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CRISPR and the Promise of Climate-Resilient Crops in India

CRISPR has potential to address some of the most pressing issues in Indian agriculture.

Shivani Singh
CRISPR and the Promise of Climate-Resilient Crops in India
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TLDR
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CRISPR, short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is a gene-editing tool with immense potential to transform Indian agriculture. With climate change intensifying challenges like erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and degraded soil quality, Indian farmers especially smallholders face increasing uncertainty. CRISPR offers a way to create crops that can withstand these conditions. Imagine wheat that thrives in scorching heat or rice that survives prolonged droughts—these innovations could become a reality for farmers in states like Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, where climate extremes are common. By making crops more resilient, CRISPR could help ensure consistent harvests and secure livelihoods for millions.

Beyond tackling climate challenges, CRISPR could revolutionize pest management. Pest infestations often devastate crops, forcing farmers to rely heavily on chemical pesticides, which are both costly and harmful to the environment. With CRISPR, scientists can develop pest-resistant crops like cotton, significantly reducing pesticide use and saving farmers money. This would not only improve farm productivity but also encourage sustainable farming practices, creating a win-win for farmers and the environment.

CRISPR’s potential goes even further—it could help address malnutrition, a persistent issue in India. For example, Golden Rice, fortified with Vitamin A, has already demonstrated how gene editing can enhance the nutritional value of staple foods. Imagine enriching other staples like wheat or lentils with vital nutrients to improve public health. By making crops hardier, more sustainable, and more nutritious, CRISPR could transform Indian agriculture into a system that not only feeds the population but also nurtures it, offering a brighter future for farmers and consumers alike.

India’s Efforts and Government Initiatives 

India is actively embracing innovative agricultural technologies like CRISPR, with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) leading efforts to develop climate-resilient crops. Recognizing its potential, the government has allocated ₹500 crores to agricultural research in this field, signalling a strong commitment to leveraging science to address farming challenges. One of CRISPR’s most promising applications lies in combating soil salinity, a growing issue in coastal regions such as Gujarat and Rajasthan. By engineering crops that can thrive in saline conditions, CRISPR could transform unproductive land into arable fields, increasing agricultural output while reducing pressure on overstressed farmland.

Another critical area where CRISPR could make a difference is in reducing food waste. In India, a significant portion of fruits and vegetables spoil before reaching consumers, leading to economic and resource losses. By improving the shelf life and quality of these crops, CRISPR could help minimize waste and ensure better availability of fresh produce. This combination of enhanced productivity, sustainability, and waste reduction underscores CRISPR’s potential to address some of the most pressing issues in Indian agriculture.

Intellectual Property Issues with CRISPR in Agriculture 

The intellectual property (IP) challenges surrounding CRISPR-Cas9 technology present significant barriers to its widespread adoption in Indian agriculture. CRISPR holds immense potential to improve crop resilience and productivity, especially in a country facing challenges like climate change, pests, and resource constraints. However, these IP issues significantly impact how the technology can be accessed, developed, and commercialized in India.

One of the primary challenges is patent ownership and licensing fees. The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, along with the University of California, Berkeley, hold the core patents on CRISPR-Cas9 technology, controlling its use across various applications, including agriculture. Indian researchers can access CRISPR for academic research, but commercializing CRISPR-modified crops is subject to high licensing fees. For instance, Vertex Pharmaceuticals paid $50 million upfront to secure rights to use CRISPR for gene therapies. These high costs make it difficult for Indian agricultural innovators to develop and sell CRISPR-based crops, particularly in a market with price-sensitive smallholder farmers.

Another major hurdle is the presence of patent thickets and fragmentation. As multiple patents cover various aspects of CRISPR-Cas9, from the core technology to delivery methods and modifications, Indian researchers and agricultural developers must navigate a maze of overlapping patents. This complexity increases both the costs and administrative burden associated with developing CRISPR-based products. The fragmented patent landscape also makes it difficult for farmers to quickly adopt new innovations, as each development may be subject to additional licensing negotiations.

