b'INTERNATIONAL NEWSGLOBAL SEED WATCHAUSTRALIAN RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY CHICKPEA HEAT TOLERANCE TRAITS, CANADA INVESTS INCROP-RELEATED RESEARCH, CHINA APPROVES BIOSAFETY FOR GE AND GENE-EDITED CROPSSTATUS AUSTRALIA agriculture industry. The range of topics covered by the 2025 ADF projects include mapping soil carbon sequestration in Saskatchewan cropland, examining alternative genetic mechanisms for resistance to the wheat stem sawfly, and studying the effects of a pea-based beverage on bone health to prevent osteoporosis and bone fracture.The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan work closely with industry partners to leverage funding to support research that aligns with industry priorities. This year\'s ADF projects were supported by an additional $5.4 million contributed by various industry partners.STATUS CHINAOn December 31, 2024, China\'s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the issuance of new and renewed biosafety certificates for genetically engineered (GE) and gene-ed-ited crop events.The newly issued certificates include the following: 7 renewed and 1 new biosafety certificate for GE crops approved for import Researchers from the Plant Breeding Institute at the University ofas processing materials; 5 new biosafety certificates for gene-edited Sydney led by Prof. Richard Trethowan have identified chickpea heatevents for domestic cultivation and processing, including the first tolerance traits. The research team analyzed chickpea from threegene-edited rice event; 1 renewed and 8 new biosafety certificates sources, including material from the Australian Grains Genebank,for GE crops approved for domestic cultivation and processing; 4 Australian cultivars, and lines from India with heat tolerance. biosafety certificates to expand valid area; 7 renewed and 5 new Chickpeas were exposed to heat stress, staggered sowing datesbiosafety certificates for genetically modified microorganisms (with the late-sown replicates experiencing higher flowering tem- (GMMs) for animal use; 1 renewed biosafety certificate for GMMs peratures), and in-field heat chambers to deliver heat stress for fivefor plant use; and33 renewed biosafety certificates for GE cotton days during the sensitive flowering period. The researchers analyzedapproved for domestic cultivation and processing.the response to heat of anther and pollen development. The new and renewed biosafety certificates are valid for five The associated genetics with interesting traits were mappedyears starting December 25, 2024.using the Chickpea DArTseq technology to identify traits linked to the novel heat tolerance traits. The heat-tolerant materials were alsoSTATUS INDIAcrossed with Australian-adapted chickpea germplasm to develop a population of pre-breeding lines. These new materials show substan-tial yield advantages under high temperatures, with some yielding almost double when grown in late summer.STATUS CANADACanada\'s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan\'s Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison announced a total of $9.4 million in funding for crop-re-lated research, in addition to $5.4 million in co-funding from indus-try partners for a combined total of $14.8 million in 2025.Invested through Saskatchewan\'s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), the commitment supports a total of 53 approved research projects on a variety of topics that will help advance the industry. This investment is part of Saskatchewan\'sThe Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, has 2024-25 budget of $37 million for agriculture research. unveiled eight new high-yielding and climate-resilient crop vari-The ADF uses an annual competitive process to supporteties, including wheat, rice, and oilseeds, developed using radia-selected research projects which have the potential to enable growthtion-based mutation breeding techniques. These non-GMO crops and enhance sustainability and competitiveness in Saskatchewan\'saim to "revolutionize" Indian agriculture, BARC stated.38ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | FEBRUARY 2025'