Michael G K Jones
Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia; m.jones@murdoch.edu.au
Genomics and gene editing are revolutionising crop improvement by leveraging advanced biotechnological techniques to enhance yield, quality, and stress tolerance. Recent advances in sequencing technologies are enhancing our understanding of crop genomes, enabling the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and structural variations. The concept of the pan-genome is providing insights into genetic diversity and helping accelerate the development of high-yielding and resilient crop varieties via genomic selection. Genetic manipulation, which began with the transfer of genes between organisms, led to the emergence of genetically modified (GM) crops in the mid-1990s. Despite contributing significantly to global food production, public acceptance issues have limited their expansion. In contrast, gene editing (GEd) technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas systems, have advanced rapidly since the early 2010s, allowing precise modifications at specific genomic loci. These tools promise to facilitate introducing or modifying beneficial traits more efficiently than traditional breeding methods. Gene editing is now being applied to many crops, including rice, wheat, maize, soybean, potato, sugarcane, and tomato, improving traits such as shelf life, allergenicity, consumer benefits, and nutritional profiles. In sugarcane, a complex polyploid crop, CRISPR/Cas9 has shown promise in reducing lignin content, enhancing disease resistance, increasing biomass for biofuel production, and improving abiotic stress tolerance. Regulatory hurdles and public perception have impeded the wider adoption of GM crops, but GEd crops offer an opportunity to overcome these challenges. International regulatory regimes are evolving to differentiate between GM and GEd crops, with many countries approving the commercial growth and consumption of GEd crops. The future of crop improvement using GEd technologies lies in the harmonisation or alignment of global policies and regulations which will support trade of agricultural produce and so ensure that growers and consumers can gain the benefits from GEd technology.