Australian seed breeder Integrain has commenced a groundbreaking trial to grow gene-edited wheat seeds in a greenhouse setting. This initiative follows China’s approval of the production of the country’s first gene-edited wheat variety.
Integrain, based in Perth and majority-owned by the Western Australia State Government, is collaborating with the US agritech firm, Inari, to import wheat seeds that have undergone gene editing through the use of CRISPR-Cas technology. This cutting-edge method enables scientists to alter multiple DNA sequences simultaneously, resulting in crops that are more nutritious, resilient, and high-yielding.
Unlike traditional genetic modification, gene-editing does not introduce foreign DNA into the plants but instead manipulates the existing genome. This distinction has led regulators to view gene editing as a safer and more natural approach to crop improvement, akin to traditional plant breeding methods.
Advocates of gene-editing predict that this process could lead to crops with 10% higher yields, requiring less water, fertilizer, and chemicals. In addition, gene editing has the potential to accelerate crop improvement by 10-15 times compared to traditional plant breeding methods.
The gene-edited wheat being trialed by Integrain holds promise for significantly enhancing food security, mitigating climate change, and improving farm profitability. The goal is to achieve at least a 10% yield improvement through these gene-edited seeds.
This initiative aligns with Australia’s position as one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, with Integrain working to ensure that regulatory processes are in place to enable the country to export gene-edited crops. Inari is also collaborating with seed companies to launch a gene-edited high-yielding soybean in the United States.
With gene editing paving the way for innovation in agriculture, the future of sustainable and high-yielding crops looks promising. As the trial progresses, the potential benefits of gene-editing technology in addressing global food security, climate change, and farm profitability are becoming increasingly apparent.
