Ghulam Rasool1*, Fariha Qadir1
1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: ghulam.rasool@imbb.uol.edu.pk
Sustaining a rising human population amidst a changing climate and dwindling resources calls for a next-generation crop set that’s high-yielding, climate-resistant, and nutritionally enriched. Precision editing of the genome through CRISPR systems now lets us make precise and efficient changes in traits in crops like rice, maize, and wheat. At the same time, development in omics sciences, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics is speeding the discovery of gene-linked traits so that we can make better and targeted edits. Latest developments like base and prime editors have supplemented the toolbox, making single-nucleotide editing and complex insertions possible without double-strand breaks. These have already been used extensively in cereals, legumes, and horticultural crops for traits ranging from disease resistance and stress tolerance to nutrient biofortification. Multi-omics integration has also enhanced the identity and verification of editing targets through improvement in predictive trait engineering by machine learning and systems biology. Global rollout continues apace, with numerous countries making a regulatory distinction between gene-edited crops and GMOs where they are transgene-free. Case studies from Kenya, Nigeria, and Argentina demonstrate regulatory progress and public-sector breeding initiatives. Future development will move from single gene editing toward complex reprogramming of the genome through structural variations, epigenome modulation, and multiplexed stacking of genes. Still lacking are delivery systems, efficiency of editing in polyploidy crops, reduction of off-target effects, and harmonization of policy requirements. These will be crucial if access is to be democratized and benefits equitably shared in agriculture worldwide.