Applications, benefits, and challenges of genome edited crops

Evanega, Sarah; Brown, Zachary; Bubeck, Dave; Falck-Zapeda, Jose; Chou, Fan-Li; Graham, Nat; Karavolias, Nicholas; Tripathi, Leena; and Yerka, Melinda. 2024. Applications, benefits, and challenges of genome edited crops. CAST Issue Paper 74. Ames, Iowa: Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). https://www.cast-science.org/publication/applications-benefits-and-challenges-of-genome-edited-crops/

The paper discusses the advancements and potential of genome editing in agriculture, highlighting how genome editing tools, first described over a decade ago, are now being applied across various crops and trait combinations, promising benefits for producers and consumers.

It also addresses global efforts to update regulatory frameworks to govern this technology and reviews recent advances in genome editing tools, select applications underway, the technology’s benefits, and significant challenges to its success.

The paper concludes with five recommendations to ensure that genome editing in agriculture benefits society.