Global Regulatory Framework of CRISPR-Edited Plants and Transgene-Free CRISPR Crops

The world population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, increasing pressure on agricultural production with limited land available. An increase in crop yield and productivity is necessary to achieve the zero-hunger goal of the United Nations. However, increasing crop productivity is challenging in the face of climate change and limited water resources. CRISPR-Cas has emerged as a game-changer technology for precise gene editing in crops to fulfill the early promises of genetically modified crops. CRISPR-Cas is a revolutionary technology to install precise changes in the genome for the genetic improvement of crops with desired traits. However, global regulatory frameworks will significantly impact the crops’ public acceptance and future commercialization. This chapter discusses the recent developments and applications of CRISPR-Cas for the genetic improvement of plants. It also discusses the regulatory classification of CRISPR-edited crops based on the repair outcomes of the DSBs. The potential risks associated with CRISPR-edited crops are summarized. Different methods to develop transgene-free CRISPR plants and their significance in addressing the challenges of food security in developing countries are presented. Finally, different regulatory triggers, including product, process, and novel traits to regulate CRISPR crops and global regulatory oversights of CRISPR-edited crops are depicted.