Boosted Breeding and Beyond: Exploring Technologies That Could End World Hunger

To appreciate the breakthrough solutions on the horizon, it is vital to understand the historical context of food security. Between 1970 and 2015, hunger rates in developing nations saw a significant decrease, dropping from 33% to just 12%. The progress was largely driven by advancements in agricultural practices, increased access to technology, and economic growth. However, progress in combating hunger has since stagnated, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s repercussions, with hunger rates climbing once again.

The primary culprits for rising hunger include climate change and its resulting impacts on food security. Changes in temperature, irregular weather patterns, and extreme weather events complicate agricultural production and food accessibility. Additionally, paradoxically, some technologies that historically helped improve food security — such as chemical fertilizers — are now contributing to environmental challenges like greenhouse gas emissions. As we face these obstacles, the need for a Fourth Agricultural Revolution, characterized by sustainable technologies, has never been more urgent.

New Breeding Techniques: Harnessing CRISPR

One of the forefront technologies revolutionizing agriculture today is the application of New Breeding Techniques (NBTs), particularly CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). While genetically engineered foods are not a novel concept, CRISPR provides a more precise and efficient means to modify plant genomes. By enhancing the resilience of crops to climate change, CRISPR could significantly transform food production.

Case Studies

For example, researchers in Israel’s Tel Aviv University used CRISPR to engineer tomatoes that require less water, a critical adaptation as drought conditions worsen. Similarly, scientists at UC Davis have developed a strain of rice resistant to fungal diseases that are proliferating in warmer environments. Most notably, a UC Berkeley team demonstrated that CRISPR could enhance photosynthesis in rice, amplifying the plant’s capacity to convert sunlight into energy, potentially increasing crop yields substantially.

Beyond these breakthroughs, CRISPR technology is unlocking even more possibilities for sustainable agriculture. Scientists are now exploring ways to engineer crops with enhanced nutritional profiles, such as wheat with higher fiber content or tomatoes enriched with antioxidants. In addition, research efforts in Europe and Asia are focused on developing drought-resistant maize and salt-tolerant barley, critical for maintaining food production in regions affected by climate change.

Moreover, CRISPR is being utilized to reduce agricultural waste. For instance, researchers have successfully modified bananas to extend their shelf life, addressing post-harvest losses that disproportionately affect developing nations. Similarly, efforts are underway to create disease-resistant cacao plants, safeguarding the global chocolate supply from devastating fungal infections.

These advancements illustrate CRISPR’s transformative potential, not only in enhancing crop resilience but also in fortifying global food security. As research continues, gene-editing technologies promise to reshape modern agriculture, fostering a future where food production is more efficient, sustainable, and adaptable to environmental challenges.

Regulatory Advances

The approval process for NBTs has become increasingly streamlined due to advancing regulatory understanding of these technologies. Proposals are in place that could exempt developers from having to file with the USDA for certain applications of new breeding techniques. Enhanced regulatory frameworks would empower farmers, breeders, and agronomists to bring climate-resilient crops to market swiftly, facilitating scalability and greater access to these innovations.