Viewpoint: ‘As climate changes, we urgently need to engineer plants to withstand harsher climates’

Genome editing using CRISPR technology may be a key approach to improving agricultural production. It is already being used to increase the protein content of foods, enhance disease resistance and extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. It also has the potential to dramatically accelerate tree breeding programs and incorporate desired genetic alterations.

According to [researchers Virginijus Šikšnys and Monika] Paulė, plant genome editing can increase the resistance of plants that are sensitive to heat, drought and saltation. The same technology can also enhance disease resistance and increase the productivity of plants, enabling farmers to get more yield from the same patch of land. Genome editing is also used to improve the retention of nutrients in plants and their ability to take up nutrients from the soil. 

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“CRISPR-Cas can also help reverse some of the damage brought about by changes in temperature and weather conditions. As the [Earth] temperature rises, we are susceptible to losing native plants species; for example, certain types of grapes used for traditional winemaking. With CRISPR, we can make those species adapt. Furthermore, we can bring back the types of plants that have already been lost,” said Paulė.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.