Gene-edited Rice May Grow in the Ocean

A Canadian startup Alora used CRISPR technology to produce salt-tolerant rice that will allow the crop to grow in the ocean. It is now on trial, and it may help reduce water consumption and methane emissions in agriculture.

Rice is an important crop that serves as a staple food for over half of the world's population. However, it is highly sensitive to the salinity of the soil, which can be affected by several factors, such as seawater intrusion and overuse of fertilizers.

To help address this issue, researchers from Alora used patent-pending gene editing technology to activate genes that will provide rice with salt tolerance. The project's trial will be completed by mid-October, but researchers at Alora are already monitoring the data that they need to check the crop's performance. If successful, the gene-edited rice will help promote food security and environmental stewardship.

For more information, read Alora's LinkedIn post or visit their website.