What is CRISPR gene editing in agriculture?

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a precise gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make targeted changes to a plant's existing DNA. Unlike GMOs, CRISPR does not introduce foreign DNA from other species.

Is CRISPR gene editing legal in the UK?

Yes, the UK's Precision Breeding Act 2023 created a regulatory pathway for gene-edited crops that could have occurred through traditional breeding. This places the UK alongside countries like the USA, Canada, and Japan in distinguishing gene editing from GMOs.

How is CRISPR different from GMO technology?

CRISPR makes precise edits to an organism's own DNA without introducing foreign genetic material, whereas GMOs involve inserting DNA from different species. The UK legally distinguishes between the two, with gene-edited crops regulated under the Precision Breeding Act rather than GMO legislation.

What crops have been improved using CRISPR?

CRISPR has been used to develop disease-resistant wheat, drought-tolerant rice, non-browning mushrooms, and high-oleic soybeans. In hemp, Precision Plants uses CRISPR/Cas9 to deliver multiple precision trait improvements per variety through their Stackatrait™ platform, organised across five core trait categories: Cannabinoid Modification, Seed Yield & Oil, Fibre Quality, Root & Carbon, and Climate Resilience.

CRISPR in Agriculture: A Comprehensive UK Guide

Introduction

CRISPR-Cas9 has been called one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century. In agriculture, this revolutionary gene-editing technology is transforming how we develop new crop varieties, offering unprecedented precision and speed. It provides a powerful tool to create more resilient and productive crops to meet global food demands sustainably.

For UK farmers, understanding CRISPR is increasingly vital. The Precision Breeding Act 2023 has paved the way for gene-edited crops to be developed and grown commercially in England, creating significant opportunities for those who embrace this advanced technology. This guide explains everything you need to know about CRISPR in agriculture—from the basic science to its practical applications for UK farming.

Illustration of CRISPR gene editing on a DNA strand in a modern laboratory — Gene editing laboratories are at the forefront of developing the next generation of resilient and high-yielding crop varieties.

What is CRISPR?

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. It is a natural defence mechanism found in bacteria, which they use to fend off viruses. Scientists have ingeniously adapted this system into a versatile and powerful gene-editing tool.

2012

Year CRISPR was adapted for gene editing

10x

Faster than traditional breeding

99.9%

Precision in targeting genes

2-3

Years to develop a new variety

Think of CRISPR as molecular scissors that can be programmed to cut DNA at a very specific location. By doing so, scientists can make precise changes to an organism's genome. This can involve:

Deleting undesirable genes (e.g., those responsible for low yield or susceptibility to disease).
Modifying existing genes to enhance beneficial traits (e.g., improving drought tolerance).
Inserting beneficial genetic sequences that exist elsewhere in the species' gene pool.

"CRISPR is to genetics what word processing was to writing. It provides the ability to edit DNA with a level of ease and precision that was previously unimaginable."
Dr. Jennifer Doudna— Nobel Prize Winner and CRISPR Pioneer

How Gene Editing Works

The CRISPR-Cas9 system functions like a biological GPS combined with molecular scissors. The process is remarkably straightforward and efficient:

1

Step 1

Design Guide RNA (gRNA)

Scientists create a 'guide' molecule that matches the exact DNA sequence of the target gene.

2

Step 2

Introduce Complex into Cell

The gRNA is attached to the Cas9 enzyme (the 'scissors') and the complex is introduced into plant cells.

3

Step 3

Locate Target DNA

The guide RNA scans the genome and binds precisely to the matching DNA sequence.

4

Step 4

Make the Cut

The Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA at the targeted location, creating a clean break.

5

Step 5

Natural DNA Repair

The cell uses its own natural repair mechanisms to fix the cut. This process can be guided to make a specific edit, such as deleting or modifying the gene.

Diagram showing the DNA double helix being edited — CRISPR allows for precise modifications to the DNA double helix, enabling scientists to improve specific genetic traits.

Gene Editing vs GMO

A common misconception is that gene editing and genetic modification (GMO) are the same. They are fundamentally different technologies, particularly in how they are regulated and perceived.

