CRISPR gene editing technology is beginning to deliver on a promise to quickly create crops with traits that withstand a changing climate, resist aggressive pests and reinvigorate healthy soils, according to experts at the South by Southwest event in Austin [in March.]
Companies exploring CRISPR to make climate-friendly foods and medicines are enjoying some tailwinds:
- In February, the European Parliament voted to loosen restrictions on certain crops made with the technique.
- In 2023, the first CRISPR-edited salad greens and Sickle Cell therapies reached U.S. markets.
- Nearly two dozen CRISPR startups are advancing crops that use resources efficiently and resist pests better than traditional ones. These include Pairwise, with $114 million in funding, the Andreessen Horowitz-backed SciFi Foods, tomato-breeder Sanatech Seed and crop-protection startup Agragene.
At the same time, startups and researchers are taking on investment partnerships with larger organizations to commercialize CRISPR innovations. Bayer has a project with Pairwise to create a corn crop that is more resilient to environmental factors. In 2011, The Gates Foundation gave a $10.3 million grant to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and has re-invested more than $16 million to the organization in 2023 to create climate resistant rice varieties.
