From the editors of Feedstuffs
Project to sequence 400 soybean genomes, improve future crops
As a source of protein and biodiesel for cleaner renewable energy, soybean is an important crop worldwide. But is it performing to its full potential? An ambitious effort led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (JGI) will sequence 400 soybean genomes to develop a “pangenome” — an attempt to characterize all the useful diversity in the genome to create an even more robust and resilient crop.
The soybean pangenome project will sequence and analyze at least 50 soybean genomes from cultivated lines and wild relatives at reference quality, the gold standard of modern sequencing. A further 350 genomes will be sequenced as high-quality drafts by the JGI. The plan is to include a diverse set of soybean lines, including perennial relatives and lines selected to yield in harsh conditions, preparing the industry to move toward a climate-resilient future.
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USDA awards $23 million to support dairy initiatives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Oct. 3 that it is awarding $23 million to support dairy businesses and producers under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products.
“Since 2019, the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives have made significant impacts to the dairy industry and the agricultural economy as a whole through the funding of 441 projects,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Today’s additional funding will allow the initiatives to continue to provide the dairy industry and its businesses with tools and resources to ensure a steady supply of dairy products is available to consumers across the country.”This year’s funds are being awarded noncompetitively to the four current DBI Initiatives at the California State University Fresno, the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin.
CAST, IFT collaborate on food traceability issue paper
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) have released an issue paper which examines traceability fundamentals including the development and use of various technologies to enhance food safety, source transparency, and consumer confidence. With an increased interest on food traceability around the globe including a focus on complying with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s end-to-end traceability mandate for food and agricultural products, the issue paper is intended as a foundational resource for stakeholders across industry, academia, government agencies, and trade associations.The issue paper explores the technological infrastructure underlying food traceability platforms while touching on the history of those platforms, the current state of technology, ongoing U.S. food traceability initiatives, as well as the future of commercial scale deployment.Read more
ADM, Syngenta sign MOU to support low-carbon next-generation oilseeds
ADM and Syngenta Group announced Sept. 28 that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in scaling research and commercialization of low carbon-intensity next-generation oilseeds and improved varieties to help meet skyrocketing demand for biofuels and other sustainably-sourced products.
The MOU envisions a collaboration in which ADM and Syngenta would leverage their existing capabilities to accelerate the research, processing, and commercialization of new, low carbon-intensity oilseeds, such as Camelina, that are typically grown in the fallow period of a crop rotation. The companies have broad capabilities including:
Syngenta’s R&D engine, which offers biotechnology support, seed treatments, and biologicals that further reduce the carbon intensity of crops, and agronomic knowledge from a network of local, field experts combined with excellent farmer relationships.
ADM’s global scale and logistical expertise, including unparalleled production and storage capabilities, a vast logistical network, and relationships with growers and customers spanning food, feed, fuel, industrial and consumer products.
ADM and Syngenta envision fostering partnerships with additional companies to support the creation, commercialization and processing of next-generation oilseeds.Global demand for biofuels is expected to grow by 35 billion liters per year, or 22%, over the 2022-2027 period.
FDA releases new five-year antimicrobial stewardship plan
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has released its five-year plan, “Supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings, Goals for Fiscal Years 2024-2028.” The plan builds upon the progress of the previous plan for FY 2019-2023.
The five-year plans are intended to provide stakeholders with a transparent roadmap of the actions that correspond to FDA’s three main veterinary stewardship goals.
