Editing plants to produce more grains
We’ve long been familiar with genetically modified crops. From bigger, tastier fruits to veggies that travel and store better, scientists have been tinkering with nature’s bounty for years. Now, rice may be next on the list for a little helping hand to boost the global supply of this nutritious grain.
Although rice is one of the earth’s most plentiful crops, there are only so many grains that each plant can produce. With the global population increasing and more mouths to feed annually, it appears that current production is being stretched. But scientists think they have a simple answer – edit the plants’ genetics to make them produce more grains.
How it works
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology has been tried and tested, with the result that the modified plants produce 25-31 percent more grain. Traditional breeding methods couldn’t hope to match this increase.
Rice plants have specific genes that improve their tolerance for threats like drought or excessive salt. These genes, however, stifle growth as a survival mechanism. The plants in the tests had the genes ‘silenced’, enabling them to produce more grains without any significant drawbacks. This may sound like too much tampering, but plants often evolve to have genetic redundancies which can be exploited – the approach used here did just that.
Still in the lab
The CRISPR technique will remain in the lab for the time being as researchers need to monitor the impact of this gene-editing on ‘elite’ rice variants which are used by farmers. If proved successful, the technology could be essential to parts of the world where food shortages are a frequent problem.
There are ethical issues associated with the genetic modification of rice too. Concerns have been raised over its use and the apparent lack of scientific consensus over its value. There are also questions of corporate control – i.e. if a company claims to own a specific variety of the plant. Either way, it’s likely to be some time before genetically edited rice is introduced to the fields, as it must be confirmed to be safe and accessible first.
R&D in agriculture
Research and development is a significant part of agriculture and food production. Both internationally and here in the UK, ongoing research is being conducted to solve a plethora of problems from the global food supply to greener farming techniques and reductions in food waste. In the UK, businesses benefit from R&D tax credits when engaging in projects to overcome difficulties relating to current scientific and technological difficulties. The investigation of methods to maximise yield is just one example of the many projects that could be eligible for R&D tax relief.
Find out more
For more information on research and development tax relief, take a look at our e-book, R&D Tax Credits Explained, or contact our office in Manchester to discuss your project. As specialists in R&D tax for businesses of a variety of sectors including agriculture and the food and drink industry, we’ll be able to advise if your work is eligible for relief.
