Chapter 26 - Regulatory, ethical, and social aspects of CRISPR crops

Abstract

As the population of the world rises and the amount of farmable land decreases, the need for food grows ever more urgent. This calls for research into developing high-yielding cultivars that are both nutrient-dense and resistant to environmental challenges so that farmers can keep up with the demand. Mutagenesis, intergeneric crosses, and translocation breeding are only a few examples of the methods explored to enhance crop quality. As genetic engineering progressed, transgene insertion became a common method for improving the resilience of genetically engineered crops to environmental stresses. Genetically modified (GM) crops are regulated based on an assessment of the risks they pose to the environment and the public's health, using either a process- or a product-focused approach. Recent advances in gene-editing technology have opened the door to a new era of plant breeding by making it possible to change genes precisely without transferring genes from other plants. Zinc finger nucleases, site-directed nucleases (SDNs), and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas 9) are all examples of these kinds of techniques (Cas9). But the question, of whether or not to regulate such methods and whether or not the public will accept them persists. In contrast to the United States, which exempts gene-edited plants from the restrictions that apply to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Europe and New Zealand classify gene-edited plants as GMOs. Depending on the regulatory strategy used in each nation or region, the commercialization of these crops and products may or may not require clearance from the relevant regulatory organizations. Because of the lengthy and complex clearance process necessary to employ them, their immediate commercial worth would be reduced if they were classified as GMOs. Strong regulatory measures for emerging technologies are needed to speed up crop research and encourage people to accept these new kinds of agricultural production with confidence.