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Genencor launches Accellerase DUET at the 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando

Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, today introduced Accellerase® DUET at the Renewable Fuels Association's 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, Fla. This product is the latest generation in the company's line of enzymes used to convert biomass into sugars, a critical step in the production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels and biochemicals from non-food feedstocks.

15 Feb 2010

GM crops can help bolster global food security, scientists say in special journal issue

Acceptance of genetically modified (GM) crops in agriculture will help bolster global food security as the world faces population growth and the potential effects of climate change, Nina Fedoroff, science and technology advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and colleagues write in an article published in a special issue of the journal Science, the Times of London reports.

15 Feb 2010

World leaders need to alter their notions on sustainable agriculture to prevent starvation catastrophe

Yields from some of the most important crops begin to decline sharply when average temperatures exceed about 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 Fahrenheit. Projections are that by the end of this century much of the tropics and subtropics will regularly see growing season temperatures above that level, hotter than the hottest summers now on record.

12 Feb 2010

Governor Rendell proposes fiscal year 2010-11 General Fund budget

With Pennsylvania finances still suffering the effects of the most stubbornly challenging national economy since the Great Depression, Governor Edward G. Rendell today proposed a fiscal year 2010-11 General Fund budget that spends $26.3 billion in state money, augmented by more than $2.7 billion in federal stimulus funds.

10 Feb 2010

New program to help the U.S. health care sector switch to cleaner, renewable energy sources

In recent months, three U.S. hospitals signed energy contracts that will save over $1.7 million in energy costs, provide them with up to 10 percent clean energy. The green energy will avoid 11,829 metric tons of CO2 being released to our atmosphere, which is equivalent to taking 2,052 cars off the road or not burning 56 railcars' worth of coal.

4 Feb 2010

New African Union chair's focus to include food security; First Ladies discuss HIV/AIDS

The African Union (AU) Summit concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday with newly elected AU chairman Bingu Wa Mutharika, of Malawi, encouraging African leaders to make agriculture and food security a top priority, Angola Press reports (2/2).

4 Feb 2010

Obama's FY 2011 budget gives global health funding boost

President Barack Obama's FY 2011 budget request for global health totals $9.6 billion and includes funding for global health activities within the State Department, USAID and HHS, the Wall Street Journal reports

3 Feb 2010

U.N. Secretary-General focuses on MDGs during African Union Summit

Addressing the 14th African Union (AU) Summit on Sunday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for African countries to maintain their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), "which include reducing poverty, disease and child mortality, ahead of their target date of 2015," BBC reports (1/31).

2 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 1, 2010

As President Obama's proposed budget heads to Congress, analysis of the breakdown of health reform -- and whether it may still have a chance -- continues.

1 Feb 2010

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award granted to Robert J. Lefkowitz

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Biomedicine category goes in this second edition to Prof. Robert J. Lefkowitz (1943, New York, United States), investigator in the Department of Medicine at Duke University (United States).

29 Jan 2010

Experimental vaccine protects mice and monkeys against chikungunya virus

An experimental vaccine developed using non-infectious virus-like particles (VLP) has protected macaques and mice against chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen that has infected millions of people in Africa and Asia and causes debilitating pain, researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found.

29 Jan 2010

Canada to 'champion' major G8 initiative to tackle maternal, child mortality

As president of the G8 in 2010, "Canada will champion a new G8 identity focused on ending child mortality and other health woes in poorer countries when it hosts the club of industrialized nations in June, the government said Tuesday," Agence France-Presse reports. A spokesman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper explained Tuesday that Harper will use his keynote address at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to provide more details about the new G8 agenda, according to AFP (1/26).

28 Jan 2010

Gates annual letter addresses importance of innovation for global health, agriculture

In his second annual letter, Bill Gates reflects on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's work and the importance innovation will play in overcoming some of the world's greatest challenges, including in global health and agriculture, the Associated Press reports. "Gates says the foundation currently is backing 30 areas of innovation including online learning, teacher improvement, malaria vaccine development, HIV prevention, and genetically modified seeds," according to the news service (Gordon Blankinship, 1/25).

27 Jan 2010

Report highlights challenges facing Obama in Africa

A new report highlights challenges facing the Obama administration in Africa, including HIV/AIDS, poverty and climate change, VOA News reports.

27 Jan 2010

Scidev.net feature addresses nutrition, food security

SciDev.net includes a special feature on the challenges associated with meeting the nutritional and food needs of people around the world.

23 Jan 2010

Massachusetts' Senate election could shape health reform's endgame

"Democrat Martha Coakley's struggle to stave off a potentially devastating defeat in Tuesday's special Senate election in Massachusetts marks a critical turning point in the year-long debate about health-care reform."

20 Jan 2010

New book on harnessing science and innovation to tackle challenges in poor countries

Science and Innovation for Development demonstrates how science and innovation can be harnessed to tackle today's biggest challenges in poor countries, including climate change, HIV/AIDS and illiteracy. Case studies are described, including the use of tissue culture to develop disease-resistant bananas in Kenya; the use of nanotechnology to develop cheaper and faster kits for diagnosing infectious diseases and the use of organic material to power a multi-purpose stove that can also function as a refrigerator and generator.

18 Jan 2010

Penn State receives $1.9M grant to study the effects of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases

The potential effects of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, are the focus of a nearly $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation intended to further the studies of a Penn State-led group of researchers.

18 Jan 2010

Agilent Technologies launches two Greenhouse Gases Analyzers

Agilent Technologies Inc., today announced the availability of two Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Analyzers for simultaneous analysis of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in air samples. The analyzers also can be used for soil gas analysis or plant breathing studies, where the samples contain CH4, N2O, and CO2. Both analyzers easily can be expanded to determine sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

13 Jan 2010

Consumer Watchdog calls for affordability and accountability changes to the health reform legislation

In a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) today, Consumer Watchdog called for strengthened oversight of the health insurance industry and greater affordability protections for consumers in negotiations with the U.S. Senate on final health reform legislation.

13 Jan 2010

Climate Change News and Research

Genencor launches Accellerase DUET at the 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando

GM crops can help bolster global food security, scientists say in special journal issue

World leaders need to alter their notions on sustainable agriculture to prevent starvation catastrophe

Governor Rendell proposes fiscal year 2010-11 General Fund budget

New program to help the U.S. health care sector switch to cleaner, renewable energy sources

New African Union chair's focus to include food security; First Ladies discuss HIV/AIDS

Obama's FY 2011 budget gives global health funding boost

U.N. Secretary-General focuses on MDGs during African Union Summit

First Edition: February 1, 2010

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award granted to Robert J. Lefkowitz

Experimental vaccine protects mice and monkeys against chikungunya virus

Canada to 'champion' major G8 initiative to tackle maternal, child mortality

Gates annual letter addresses importance of innovation for global health, agriculture

Report highlights challenges facing Obama in Africa

Scidev.net feature addresses nutrition, food security

Massachusetts' Senate election could shape health reform's endgame

New book on harnessing science and innovation to tackle challenges in poor countries

Penn State receives $1.9M grant to study the effects of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases

Agilent Technologies launches two Greenhouse Gases Analyzers

Consumer Watchdog calls for affordability and accountability changes to the health reform legislation

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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