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With the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission, two cutting-edge experiments from ICGEB New Delhi are now on board the International Space Station (ISS). This marks a major milestone for both ICGEB and Indian space biotechnology research. The first experiment, co-designed by the Metabolic Engineering Group at ICGEB New Delhi under the leadership of Dr. Shashi Kumar and the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, is a joint collaborative effort under an ISRO-NASA initiative. This project focuses on the behavior of three edible microalgae species (Chlorella sorokiniana-I (CS-I), Parachlorella kessleri-I (PK-I), and Dysmorphococcus globosus-HI (DG-HI)) under microgravity conditions. The objective is to explore their potential in carbon dioxide fixation, oxygen generation, wastewater recycling, and ultimately their viability as a sustainable food and life-support system for astronauts. By simulating long-term spaceflight conditions, this experiment aims to bring us a step closer to self-sustaining life-support solutions for future deep space missions. The second experiment, designed by the Systems Biology for Biofuel Group ICGEB New Delhi led by Dr. Shireesh Srivastava, investigates two strains of Cyanobacteria (Spirulina subsalsa and Synechococcus Sp. PCC11901). This study is a joint initiative of ISRO-ESA (European Space Agency) focusing on the growth of Cyanobacteria using urea as a nitrogen source, thereby examining the possibilities of carbon and nitrogen recycling in closed space environments. Understanding these microbial processes is key in developing efficient bio-regenerative systems crucial for extended human spaceflight and planetary habitation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on genetic engineering and biotechnological solutions in support of transforming agrifood systems. The signing ceremony was held as a side event at the FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference “Biotechnologies for a Sustainable Future: Driving Agrifood Systems Transformation.” The agreement underscores the Organizations’ communal commitment to fostering innovation, addressing pressing global challenges such as food security and environmental sustainability, and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The collaboration between FAO and ICGEB builds on a shared mission to advance the development and application of genetic engineering and biotechnology in agriculture, with a focus on innovative areas such as bioinoculants, microbiomes, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biosafety. By combining FAO’s global reach and strategic frameworks with ICGEB’s scientific excellence and advanced research capabilities in the field, the partnership aims to accelerate the uptake of cutting-edge technologies and promote sustainable practices across agrifood systems worldwide. The MoU will emphasize technical collaboration and capacity development in key biotechnological fields. Activities will range from the development of knowledge products and policy briefs to organising joint workshops and technical support missions. Special attention will be given to empowering countries to apply genomics, bioinformatics, and genome editing to improve crop and livestock performance, enhance nutrient use efficiency, and bolster resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The collaboration will also explore policy and regulatory aspects of biotechnology and contribute to science-policy dialogue through joint participation in global forums and advocacy events. Through this partnership, FAO and ICGEB will jointly support at least two countries in applying biotechnologies to improve agrifood systems. They will also produce policy briefs on high-priority topics and host events to promote biotechnologies relevant to smallholder agriculture. Capacity development activities will be designed to strengthen the technical skills of FAO Member countries and support the responsible use of biotechnology in alignment with the bioeconomy. Dr. Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Director-General states: “Climate change and the inevitable impacts on food security represent one of the major challenges facing humanity, with populations in the Global South being particularly vulnerable. The partnership with FAO therefore, offers a unique opportunity to meet these challenges and ensure the creation of sustainable and resilient nutritional resources for some of the poorest parts of the world. Biotechnology offers amazing capabilities for enhancing global nutrition, and at a pace that far outstrips traditional agricultural practices. Tackling drought, disease, enhancing crop nutrition ,and crop yields are all within reach through the use of modern Agricultural Biotechnology. Combining the expertise of FAO and ICGEB will ensure that such developments can be attained and owned by populations in all parts of the world, thereby ensuring that no one is left behind. “This partnership with ICGEB reflects our shared commitment to advancing science and innovation in support of sustainable agrifood systems. By combining FAO’s global mandate with ICGEB’s cutting-edge research and technical expertise, we can support countries harness the potential of biotechnologies to address critical challenges in food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development. This collaboration supports the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31, promoting innovation for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind,” said Beth Crawford, FAO Chief Scientist (ad interim). FAO and ICGEB are committed to deepening collaboration, strengthening technical capacities, and promoting innovation for sustainable development. This partnership exemplifies how science-driven alliances can help overcome complex challenges in agriculture, food security, and environmental health. The partnership stands to leverage biotechnological innovations and shared expertise to address critical challenges in food security, environmental health, and sustainable development.

It’s not just about the iconic Marmolada Glacier in the Dolomites. In the coming decades, the other glaciers in this mountain range could also shrink dramatically or vanish altogether. This theory is supported for the first time by a study conducted by the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council (Cnr-Isp), based at Area Science Park, and the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, recently published in the journal The Cryosphere. The Italian Glaciological Committee, the Alpine-Adriatic Meteorological Society, ARPA Veneto, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, the Technical University of Denmark, the Roma Tre University in Rome and the University of Quebec in Montreal all collaborated in the study. “The Dolomites have been the subject of numerous studies in the fields of geology, geomorphology and biodiversity. However, the glaciers in this region have often remained on the margins of scientific investigation, with the exception of the Marmolada Glacier, the largest in the area”, explains Renato R. Colucci, a researcher at Cnr-Isp and co-author of the paper. “Regardless of the information provided by the two editions of the Italian glacier registers (1962 and 2015), the data available on their evolution over time have so far been extremely fragmented and have often only been qualitative, especially regarding their variations in volume. Our study is the first to present a multi-decade estimate (from the 1980s to 2023) of topographic changes and mass balance of the current mountain glaciers in the Dolomites”. The result was achieved in two steps: for the period from the 1980s to 2010, researchers used the Structure from Motion (SfM) technique applied to historical aerial imagery; from 2010 to 2023, they also used drone (UAV) imagery and helicopter-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) acquisitions, which allowed for high-resolution and accuracy. In 2023 – the last year examined in the study – there were 9 glaciers, although the fragmentation of the Marmolada Glacier into four distinct glacial bodies brings the total number to 12. “The total area of these last 12 glaciers has decreased from just over 4 square km in the 1980s to just under 2 square km today – a 56% loss, of which 33% has occurred since 2010,” specifies Andrea Securo, PhD student at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and co-author of the study. “Overall, we observed an average decrease in the topographic surface of the glaciers of 28,7 metres between 1980 and 2023 – of which 33% between 2010 and 2023. The glacier that suffered the greatest reduction was the Fradusta Glacier, which underwent a decrease in average thickness of 50 metres and an areal reduction of 90%.” The temperature data processed for the study in collaboration with ARPA Veneto is also interesting, showing a rise of +2.0°C over the past 40 years – approximately +0.5°C per decade. At the same time, the data also shows a certain increase in snowfall, but only at high altitudes. The researchers warn that this phenomenon was not enough to compensate for the greater melting caused by increasingly long and always hotter summers. In conclusion, the study highlights that, in the entire area, 66% of the total volume loss is attributable to the Marmolada Glacier alone. “Today, the Dolomite Glacier accumulation areas lie below the alpine glacier equilibrium line, an indicator of the fact that, within a few decades, these glaciers will either disappear completely or become fragmented glacial bodies with no dynamic activity. Unfortunately, their fate appears inevitable, even assuming climate stabilisation based on the average values of the past 30 years (1991–2020),” the authors conclude. Source: CNR (Italian National Research Council)