A backgrounder on rice biotechnology and the public and private efforts to engineer the world's most important food crop.
Briefings
Green Revolution Revisited? Exploiting Wild Genetic Resources
Sunday 29th November 1992
Wednesday 30th September 1992
Three new developments in potato production:
- True potato seed
- Rapid multiplication technologies for seed potatoes
- Genetic engineering for potatoes
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.
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