Briefings

Early Warning for East African Pyrethrum Farmers

Monday 29th June 1992

Research on genetic engineering of Pyrethrins, the insecticidal compounds derived from the pyrethrum flower (Chrysanthemum spp.) .  A US based biotechnology company seeks to produce "unlimited supplies of pyrethrin" in the laboratory.

 

A Report on Work in Progress

Wednesday 30th October 1991

RAFI takes a look at early R&D in genetic modification of maize, including the financial stakes and major players, goals of transformation, and prospects for commercialization.

Updates

Tuesday 30th July 1991

In 1987 RAFI first reported on the efforts of two biotech companies to produce natural vanilla flavor in the laboratory. If commercially successful, this technology could displace over 70,000 farmers who grow vanilla beans in Madagascar. Here is RAFI's update four years later.

The Quest for Alternative Rubber Sources; Guayule - An Alternative Source of Natural Rubber for the United States

Saturday 29th June 1991

 Will bio-synthesis of natural rubber and the development of rubber-producing substitutes such as guayule adversely affect millions of small-scale rubber producers in Asia, Africa and Latin America?

RAFI surveys current biotech R&D on natural rubber substitutes.

Monday 29th October 1990

Field trials and commercial sale of Bovine Growth Horm0ne in the developing world.

Wednesday 31st January 1990

Scientists are transforming common plant oils (such as soybean) into castor oil equivalents using enzymes or microbes.

The Particle Gun, RFLP Tech; and New Hybrid Crops

Friday 29th December 1989

Three Developments in Plant Biotechnology: The Particle Gun, RFLP Tech; and New Hybrid Crops and the companies that control them.

Tuesday 31st October 1989

Mergers, acquisitions and business failures in the biotech industry.

Saturday 29th July 1989

The application of biotechnologies to coffee.

Thursday 29th June 1989

Vanilla and Biotechnology (Originally published in 1987-updated June 19, 1989): Natural vanilla production via cell culture technology.

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