Gene-edited crops for enhanced starch metabolism and resilience
Advanced gene-editing technology enables precise modification of a starch-inhibiting gene, enhancing starch accumulation and stress resilience in crops like tomato and potato. The approach promises higher yields and adaptability to abiotic stresses, with ongoing validation in greenhouse and field trials.
Overview
This innovative solution leverages cutting-edge gene-editing technology to enhance starch metabolism in crops, thereby increasing yield and resilience to environmental stresses. By precisely modifying a conserved gene responsible for inhibiting starch biosynthesis, plants can accumulate more starch, which is crucial for sustaining growth during low photosynthesis periods. The enhanced starch accumulation not only boosts crop yield but also improves resilience against abiotic stresses such as drought and low light conditions. This technology is currently being applied to key crops including tomato and potato, with plans to extend to others like melon and cucumber.
Technical specifications
- Gene-editing technology: Utilizes CRISPR to target and modify a key regulatory gene across flowering plants, eliminating its negative impact on starch biosynthesis while preserving other functions.
- Crops targeted: Initial focus on tomato and potato, with promising results. Plans to expand to melon, cucumber, soybean, banana, and pea.
- Validation process: Ongoing greenhouse trials comparing edited lines to wild-type strains. Upcoming field trials for tomato and potato to assess real-world performance and nutritional impacts.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 5, having demonstrated promising results in controlled environments. Ongoing greenhouse trials and planned field trials aim to further validate the effectiveness and scalability of the technology, paving the way for commercial applications and broader crop adaptation.
About climat-crop
ClimateCrop is an agritech company that develops gene-editing technology designed to improve the photosynthetic efficiency of vascular plants. By utilizing a non-GMO, precisely targeted gene edit, the company enables plants to increase daily starch storage in their leaves. This approach allows crops and trees to harness more energy, which can then be converted into higher yields of biomass or fruit, while simultaneously improving the plants' resilience to environmental stresses such as heat waves and drought. The technology aims to enhance production across various sectors, including food commodities, animal feed, fiber, and biofuels, without requiring farmers to adopt new agricultural practices or equipment.
The company's solutions are intended to help address global food security challenges and improve carbon sequestration. By enabling plants to perform more efficiently, ClimateCrop's technology seeks to reduce the strain on essential agricultural resources like water, land, and nutrients. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Israel, the company has participated in multiple funding rounds and programs, including support from investors such as SOSV and IndieBio, to further develop its applications for a wide range of crop species.
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