The Key Distinction

Gene editing typically involves making changes to a plant's existing DNA that could, in theory, occur naturally or through traditional breeding. In contrast, GMO technology traditionally involves inserting foreign DNA from a different species, creating a transgenic organism.

Aspect	Gene Editing (CRISPR)	Traditional GMO
Foreign DNA	No foreign DNA is introduced or remains in the final plant.	Contains DNA from other species (transgenes).
Natural Equivalent	Changes are similar to those from natural mutation or cross-breeding.	The genetic change could not occur in nature.
UK Legal Status	Permitted for commercial use under the Precision Breeding Act 2023.	Heavily restricted and requires extensive regulatory approval.
Labelling Required	No special labelling required for precision-bred organisms.	Must be clearly labelled as a Genetically Modified Organism.

This distinction is a key reason why the UK government has created a separate, more streamlined regulatory pathway for precision-bred plants. You can learn more in our detailed article, Gene Editing vs GMO.

Agricultural Applications

CRISPR is being used to develop improved crop varieties across the agricultural sector. For UK farmers, this technology offers tangible benefits that can improve profitability and sustainability.

Trait Improvement in Hemp

At Precision Plants, we use CRISPR to enhance industrial hemp for fibre and seed production. Our StackaTrait™ technology allows us to:

Ensure THC Compliance: Edit the genes responsible for THC production to ensure levels remain safely below the UK's 0.2% legal limit, removing compliance risks for farmers.
Boost Fibre & Seed Yield: Enhance genetic pathways that lead to higher biomass and seed output, directly increasing revenue per hectare.
Improve Climate Resilience: Develop varieties with greater tolerance to drought and common UK pests, ensuring more reliable harvests.

Potential Improvements in Hemp with Gene Editing

Fibre Yield30%

Seed Yield25%

Drought Tolerance20%

Disease Resistance15%

Important Note on CBD

It is illegal to grow hemp for the purpose of CBD (cannabidiol) production in the UK under an industrial hemp licence. These licences only permit the cultivation of hemp for its fibre and seed. Gene editing is therefore focused on maximising the value of these permitted materials, not on producing controlled substances. Official guidance confirms that leaves and flowers, from which CBD is extracted, are controlled parts of the plant.

UK Regulatory Framework

The UK has established a progressive regulatory framework for gene-edited organisms with the passage of the Precision Breeding Act 2023. This legislation distinguishes precision-bred organisms from GMOs, creating a clearer path to market.

The Act allows for the commercial cultivation of gene-edited crops in England, provided they could have been produced through traditional breeding methods. This is regulated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). For more details, see the full text of the Act or our summary of UK government resources.

Explore Our Gene-Edited Varieties

Discover how our advanced hemp varieties can benefit your farm. Visit our varieties page to see the results of our precision breeding programme.

Benefits for Farmers

Adopting gene-edited crops offers several key advantages for modern farming operations:

Increased Profitability: Higher yields and improved traits, such as those in our hemp varieties, can significantly boost revenue. Use our revenue calculator to estimate your potential returns.
Reduced Risk: Enhanced resistance to pests and diseases, along with designed-in THC compliance, de-risks the cultivation process.
Improved Sustainability: Crops that require fewer chemical inputs and are more resilient to climate change contribute to a more sustainable farming model, enhancing your farm's environmental impact.
Market Access: As consumer demand for sustainable products grows, using advanced, eco-friendly crops can open up new market opportunities.

Participate in Our Farm Trials

Get hands-on experience with our next-generation hemp varieties by joining our nationwide farm trials. See the benefits for yourself.

The Future of Precision Breeding

CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies are set to become a cornerstone of modern agriculture. As the technology matures, we can expect to see even more sophisticated traits being developed, from nitrogen-fixing cereals to plants that can actively sequester more carbon from the atmosphere.

For the UK, embracing this technology is not just an option but a necessity to ensure food security, meet climate targets, and maintain a competitive agricultural sector. To learn more about the latest developments, visit our Knowledge Hub.

References

Mark Turner

Director & Co-Founder

Entrepreneur and cannabis specialist with over a decade in hemp, CBD and cannabis, building award-winning consumer brands and deep-tech genetics platforms for the UK and EU markets.

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