b'Thank Gene Editing for Your Morning Cup of JoeTHE PACE OFclimate change the world is experienc- market, but were going to see tens and hundreds of ing is far greater than anything weve ever experienceddifferent products within the next decade. Why? A before. At Tropic, our focus is on the tropical cropbig aspect is a change on the consumer side. I think sector, mostly banana, rice and coffee. These are sec- people are feeling the effects of climate change today tors, that today suffer greatly from climate change.very much, and I think that the necessity of using these Were already seeing impacts from climate changetechnologies is now critical. People increasingly under-of many kinds, including pricing for consumers. Ricestand that if we dont take action through new tech-is up by nearly 30%; bananas are under threat; coffeenologies, were going to have a very hard time fighting has shot through the roof. Our goal is to take theseclimate change while keeping the world fed. very big, very important crops and help adapt them toFor now, we need to continue to develop the GILAD GERSHON the challenges that were seeing today globally. In that,technology to make it even more accessible, more CEO of Tropic gene editing plays a very important role.effective, more efficient. Meanwhile, we must also work For most crops that we want to adapt, breedingon the regulatory side. Tropic has received regulatory is an option. We have been breeding our food cropsapprovals in the U.S., the Philippines, Honduras and knowingly or unknowingly for more than 10,000 years.Colombia. The regulations require companies like us to In certain crop types, however, breeding is really, reallyinvest on good resources, frameworks, and regulatory difficult. If we take bananas, for example, which have noinfrastructures. seeds, breeding isnt really an option. In order to changeThere have been voices calling for making these them (and notably in a non-GMO, non-transgenictechnologies non-patentable to maximize access. Its manner) to make them more resistant to diseases oran age-old dilemma that pervades many industries. On more nutritious, we use gene editing. Im not sure thatthe one hand, we fully understand that people want we would have been able to achieve the major improve- to make beneficial technologies accessible. But the ments we have to bananas without gene editing.counter to that, unfortunately, is that without creating Coffee is another example. Though it is a sexuallya system that allows people to benefit from innova-reproduced crop, it is a very slow process to breed newtion, we just wont see as much innovation. The patent varieties of coffee. In fact, breeding for a new varietysystem has been carefully crafted to create a balanced can take up to 30 years. Using gene editing can pro- approach that works globally for all technologies and vide solutions much faster. industries. In contrast, regulation tends to be specificBreeding better crops requires a whole toolkit ofto and tailored to the needs of a particular industry. technological pieces that have to come together. GeneWe need a balance from our legislators: regulation of editing is one component in that toolkit. Its certainlygene edited crops needs to be created in a thought-not the only tool but, without it, we wouldnt haveful way that does not discourage innovation. Without gotten to where we are now, and we wouldnt neces- incentives to innovate provided by the patent system, sarily have a solid path forward.innovators, both individuals and corporations, might Whats ahead? My sense is that we are only in thenot pick up the long and expensive efforts to bring beginning stages of gene editing technology. I seenew products to market.much more potential ahead in terms of technological At Tropic, our team is highly motivated to help advancement. Today, I believe that almost every Ph.Dsolve major global problems. Our internal motto is: We student studying biology uses CRISPR gene editingbring genetic innovation to the people and the places technology in one way or another, and I believe accessthat need it the most. We see how a large piece of and opportunities are going to continue to grow.humanity is suffering extensively. Theres no question In the next few years, I expect well likely see just athat gene editing is a pivotal, critical part of that solu-handful of salable CRISPR edited products hitting thetiontruly a science that is needed.SW48/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2024'