Gene-edited crops

Also known as Genome-edited crops, CRISPR-edited crops, Precision-bred crops

Gene-edited crops are plants changed with precise tools such as CRISPR-Cas9, which can alter a plant's own genes. A 2017 lab study showed the approach can change plant chemistry, and the UK Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 created a separate legal route for precision-bred plants in England. Rules differ widely between countries.

Pilot and early commercialDemonstratedReviewed 21 Oct 2026
AI illustration · Illustrative scene, not a photograph of the specific device or experiment.

In plain language

Plant breeders have always changed crops. Traditionally they cross plants and select the best offspring over many years. Gene editing aims to make this process more targeted. Tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 act like a pair of molecular scissors that cut a plant's DNA at a chosen point, so a small change can be made to one of the plant's own genes.

Whether these crops should be regulated like traditional genetically modified crops is an open question, and countries have taken different decisions, as the 2021 Turnbull review documents. The UK government describes goals of drought and disease resistance and lower fertiliser and pesticide use for this approach. The UK has created a separate system for precision-bred plants in England.

Technical explanation

CRISPR-Cas9 and related systems direct a nuclease to a specific DNA sequence, where a cut is repaired by the cell in ways that can disrupt or change a gene. In a 2017 Plant Biotechnology Journal study, Li and colleagues used multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 in tomato to edit five genes in the GABA shunt, not the GAD genes. They reported that GABA in the leaves of quadruple mutants was 19-fold higher than in wild-type plants. The plants were greenhouse-grown, and fruit data came from only two chimeric lines, so this is not a field-grown fruit trait.

Regulatory treatment is the main variable outside the laboratory. Turnbull and colleagues (2021) review how genetically modified crop rules and the newer gene-edited category are handled across Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Under the UK Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, a feature of a genome counts as precision bred only if it could have arisen through traditional processes. The Act extends to England and Wales under section 47(1), and precision breeding regulation applies in England.

The sources reviewed do not give a general off-target rate, do not report whether edits behave as intended across growing conditions, and do not give field-trial results for specific UK crops.

What the evidence says

Each statement is typed by the strength of its evidence and linked to the source that supports it.

Demonstrated Shown in a published experiment, test or shipping product.

In a 2017 study, multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 editing in tomato raised GABA 19-fold in the leaves of quadruple mutants compared with wild-type plants.

Sources: [1] · Abstract

The 2017 tomato study did not target the GAD genes; it edited other genes in the GABA pathway, and its GABA result is for leaves rather than fruit.

Sources: [1] · Methods and abstract

The Turnbull and colleagues review compiles regulatory frameworks for genetically modified crops across Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific, and examines how gene-edited crops fit into them.

Sources: [2] · Landing page summary

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 is dated 23 March 2023 on legislation.gov.uk and sets up a regulatory route for precision-bred plants and animals in England, where a feature counts as precision bred only if it could have arisen through traditional processes.

Sources: [3], [4] · Title and dating line; section 1(2)(c) and 1(6); press release

Section 47(1) of the Act states that it extends to England and Wales only, subject to listed exceptions.

Sources: [3] · Section 47(1)

Proposed A design or plan that has not yet been built or tested.

The UK government describes the Act as enabling precision breeding with plants first and animals later, and presents drought and disease resistance and lower pesticide use as goals.

Sources: [4] · Press release text · medium confidence

Limitations and open problems

  • The main lab evidence in the sources reviewed here is from greenhouse-grown tomato plants, mainly leaves, not field-grown crops or harvested fruit.
  • Regulation varies by country and region, and the Turnbull review documents that these frameworks differ.
  • The precision breeding regulatory system applies in England. The Act extends to England and Wales (section 47(1)), and some provisions extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Rules in other parts of the UK should be checked before use.
  • The sources reviewed here do not give a general off-target rate for gene edits.
  • Consumer acceptance and labelling are not assessed by the verified sources reviewed here.
  • The operational rules and any register of approved products should be checked on GOV.UK before use, because they were not verified in this profile.

Possible future uses

Speculative

Ideas, not predictions. None of these has been demonstrated.

  • Drought- and disease-resistant crops, which the UK government names as a goal of the Precision Breeding Act.
  • Lower fertiliser and pesticide use from crops bred to resist disease or use nutrients more efficiently.
  • Crops with altered nutritional content, such as higher levels of beneficial compounds like GABA, though the 2017 tomato work was a laboratory result.

Timeline

  1. Aug 2017Li and colleagues report multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9 editing in tomato raising GABA 19-fold in leaves of quadruple mutants. Sources: [1]
  2. Feb 2021Turnbull and colleagues publish a review of global regulation of genetically modified crops amid the gene-edited crop boom. Sources: [2]
  3. 23 Mar 2023The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 is dated 23 March 2023 on legislation.gov.uk and creates a regulatory route for precision-bred plants and animals in England, with plants first and animals later. Sources: [3], [4]

Futures this could help bring about

AI illustration
How far away?

Farming with far fewer chemical pesticides

Pilots · 4 of 8 steps done

AI illustration
How far away?

Farming without synthetic fertiliser

Pilots · 2 of 6 steps done

Related breakthroughs

Glossary

CRISPR-Cas9
A gene-editing system in which a guide RNA directs the Cas9 enzyme to cut DNA at a chosen sequence.
Precision breeding
A term used in the UK Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for organisms whose genome changes could have arisen through traditional processes, as set out in section 1.
GMO (genetically modified organism)
An organism whose genetic material has been altered by techniques that are regulated as genetic modification.
GABA
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, a natural compound found in plants and animals.

Sources

  1. peer reviewed paper
    Multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated metabolic engineering of γ-aminobutyric acid levels in Solanum lycopersicum
    Rui Li, Ran Li, Xindi Li et al.. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 2 Aug 2017. DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12781. Accessed 21 Oct 2026.
  2. review article
    Global Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops Amid the Gene Edited Crop Boom - A Review
    Crystal Turnbull, Morten Lillemo, Trine A. K. Hvoslef-Eide. Frontiers in Plant Science, 24 Feb 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.630396. Accessed 21 Oct 2026.
  3. government report
    Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023, c. 6
    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives), 23 Mar 2023. Accessed 21 Oct 2026.
  4. government report
    Genetic Technology Act key tool for UK food security
    GOV.UK (UK Government, Defra), 23 Mar 2023. Accessed 21 Oct 2026.

Revision history

3 changes since this profile was created.

Changes on 21 Oct 2026
Published on owner instruction via content loop; AI-researched, QA-checked and link-checkeddb92240
Sources and claims re-checked against originalsfbb434c
Initial profile drafted from primary sources7e66249