CROP BIOTECH UPDATE
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A weekly summary of world developments in agri-biotech for developing countries, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)
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August 20, 2025

In This Week’s Issue:

News

New Breeding Technologies
• AI-Powered Robots to Transform Crop Breeding
• Scientists Use AI to Boost Precision of Gene Editing



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NEWS
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New Breeding Technologies
AI-POWERED ROBOTS TO TRANSFORM CROP BREEDING

A team of researchers has developed a breakthrough system that combines biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) to automate crop breeding. The technology, called GEAIR (Genome Editing with Artificial-Intelligence-based Robots), is designed to genetically engineer crops for robot compatibility and deploy AI-driven robots to perform cross-pollination efficiently. The findings of the study are published in Cell.

Scientists used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique to engineer plants targeting male sterility and exposed stigmas to make the crop easier for robots to pollinate. This “crop-robot co-design” approach allows GEAIR robots to identify flowers ready for pollination, deposit pollen precisely onto the exposed stigma, and work continuously to cut labor costs and time.

The results showed that GEAIR's cross-pollination efficiency is comparable to skilled human technicians. This breakthrough opens possibilities for other tasks, such as self-pollination aid, automated pollen collection, and phenotypic selection. Researchers say the system has the potential to accelerate the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and more sustainable crops across multiple species. They describe the innovation as a shift from the Green Revolution to a new “Robot Revolution” in agriculture.

For more information, read the article from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in the Chinese Academy of Sciences website.

Scientists from the University of Zurich (UZH), Ghent University in Belgium, and the ETH Zurich have developed a new gene editing method that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with gene editing technologies to precisely edit DNA. The tool, called Pythia, could accelerate the development of safer gene therapies and improve disease modeling.

Phytia uses AI to predict how cells repair their DNA after it is cut by gene editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9. “Our team developed tiny DNA repair templates, which act like molecular glue and guide the cell to make precise genetic changes,” explained lead author Thomas Naert, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University. Tested first in human cell cultures, the method was later validated in animal models such as frogs and mice, where the team successfully edited DNA in brain cells.

The study found that DNA repair follows predictable patterns that AI can model and anticipate. This method could reduce unwanted mutations and increase control over edits. “Just as meteorologists use AI to predict the weather, we are using it to forecast how cells will respond to genetic interventions,” said Soeren Lienkamp, senior author and professor at UZH and ETH Zurich. The researchers said that the approach provides a strong foundation for safer, more effective gene therapies in the future.

For more information, read the article from the University of Zurich.