CRISPR/Cas9 FOR IMPROVING CROPS QUALITY TRAITS: A PROMISING APPROACH FOR HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Continued population growth puts increasing pressure on agriculture. Although increasing crop yields remains an important goal of breeding programs, increasing attention is being paid globally to the nutritional quality of crops, which is important for human health. Conventional breeding to achieve this goal is time-consuming, expensive and laborious, but recent advances in genome editing technology offer a valuable alternative to these problems. CRISPR/Cas9 is one of the most successful genome editing tools (awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020), which allows precise and effective manipulation of genes in a living organism. In this paper, we summarize the main advances achieved in agriculture through CRISPR/Cas9, to improve crop quality (elimination of toxic compounds and allergens, enrichment with anthocyanins, extension of shelf life, etc.). We also presented their benefits for human health, as well as their regulation at the global level. In conclusion, CRISPR/Cas9 has immense potential in advancing the nutritional quality of crops and therefore, in promoting human health and food security.