b'CRISPR History and Hurdles to Large-Scale Adoption FLORENT CHANG-PI-HINVICE PRESIDENT OF R&D LIFE SCIENCE, MERIDIAN BIOSCIENCEIF YOURE INVOLVEDin animalMore countries are welcomingflorent.chang-pi-hin@meridianlifescience.comor plant sciences, youve beenCRISPR and gene-edited technolo- meridianbioscience.com/lifesciencereading about CRISPR technologygies: The U.S. is finalizing regula-for many years.tion that would allow gene-editing Heres the thing: it has amaz- technology to be considered a con-ing potential and were so close toventional crop, under certain condi-seeing some of that potential cometions. Several countries in SouthDisrupting technologies to life, but it has been a long road. America recently finalized similar For emerging technologies,regulation. And in recent months,for AgBio Testingfrom discovery to becoming a toolthe UK, Switzerland and China have that can be used on a large scale,all signaled to start taking legislative there are many steps and obstacles.steps towards regulating CRISPR- WEVE ALL BEENimpacted by COVID. The unprec-CRISPR is no different.edited crops as non-GMO.edented toll the pandemic took created an immediate One of the biggest and mostJudging by these changes, thenecessity for breakthroughs in diagnostics, vaccines, critical first steps, outside of techni- message has landed in the markettelemedicine, working from home and many other cal challenges, wasand iscon- now that CRISPR breeding is fasteraspects in our lives. The world had to figure out ways sumer acceptance and explainingthan traditional breeding and ena- to quickly test and isolate to prevent further spread of this technology to policymak- bles types of breeding that wouldthe virus. Meridian Bioscience has been instrumental ers. Over the first several years,be impossible otherwise. in developing and supplying new technologies during we spent a lot of time educatingWere seeing people do under- the pandemic to make diagnosis better with increased people about the technology. stand whats going on. You can seesensitivity and flexibility, but also faster time to market. For farmers, the advantage isthat on the consumer side, largelyOne major lesson we learned from testing humans? obvious. We can help them increasepeople look at this much moreOur technologies can be directly applied to testing yield potentials, for examplefavorably than they do at the tradi- pathogens in crops, increase productivity and advance through defensive traits such astional GMO (transgenic) crops. the field of agriculture and reduce diseases that might disease tolerance. For consum- Communication is still needed.hinder yield. During our COVID journey, we learnt to ers, it took more discussion aboutMany companies are using thiscreate chemistries to detect viruses and bacteria down what this means for them, but it hastechnology in R&D, but few areto one copy of DNA based on the sample type. We become clear they are generallymarketing products made usinghave refocused that expertise to develop solutions quite open to the introduction ofCRISPR. We see companies hold- specifically designed for testing plants.beneficial traits.ing back on putting crops into theBut how does this technology apply to agriculture? From a policy perspective,market because they still considerMolecular assays are used for plant and seed testing, policy makers have been workingconsumer acceptance as a risk. GMO detection, pathogen detection, crop improve-to create an understanding aboutWere here to continue devel- ments and more. When it comes to assay develop-CRISPR, its safety and its benefitsoping the technology as wellment, whether its for human or agricultural use, the and we see legislation evolving.as continue the conversationtechnologies are the same. with stakeholders who have anThats why were here to help AgBio companies get interest in molecular breeding.up to speed with testing just like the human diagnos-Communication is necessary sotic world needed to the last two years. Our solution is crop varieties developed withunique and simple: bring the testing to the field! While CRISPR can benefit from a fasterthe methodology is different, the technology is the route-to-market that is democra- same. We are applying our know-how and expertise to tized and beneficial to everyone. other industries facing the same challenges as human diagnostics. Agricultural testing is critical for our food supply, especially with population increase and scarcity in resources. We have developed a solution to elimi-FERDINAND LOS nate bottlenecks in testing crops by creating specific CSO HUDSON RIVER BIOTECHNOLOGY inhibitor-tolerant master mixes for plant testing.www.hrb.bio As our growth and R&D continues, were excited to hello@hrb.bio share more about ourselves. Stay tuned, because this certainly wont be the last time you hear our name.40/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2022'