By Jamie Martin
Scientists recently presented the transformative potential of CRISPR technology to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Boyce Thompson Institute professor Georg Jander led the presentation, urging policymakers to support and finance emerging agricultural technologies.
Jander's presentation, titled “The Next Agricultural Revolution - Targeted Gene Editing Using CRISPR,” highlighted the revolutionary impact of CRISPR in farming. He explained how CRISPR is ushering in “a new green revolution” by enabling precise plant gene editing, previously unachievable. This technology allows for the modification of crop genes to enhance desirable traits, suppress negative ones, and introduce novel characteristics from different species.
Joining Jander were Dan Jenkins from Pairwise and Emily Negrin from Inari, who shared insights into how their companies are applying CRISPR to enhance crops. Jenkins and Negrin discussed practical applications of CRISPR, such as improving crop yield, resilience, and nutritional value.
Jander emphasized the potential of CRISPR to significantly boost food security, enhance agricultural sustainability, and increase crop durability. He stated in a news release, “CRISPR holds immense promise for boosting food security, enhancing agricultural sustainability, and increasing crop durability.”
The presentation aimed to inform policymakers about the critical role of CRISPR in modern agriculture and to secure support and funding for ongoing and future research and development in this field. By leveraging CRISPR technology, scientists hope to address global challenges related to food security and sustainable agriculture.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National