Researchers at China Agricultural University and the Animal Science Academy of Xinjiang have announced that they have created a short-tailed, fine-wool lamb by genome editing. At present, many varieties of fine-wool sheep have long tails, but the tails are cut short at the lamb stage due to susceptibility to infection. The research group studied several types of sheep, including Tibetan fine-wool sheep, creating the short-tail sheep by genome editing. (Xinhuashe 2022/8/13)

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has announced the results of surveys on GM rapeseed and soybean wild volunteers in FY2020 and FY2021. For rapeseed, surveys were conducted around seven ports (Tomakomai Port, Kashima Port, Chiba Port, Nagoya Port, Yokkaichi Port, Kobe Port, Hakata Port) in FY 2020 and eight ports (the above seven ports plus Otaru Port) in FY2021. For soybeans and wild soybeans, the survey was conducted only at Kashima Port and Hakata Port in FY2020, and at Hakata Port in FY2021, where spillage is common every year. According to the survey, while 131 GM rapeseed samples were found in FY2020 and 106 in FY2021, the scope to which wild volunteers were found did not expand and crossbreeds were not discovered. 14 GM soybean samples were found at Hakata Port in FY2020 and 5 in FY2021, but the report states that no expansion was seen and no crossbreeds were discovered.

Sanatech Seed announced its intention to market high-GABA tomatoes labelled as a functional food. GABA is said to have effects such as lowering blood pressure, but there is at present no scientific evidence to back up this claim.

TAKEO, one of the leading companies in the field of edible insects, announced a partnership with Nichirei Corporation, a major food company, on July 28, 2022. The company has also initiated joint research with Hirosaki University on artificial breeding of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), and on June 29, began trial sales of a locust rice cracker. This rice cracker is a Nanbu rice cracker made from the powder of the migratory locust. (TAKEO 2022/6/28)