Access to CRISPR technology for public research is another challenge. Institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) face restrictions on commercializing CRISPR innovations. Although CRISPR can be freely used for academic purposes, the commercial use of gene-edited crops, such as drought-resistant rice, is limited by licensing fees. This means that even when public research institutions develop valuable agricultural solutions, these innovations remain out of reach for farmers unless licensing agreements are in place.

Legal disputes and patent wars also complicate the IP landscape. Ongoing legal battles, particularly between the Broad Institute and University of California, have created significant uncertainty over who holds the primary patent rights to CRISPR-Cas9. These disputes have delayed the commercialization of CRISPR-based innovations, creating hesitation among research institutions and startups in India, who may fear future legal conflicts. This legal uncertainty increases the risk for agricultural research and innovation, hindering the potential of CRISPR to address urgent agricultural needs.

Additionally, restrictions on the use of CRISPR toolkits limit their commercial application. While open-source CRISPR kits are available for research purposes, they cannot be used commercially without securing licenses from patent holders. This prevents Indian researchers from translating their research into market-ready solutions, restricting the widespread use of CRISPR-based technologies that could help improve crop yields and resilience.

Finally, there is unequal access between the private and public sectors. Large biotech companies have the resources to navigate the complex patent landscape, negotiate licenses, and absorb licensing fees, while public institutions and small agricultural companies in India may struggle with these costs. This imbalance could result in a situation where only large corporations benefit from CRISPR, leaving smallholder farmers excluded from the technological advancements that could significantly improve their productivity.

Biotech-KISAN: Connecting Science with Farmers 

To help bridge the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and the agricultural realities faced by farmers, India has launched initiatives like the Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN). This program, established by the Department of Biotechnology, aims to connect farmers with the latest technological advancements, including CRISPR, to improve their agricultural practices and boost productivity. 

Biotech-KISAN works by fostering collaborations between scientists and farmers, ensuring that the solutions developed are not only innovative but also practical for the local farming context. For instance, in drought-prone areas, the program helps farmers adopt water-efficient practices and provides support for developing drought-resistant crops. In areas where soil degradation is a concern, the program focuses on sustainable farming techniques that can help improve soil health. Additionally, Biotech-KISAN places a strong emphasis on gender inclusivity, ensuring that women, who play an essential role in Indian agriculture, also have access to the latest agricultural technologies. 

The program’s focus on grassroots innovation is another key feature. It encourages farmers to incorporate traditional knowledge with modern scientific tools, ensuring that the solutions are not just theoretical but are tailored to the specific challenges faced by the farming community. 

Recommendations and Future Directives

To harness the full potential of CRISPR technology for Indian agriculture, a strategic approach is essential. This approach must focus on developing clear frameworks for research, development, commercialization, and policy, ensuring that CRISPR-based agricultural innovations are both accessible and beneficial to Indian farmers, particularly smallholders. The government should implement a comprehensive national strategy for agricultural biotechnology, emphasizing Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to foster collaboration between public research institutions, private biotech companies, and farmer organizations. This would facilitate the creation of CRISPR-based crops that meet the specific needs of Indian agriculture, particularly in addressing challenges such as climate change, pests, and water scarcity. Local innovation hubs should also be established in various agro-climatic zones of India to target the development of climate-resilient crops and sustainable agricultural practices, fostering innovation that directly benefits local farming communities.

Intellectual Property (IP) policy plays a critical role in making CRISPR technology accessible. India should adopt a "One Nation, One License" model for CRISPR toolkits, allowing both public and private institutions to access these technologies under a government-negotiated agreement. This approach would reduce costs and speed up innovation, making it easier for Indian researchers to develop CRISPR-enhanced crops for small-scale farmers. Additionally, India could explore patent pooling and licensing models, which would allow multiple institutions to collaborate under a shared licensing agreement, further reducing the cost and complexity of accessing CRISPR technology. Promoting open-access CRISPR toolkits would also ensure that academic and research institutions can experiment with gene-editing technologies without commercial restrictions, accelerating innovation and increasing the number of researchers involved in developing CRISPR-based agricultural solutions. Moreover, strengthening IP literacy among farmers is crucial, as they need to understand the implications of IP, especially regarding seed ownership, access, and commercialization of CRISPR-based crops.

