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CRISPR — the most powerful agri-tool of the 21st century

July 10, 2025, 3:09 p.m.

Author: Valeria Galkina

Let’s be clear: if you work in agronomy and aren’t following CRISPR — you’re missing a revolution. Not a technology of the future, but something that’s already transforming the ag sector right now.

How does it work?

Imagine a plant’s genome as a text document with millions of letters. CRISPR is a precise editor that can:

  • find a specific word, like “bitterness”,
  • delete it or replace it with another — leaving the rest of the text untouched.

And it does all that without inserting foreign genes like traditional GMOs. We’re not “transplanting bacterial genes” — we’re switching off or correcting the plant’s own DNA sequences.

Examples that impress:

  • Hemp — genes responsible for THC were removed, resulting in a fully legal technical crop with no psychoactive compounds.
  • Cassava — a staple food in Africa. Problem: it contains cyanogenic compounds (toxic). With CRISPR, just two genes were edited, reducing toxin levels by 3–5 times.
  • Cocoa — the CSSV virus (Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus) destroys thousands of trees. Scientists “switched off” the genes that allowed the virus to replicate.
  • Rice — CRISPR-cutting of the OsRR22 gene gave resistance to saline soils.

Why does it really matter?

  • Because instead of 10–15 years, a new line can now be developed in just 4–5.
  • Because you can create your own adapted varieties — not depend solely on global hybrids.
  • Because CRISPR is an open tool — scientific data, protocols, and even software are publicly available.

Of course, CRISPR doesn’t replace classical breeding — it complements it with surgical precision. And the best part — it’s not just in the hands of corporations anymore. Small startups, agri-labs, and universities are already using it.