b'PARTNER CONTENTWhy Gene Editing Is A Climate Change SolutionBy InnovatureT ime is of the essence. Two of the big- Gene editing can create varieties of a plant gest advantages of gene editing arecalled pennycress that are high in oleic acid its precision and efficiency. These ad-well-suited for conversion into biofuel for vantages allow plant breeders to achieve thejets because of its stability. Many farmers al-same objectives that could be accomplishedready use pennycress as a cover crop in their through more traditional breeding methodsoff-season to help prevent soil erosion andbut in years instead of decades, and withkeep vital nutrients in the soil. The gene-greater precision than ever before. edited variant, CoverCress, could generate Gene editing holds real potential to helpnew income for farmers while becoming a address some of our worlds most press- low-carbon source for billions of gallons in ing environmental challenges, like climatejet fuel each year.change. It can do this in two key ways: 4. Reduce emissions from food waste. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gas- Gene editing can cut potato waste in halfperatures inhibit plant growth, but gene es that contribute to climate change, and dramatically reduce the waste ofediting shows promise in counteracting the like carbon dioxide. other foodsby making vegetables andimpact. For example, recent research shows Increasing the resiliency of cropsfruits more resistant to cosmetic blemishesthat gene editing can be used to breed heat against the impacts of climate change. like browning and bruising. Food waste istolerance in tomato plants.responsible for an estimated 8% of all green- 3. Boost tolerance for acidity. Rice is a 5 Ways Gene Editing Could Reducehouse gas emissions, including methane,major food source for 3 billion people world-Greenhouse Gas Levels in the Atmo- according to an analysis by the United Na- wide. Research teams are characterizing sphere tions Food and Agriculture Organization. the genes in rice plants that can help them Scientists are already making progress on5. Stem emissions from fertilizer produc- tolerate the increase in acidic soil that is gene editing crop improvements that cantion. Gene editing can enable commercialdriven by changes in climate. These genetic achieve five important objectives: corn to access nitrogen from the air, elimi- characteristics can be precisely mimicked in 1. Capture carbon in crop roots. Genenating the need for nitrogen-enriched fertil- regionally important rice varieties to make editing can enable crop plants to growizer. The production of that fertilizer resultsthe plants more resilient.bigger, deeper roots that are incrediblyin significant greenhouse gas emissions.4. Suppress insect populations. Scientists effective in capturing carbon and keep- Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for crops,are studying gene editing in insects that ing it sequestered in the soil for longerboosting the volume that can be grown on acan be used to suppress the population of periods of time instead of releasing it intogiven plot of land. insects that damage crops. In the future, the atmosphere when crops are harvested.this could protect crops from dangers like These gene-edited plants could reduce up to4 Examples Of How Scientists Are Us- the locust swarms that swept across Eastern 46% of the excess carbon emitted annuallying Gene Editing To Help Plants Be MoreAfrica and destroyed farmland in 2020.worldwide if they became a fixture in theResilientIn A Changing Climateagricultural food chain. 1. Reduce water requirements. GeneThe Future Of Using Gene Editing2. Replenish carbon-absorbing trees.editing provides the opportunity to developInnovation To Curb Climate ChangeGene editing can make American chestnutcrops that require less water to grow. InGene editing will continue to expand the trees resistant to the exotic plant diseasea major breakthrough in 2018, scientistsunderstanding and the development of that rendered them nearly extinct, allowingdiscovered that by altering the expressionnew ways to reduce greenhouse gas emis-for the restoration of native forests. As a fast- of a gene that is found in all plants, theysions, capture carbon, and make crops growing tree, American chestnuts absorbcould make tobacco plants 25% more watermore resilient to the impacts of climate and store large amounts of carbon to fuelefficient. Now they are testing this charac- change. Learn more about gene editing their own growth.teristic on food crops, like lettuce. and its benefits for our planet, health and 3. Provide sources of low-carbon biofuel.2. Increase heat resistance. High tem- food at innovature.com.44/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2021'