Precision breeding in a changing climate: unlocking resilience through omics and gene editing

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Breeding
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Climate change, increasing food demand, and resource scarcity necessitate advancements in crop breeding.
• Traditional breeding methods face limitations in addressing these global challenges effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent progress in New Breeding Technologies (NBTs) for crop improvement.
• To highlight the integration of multi-omics, gene editing, and AI for developing climate-resilient crops.

Main Methods:

• Review of molecular markers, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), Genomic Selection (GS), and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).
• Exploration of gene editing tools like CRISPR/Cas, base editing, and prime editing.
• Integration of multi-omics platforms (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML).

Main Results:

• NBTs enable precise trait improvement, enhancing resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses.
• Multi-omics and AI/ML provide comprehensive data for understanding and manipulating complex crop traits.
• Combining gene editing with strategies like speed breeding accelerates trait development.

Conclusions:

• An integrated systems biology approach combining multi-omics, gene editing, AI, and speed breeding is vital.
• These technologies promise to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritious crops.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for a sustainable agricultural future and global food security.