Scientists introduce CRISPR Technology to U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee.

Boyce Thompson Institute professor Georg Jander recently addressed the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. In his presentation titled “The Next Agricultural Revolution: Targeted Gene Editing Using CRISPR,” Jander emphasized the importance of supporting emerging agricultural technologies.

During the presentation, Jander discussed the significant impact of CRISPR technologies on farming. He was joined by industry experts Dan Jenkins from Pairwise and Emily Negrin from Inari, who provided insights into how their companies are utilizing CRISPR gene editing to improve crops.

Jander highlighted CRISPR as a tool that is revolutionizing agriculture by allowing precise plant gene editing that was previously not possible. He emphasized the potential of CRISPR to change agriculture by enabling the modification of crop genes to enhance positive traits, suppress negative ones, or introduce new characteristics from other species.

In a news release, Jander expressed his belief in the promise of CRISPR in increasing food security, promoting agricultural sustainability, and improving crop resilience. He called on policymakers to provide support and funding for these emerging technologies to ensure a more secure and sustainable agricultural future.