Next biotech plants: new traits, crops, developers and technologies for addressing global challenges

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Genetics

Background:

• Genetically modified (GM) crops currently dominate with a few species and traits like pest resistance and herbicide tolerance.
• Market expansion includes wider species ranges and combined traits, influenced by R&D progress and stringent regulatory requirements.
• Developing countries are increasingly investing in R&D to address food security and climate change challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape and future trends in plant biotechnology.
• To highlight the role of biotechnology in addressing global food security and climate change.
• To discuss the impact of regulatory environments and emerging technologies on plant breeding.

Main Methods:

• Review of current plant biotechnology applications and R&D trends.
• Analysis of regulatory impacts on market approvals.
• Discussion of advanced breeding technologies including transgenesis, cisgenesis, intragenesis, and gene editing tools (CRISPR, ODM, TALENs, ZFN).

Main Results:

• Plant biotechnology is evolving towards multi-trait crops and diverse species, including those with enhanced nutritional value and stress tolerance (e.g., water/nitrogen use efficiency, cold/salinity tolerance).
• Regulatory complexities significantly impact R&D timelines and costs, prompting some entities to explore less regulated technologies.
• R&D is flourishing in developing nations, focusing on staple crops for food security and climate resilience.
• Non-food applications in pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and materials are expanding in developed countries.
• Next-generation gene editing tools are advancing basic research.

Conclusions:

• Plant biotechnology is crucial for enhancing food security and adapting to climate change through improved crop traits and nutritional value.
• Regulatory frameworks need to balance safety assessments with the pace of innovation to facilitate market access.
• Advanced breeding techniques, including precision gene editing, offer significant potential for future crop development across food and non-food sectors.