Scientists urge senate to support CRISPR for agricultural innovation

May 09, 2024

By Farms.com

Georg Jander, a professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute, recently addressed the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, advocating for the support and funding of emerging agricultural technologies. His presentation, titled “The Next Agricultural Revolution - Targeted Gene Editing Using CRISPR,” showcased the revolutionary impact of CRISPR technology on farming.

Jander described CRISPR as initiating a “new green revolution” by allowing precise plant gene editing, a feat that was previously impossible. He explained how CRISPR enables the modification of crop genes to enhance desirable traits, suppress undesirable ones, and introduce new characteristics from different species.

Dan Jenkins from Pairwise and Emily Negrin from Inari joined Jander, sharing insights into how their companies are applying CRISPR gene editing to improve crops. They discussed practical applications, such as enhancing crop yield, resilience, and nutritional value, demonstrating the real-world benefits of CRISPR technology.

In his news release, Jander emphasized CRISPR’s potential to greatly enhance food security, agricultural sustainability, and crop durability. He stated, “CRISPR holds immense promise for boosting food security, enhancing agricultural sustainability, and increasing crop durability.”

The aim of the presentation was to educate policymakers on CRISPR’s crucial role in modern agriculture and to secure necessary support and funding for further research and development. Scientists believe that by leveraging CRISPR technology, they can address significant global challenges related to food security and sustainable farming practices.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.