies flowing, especially support vulnerable people, and finance sustainable, resilient food systems.

Science Speaks, ISAAA's Blog is Now Up!

To continue its goal of providing effective platforms of communicating science to major stakeholders from different parts of the world, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) launches Science Speaks, a brand new blog featuring key activities, events, and developments of ISAAA, its global network of Biotechnology Information Centers, and other partners. A message from ISAAA's Global Coordinator, Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan welcomes Science Speaks visitors.