CRISPR and the future of farming: Balancing precision, ethics, and sustainability

The world’s food systems are at a tipping point. Climate change, dwindling resources, and a rapidly growing population are intensifying hunger and inequality. Traditional farming is struggling to keep pace—but what if a revolutionary technology could change everything?

Enter CRISPR: a groundbreaking gene-editing tool that allows us to precisely tweak the DNA of crops. Imagine plants that are more nutritious, yield higher harvests, and thrive in harsh climates. It’s undoubtedly a potential game-changer for food security.

Yet, with such power come big questions. Can CRISPR truly deliver a sustainable future for farming, or will unforeseen risks and ethical dilemmas stand in the way?

The stakes couldn’t be higher. What role will CRISPR play in shaping the future of our food—and our planet?

Global agrifood systems face severe challenges from climate change, extreme weather, resource degradation, conflicts, pandemics to demographic shifts, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities reliant on agriculture. These disruptions have led to widespread hunger, malnutrition, and inequality, necessitating a changed approach to ensure food security and sustainability.

Mutations, the foundation of evolution, have historically driven natural and artificial selection. Early agriculturalists unknowingly enhanced crops and livestock through selective breeding. Most of the foods we eat today come from plants and animals improved through traditional breeding methods. However, traditional breeding is a slow process and making precise changes is challenging. With the development of genetic engineering in the 1970s, scientists gained the ability to make similar improvements more quickly and with greater accuracy.

With advancements in genetics and molecular biology, breeding has become much more precise. Gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas, represents the latest innovation, permitting targeted modifications in genomes to introduce desired traits in plants and animals with unparalleled accuracy. This marks a big step in improving agricultural productivity and efficiency.

What is gene editing? 

Genome editing, or genomic DNA editing, involves inserting, deleting, or modifying specific genes to improve or create desirable traits. CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9), a widely used gene-editing tool, uses a guide RNA (gRNA) to direct the Cas9 protein to a target DNA sequence. Cas9 makes precise cuts in the DNA, allowing genetic modifications during the repair process. This technology is used in agriculture to enhance crops and address various biological challenges.

With the growing need for food security due to rapid population growth and the challenges of climate change, it has become more urgent than ever to develop reliable and effective ways to ensure consistent and sufficient nutrition for the growing population. As a result, plant biotechnology has become essential for modifying crops to meet the demands of agriculture.

As we look to the future, it’s vital to understand both the challenges we face today and those that we’ve overcome in the past. In late 2022, the global population surpassed 8 billion, and the earth is being stretched for resources. The Green Revolution in India that became a global case study effectively tackled India's hunger problem, but also introduced challenges like the overuse of agrochemicals and mono-cropping.

Given the growing anthropogenic pressures (stress due to human activity) on the planet, we must consider all technological options to sustain human life and preserve the environment. Over time, experts predict that technologies like CRISPR hold immense potential for agriculture.

Jorik Bremer, Director of Sales for Hudson River Biotechnology, explains, “By leveraging CRISPR, we can precisely edit plant genomes to enhance traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, and nutritional content. This level of precision was unimaginable with traditional breeding methods and represents a significant leap forward in agricultural science." CRISPR allows plant breeders to make changes much more quickly and precisely than traditional methods, shortening the timeline from decades to just a few years.

He adds, “With the precision of CRISPR gene-editing technology, we’re not just tweaking traits at the margins; we’re enabling plants to have intrinsic qualities that reduce or eliminate the need for traditional inputs.” Enhancing a plant’s natural resistance to pests or improving its nutrient absorption can decrease reliance on pesticides and fertilizers. Engineering crops to withstand drought can also reduce water usage, a critical resource in agriculture.

In the decade since CRISPR emerged, scientists have developed a toolkit to address the most pressing issues facing humanity and the planet. With the ability to precisely edit plant genomes, CRISPR can help combat malnutrition, increase yields, improve pest resistance, and adapt crops to climate challenges. The technology holds great promise for sustainable agriculture and food security while reducing the need for harmful chemical inputs.

