What we’ve been reading this week

This week’s summary on the news stories, reports and blogs that have grabbed our attention. We welcome your thoughts and comments on these articles.

Plant scientists urge Europe to stop blocking GM trials on political grounds, EurActiv

Borlaug Dialogue Highlights, World Food Prize

The Love Life of Plants, Gates Notes

‘Silent revolution’ of biotechnology food will surpass GMO products: Greenpeace report, Raw Story

World losing 2,000 hectares of farm soil daily to salt damage: UN University, EurekAlert

‘Climate-Smart Agriculture’: the Emperor’s new clothes?, CIDSE

Can sustainable intensification be the answer to better seeds, soil and family farming?, ICRISAT

World’s Largest Ever GMO Safety Study Set for London Launch, Sustainable Pulse

Even it Up: Big global campaign on inequality launched today, From Poverty to Power

The GMO debate: 5 things to stop arguing, The Washington Post

Top 10 Megatrends in Agriculture, AgWeb

Salt-loving plants may be key to global efforts for sustainable food production, EurekAlert

Position statement on new crop breeding tools published by UK’s major plant science funder, BBSRC

Getting a nutrition goal is great, but we need a more ambitious target, The Guardian

UN climate negotiators urged to lay foundations for new global deal, Thomson Reuters Foundation

Farmland birds show rapid decline, BBC