Increased funding for agricultural biotechnology research, particularly for CRISPR-based solutions, is necessary to address challenges in climate resilience, pest resistance, and yield improvement. The government should significantly boost funding through agencies such as the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and ICAR, targeting projects that develop CRISPR-enhanced crops suited to Indian conditions. Research should also focus on enhancing indigenous crop varieties to ensure that India’s biodiversity is preserved while improving food security. To stimulate commercialization, India could offer financial incentives to agritech startups working on CRISPR applications, providing tax breaks, venture capital access, and facilitating collaborations with established biotech companies.

To enable timely and effective deployment of CRISPR-based crops, regulatory reforms are essential. India should create a separate regulatory framework for CRISPR-edited crops, distinguishing them from traditional GMOs. This would streamline approval processes, focusing on the traits of the crops rather than the methods used to develop them. Additionally, the regulatory process for field trials should be simplified, with clear guidelines for safety and environmental impact assessments. Engagement with various stakeholders, including farmers, scientists, and NGOs, will be key in building trust in the regulatory framework and addressing concerns related to safety, ethics, and environmental impact.

India must prioritize capacity building and skill development to ensure that the agricultural and scientific communities are equipped to implement CRISPR technologies. Training programs for agricultural scientists, along with farmer education initiatives, are essential for ensuring that farmers understand the benefits and risks of CRISPR-based crops. Public awareness campaigns can further demystify CRISPR technology, fostering broader acceptance. International collaborations with leading global institutions and participation in multinational research consortia will accelerate the development of CRISPR-based solutions and ensure that India remains at the forefront of agricultural biotechnology. By navigating these challenges and adopting a proactive, inclusive approach, India can unlock the full potential of CRISPR to improve food security, sustainability, and economic prosperity for millions of its farmers.

Conclusion

CRISPR technology holds immense potential to revolutionize Indian agriculture, offering solutions to critical challenges such as pests, climate change, and food security. However, the widespread adoption of CRISPR faces significant barriers, particularly in terms of intellectual property complexities, fragmented patents, and high licensing costs. To fully realize the benefits of CRISPR, India must foster global collaboration, ensuring fair access to this groundbreaking technology for developing nations. By partnering with international research institutes, India can remain at the forefront of CRISPR advancements and secure access to the latest innovations in agricultural biotechnology.

At the same time, India needs to establish a regulatory framework that supports the rapid adoption of CRISPR-based agricultural solutions. This may involve creating a separate approval process for CRISPR-edited crops, distinct from traditional GMOs, to accelerate market entry and ensure that innovations reach farmers more quickly. Increasing transparency, engaging stakeholders, and streamlining approval procedures will help build public trust and facilitate the widespread use of CRISPR in agriculture.

Capacity building is another critical component. Investment in training agricultural scientists to become proficient in CRISPR technology will ensure that India has the necessary expertise to develop and implement these solutions. Additionally, educating farmers about the potential benefits and risks of CRISPR is crucial for ensuring the successful adoption of this technology at the local level.

With the right governmental support, increased funding for research, and a focus on capacity building, India can overcome the obstacles to CRISPR adoption. By promoting public-private partnerships, developing domestic CRISPR tools, and ensuring fair and equitable access to technology, India has the opportunity to significantly enhance agricultural production, sustainability, and food security. CRISPR has the potential to shape the future of Indian agriculture, unlocking a new era of innovation and growth.

IP Round up

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Written by Shivani, Technical Assistance for audio generation by Raghav Sibal

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