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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June 24, 2026

In This Week’s Issue:

News

New Breeding Technologies
• Improving Plants with a Bird-Derived Genetic Tool
• Experts Highlight Benefits and Safety of PRRS-Resistant Pigs at a UPLB Seminar
• Agri-Food Coalition in the EU Welcomes Approval of NGT Regulation
• Kyoto University Develops a Comprehensive Framework to Improve CRISPR Safety Evaluation



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NEWS
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New Breeding Technologies
IMPROVING PLANTS WITH A BIRD-DERIVED GENETIC TOOL

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a highly efficient plant genome engineering system by borrowing a genetic element from the zebra finch. Led by Gözde Demirer, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, the team successfully adapted an animal-native R2 retrotransposon, a mobile genetic element capable of "copying and pasting" genetic code, to precisely write large DNA sequences into plant genomes. The breakthrough addresses a long-standing tradeoff in agricultural biotechnology by allowing scientists to insert complex genetic instructions efficiently and precisely.

For decades, genetic engineering in agriculture relied heavily on random gene insertion via bacteria or precise but limited tools like CRISPR, which struggle to accurately deliver large payloads. The newly developed R2 editor system overcomes these boundaries, integrating genes roughly 30 times more efficiently than standard CRISPR-based methods. In a successful proof-of-concept experiment, lead author and graduate student Kimberley Muchenje used the bird-derived system to seamlessly install a three-enzyme pathway into a naturally green tobacco-family leaf, successfully prompting it to produce a vibrant red pigment without triggering gene silencing.

The breakthrough offers a promising new pathway for fortifying global agriculture against the worsening threats of climate change, drought, and disease. By enabling scientists to install multi-gene metabolic pathways at a single, predictable location in one step, the technology simplifies the process of stacking multiple beneficial traits in a single crop. Moving forward, the Caltech research team plans to refine the system to engineer complex, resilient traits in food crops, opening new doors for global food security and sustainable biomanufacturing.

For more details, read the news article in Caltech News.

"Meat from gene-edited pigs is the same as meat from non-edited pigs," said Dr. Elena Rice, Genus PLC's Chief Scientific Officer and Head of R&D, at the Genus PLC Seminar on Gene-Edited Pigs held at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Institute of Animal Science (IAS) on June 18, 2026. The seminar is in collaboration with Genus PLC and PIC (Pig Improvement Company) Philippines.

Dr. Rice said that Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a global problem that has affected millions of producers in the swine industry for more than three decades. To address this, Genus PLC, through its porcine genetics division, developed gene-edited pigs designed to be resistant to the devastating PRRS virus. Dr. Rice emphasized that there were no differences observed between the gene-edited and control pigs in terms of performance, meat quality, and meat composition.

Dr. Clint Nesbitt, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Genus PLC, said that the PRRS-resistant pigs received approval and non-GMO determination in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Uruguay. He added that they are still seeking approvals from China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Mr. Reimond Corona, Project Senior Technical Specialist at the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP), said that the Philippines is developing regulatory guidelines for the determination of gene-edited animals. The draft policy will provide clarity and ensure safeguards for human and animal health and the environment. Mr. Corona added that the regulatory status under this policy is based on the characteristics of the final product, and not on the breeding technique used.

Watch the recorded seminar on the Facebook Page of the UPLB Institute of Animal Science.

A coalition of 30 European agri-food value chain organizations welcomed the formal adoption of the European Union regulation on plants obtained through New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The decision marks a major milestone for the continent's agricultural and food systems, concluding over eight years of intensive negotiations and complex scientific and political discussions between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission.

The newly established framework introduces a balanced, science-based approach designed to safely accelerate innovation in plant breeding. By establishing long-awaited legal clarity and transparency, the regulation paves the way for the development of enhanced crop varieties. Stakeholders expect these innovative crops to play a vital role in tackling mounting agricultural pressures, including the impacts of climate change, weeds, pests, and plant diseases, while simultaneously optimizing resource efficiency and securing long-term food security across Europe.

With this adoption, the European Union aims to bolster its position in global agriculture by granting European farmers and breeders access to modern tools already utilized in several other regions worldwide. Expressing gratitude to the EU institutions and representatives who shaped the policy, the coalition stated that it looks forward to a timely implementation and remains committed to supporting the rollout of the regulation to foster a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive agri-food sector.

For more details, read the article and joint statement on the Euroseeds website.

Researchers led by Professor Akitsu Hotta from the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CIRA), Kyoto University, have developed a comprehensive framework to evaluate the safety of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing therapies. The approach combines computer-based predictions, laboratory validation, and whole-genome analysis to identify both intended and unintended genetic changes.

The team focused on CRISPR delivered through lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and assessed its performance compared with adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery. In a mouse model, LNPs produced fewer unwanted DNA insertions and showed no detectable integration of delivery-related genetic material at the target site. The researchers also evaluated 13 commonly used computational tools for predicting off-target effects and found that while many detected potential sites, they often generated large numbers of false positives.

Using whole-genome sequencing and a newly developed “indel cluster” method, the researchers identified only a small number of high-confidence off-target sites across the genome. The findings revealed limited off-target activity in genes and minimal functional consequences, suggesting that LNP-based CRISPR delivery is generally safe. The team concluded that integrating multiple assessment methods offers a practical and scalable strategy to improve the safety evaluation of future genome-editing therapies.

For more information, read the article from CIRA, Kyoto University.