On the premise that by 2050 the world will have a population of nine billion people, the OECD has declared a need to address the energy, water, food and agriculture nexus. More than 100 people gathered recently to discuss the role of biotechnology in addressing these issues and opportunities in food production. [ + ]

Progressing research on potential targets for Parkinson's disease is likely to involve testing in neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. [ + ]

The 2014 University of Western Australia Research Collaboration Awards have given almost $775,000 to research projects across the globe. [ + ]

Research Alliance advocates for science, research and innovation to have steady and purposeful support. [ + ]

The UK's NICE has issued a final draft recommendation in favour of reimbursement for pSivida (ASX:PVA) licensee Alimera Sciences' Iluvien in a subgroup of DME patients. [ + ]

Seal Analytical - a global supplier of automated colorimetric analyser instrumentation - has acquired Thomas Cain. Seal Analytical says the acquisition will enhance its capabilities in the water and soil analysis markets. [ + ]

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a process for turning plastic bags into high-tech and expensive nanomaterials called carbon nanotube membranes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tiny cylinders of carbon atoms, one nanometre in diameter, and are the strongest and stiffest materials ever discovered. [ + ]

Illusions increase understanding of how the brain generates our body representation. [ + ]

Online voting for the 2013 AusBiotech board election ballot is now open. The board has two positions available for election. [ + ]

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) said the US patent office has, for a third time, upheld the validity of claims in one of its non-coding DNA patents. [ + ]

Australian scientists and researchers from the Research Alliance have put out a call to policymakers asking for a strategic and stable plan for science and research that will stop the country falling behind the rest of the world. [ + ]

Bioniche (ASX:BNC) has reported its FY13 results and completed a Canadian equity offering and private placement to raise C$9.8m. [ + ]

The Medical Technology Association of Australia Limited has appointed Susanne Tegen as its new chief executive officer. [ + ]

The concept team behind Massey University's multifunction teaching laboratories were awarded the Best Practice Award for Innovation at the Association for Tertiary Education Management conference, recently held in Australia. [ + ]

Researchers at Otago and Heidelberg Universities have discovered how the brain circuitry vital to normal fertility in humans and other mammals operates. Their findings have been published in the international journal Nature Communications. [ + ]