Muhammad Asif Akram1, Naveed Aslam2, and Muhammad Haris3*
1College of Horticulture, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Yangling, China, 712100 2College of Life science, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Yangling, China, 712100 3Institute: School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, China
*Corresponding author: haris.bjfu@gmail.com
This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the applications, implications, and future prospects of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 gene editing technology in agriculture, with a particular focus on food crops. Over the past decade, CRISPR has revolutionized agricultural biotechnology, enabling precise modifications for crop improvement, including enhanced yield, nutritional content, disease and pest resistance, and environmental stress tolerance. We examine these developments in detail, citing specific examples of CRISPR-edited crops. We further delve into the technical workings of CRISPR, explaining its mechanisms and associated safety and ethical considerations. This review also addresses significant challenges, including potential off-target effects, regulatory discrepancies, and public acceptance. Notably, we underscore the importance of transparency, engagement, and education in fostering public trust and acceptance of genetically edited crops. Finally, we gaze into the future of CRISPR technology in agriculture, considering emerging trends and technologies such as base editing, prime editing, and multiplex editing. We posit that, while there are challenges to be navigated, CRISPR technology, if handled responsibly and thoughtfully, holds significant promise in contributing to sustainable agriculture and securing our future food supply.