Improving plant growth and stress response is key to boosting crop yield, nutrition, and resilience. While genetically modified (GM) plants have shown promise, their widespread use is limited by safety and regulatory concerns. Genome-editing, especially with CRISPR/Cas9, is emerging as a more acceptable and effective alternative, helping plants tolerate stress and improve nutritional value. CSIR-NBRI’s project, "Genome-editing for enhanced yield and quality traits," focuses on using this technology to improve crops like tomato, cotton, chickpea, rice, and Brassica, based on earlier research and expertise.

Benefits of gene editing

CRISPR-based transgene-free editing plays a crucial role in enhancing these aspects beyond just increasing crop yields.

• Nutritional Quality: CRISPR enables precise modifications that can boost the nutritional content of crops. For example, we can increase the levels of vitamins, minerals, or essential fatty acids in plants, making them inherently healthier. Such enhancements can address malnutrition and contribute to a more balanced diet, especially in regions lacking access to a variety of foods.

• Shelf Life: Extending the shelf life of produce is another critical factor for food security. With CRISPR, it’s possible to edit genes that regulate the ripening processes of fruits and vegetables, slowing down decay and reducing spoilage. This not only ensures that more food reaches consumers in a consumable state but also reduces waste along the supply chain, from farm to table.

• Flavor Profiles: Flavor is a key component in consumer acceptance of food products. CRISPR technology allows for the modification of flavor profiles, making crops more palatable and increasing their appeal. This can lead to higher consumption rates and greater acceptance of healthier food options, such as increasing sweetness naturally to reduce the need for added sugars.

With great precision comes ethical dilemmas

The ethical considerations surrounding CRISPR technology in agriculture are complex, especially when balancing the idea of helping nature versus controlling it. CRISPR can aid nature by restoring or enhancing natural traits, such as drought or pest resistance, which are often lost through domestication or environmental changes.

This can allow crops to thrive without relying heavily on chemicals, ultimately helping nature manage itself more effectively. However, the line is crossed when CRISPR is used to create traits that never existed in nature, raising concerns about unforeseen ecological impacts and the broader ethical implications of humans exerting control over genetic destinies.

The Indian government has revised its regulations to exempt certain gene-edited plants from the stringent oversight applied to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Specifically, plants developed through Site-Directed Nuclease (SDN) techniques SDN1 and SDN2—which involve precise genetic edits without introducing foreign DNA—will no longer be subject to the biosafety assessments mandated for GMOs.

Bremer emphasizes the need for robust ethical frameworks and public dialogue to guide the responsible use of CRISPR. He states, "Societal consent is key in determining where we draw the line in genome editing applications. Public involvement ensures that the technology does not just advance based on what is scientifically possible but also on what is considered acceptable and beneficial by society." This highlights the importance of involving both scientists and the public in discussions about the future of gene editing to ensure that it supports sustainable agriculture without overstepping ethical boundaries.

What's next?

CRISPR technology promises to improve food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability while addressing issues of safety, human health, and biodiversity. Regulation and governance are crucial to mitigate potential risks and ensure equitable access and distribution of benefits, especially for small-scale farmers in low- and middle-income countries.

Economic impacts, ethical concerns, public trust, and intellectual property issues must be addressed alongside international harmonization of regulatory protocols to facilitate trade and innovation. Collaboration between public and private sectors is essential to make gene-editing technologies accessible and affordable. Integration with other agricultural practices and technologies is necessary for sustainable development.

Trade Promotion Council of India is organising the first edition of Indusfood Agritech during January 9-11 , 2025, which will provide an unparalleled global platform for B2B exhibitors to showcase the latest agriculture technologies, including agri machinery, aquaculture innovations, poultry and dairy technology.

A key highlight of Indusfood Agritech will be the India International Agritech Summit 2025 on January 10-11, 2025. This Summit will involve engaging and insightful sessions and panel discussions helmed by experts across policy, industry and academia on building a sustainable and profitable future for Indian agriculture.

To register for the summit, click here.