Applications, Benefits, and Challenges of Genome Edited Crops

The paper discusses the advancements and potential of genome editing in agriculture, highlighting how genome editing tools, first described over a decade ago, are now being applied across various crops and trait combinations, promising benefits for producers and consumers.

It also addresses global efforts to update regulatory frameworks to govern this technology and reviews recent advances in genome editing tools, select applications underway, the technology’s benefits, and significant challenges to its success.

The paper concludes with five recommendations to ensure that genome editing in agriculture benefits society.

Authors

• Sarah Evanega, Chair, Vice President of External Relations, Okanagan Specialty Fruit; Adjunct Associate Professor, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Zachary Brown, Associate Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
• Dave Bubeck, Research Director, Corteva Agriscience, Johnston, IA
• Jose Falck-Zapeda, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
• Fan-Li Chou, Senior Vice President- Scientific Affairs and Policy, American Seed Trade Association, Alexandria, VA
• Nat Graham, Associate Director-Molecular Biology, Pairwise, Durham, NC
• Nicholas Karavolias, Post-Doctoral Scholar, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Laurel Hollow, NY
• Leena Tripathi, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
• Melinda Yerka, Associate Professor, University of Nevada- Reno, Reno, NV

Reviewers

• Nicolas Bate, Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Durham, NC
• Brandon McFadden, Professor and Tyson Endowed Chair in Food Policy Economics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
• David Songstad, National Program Leader, United States Department of Agriculture, Kansas City, MO

CAST Liaison

• David Ertl, Director of Production Technology, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Johnston, IA

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