Regulatory status of CRISPR-edited crops in Africa

Abstract

In recent years, genome editing using sequence-specific engineered nucleases has emerged as one of the most effective and precise tools for improving crops, with the promise to expeditiously transition lab work to the farms in a short time. Genome-editing techniques cause site-specific double-strand DNA breaks, which trigger DNA-repair mechanisms that introduce base addition deletions via nonhomologous end joining, in addition to targeted gene replacements or exogenous gene insertions via homology-directed repair mechanisms. The CRISPR/Cas system (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins) has become the most effective and successful genome-editing tool in history for introducing genetic changes into plants for their improvement. The unprecedented simplicity, precision, and high efficiency make the CRISPR/Cas system very appealing. The CRISPR/Cas system and its auxiliary processes can generate genotypic-phenotypic plant variants, which could also be achieved through natural means or through conventional breeding. CRISPR-edited plants, as a result, do not easily fit into most regulatory regimes’ descriptions of genetically modified organisms. It is critical to address the controversies and ambiguities concerning the biosafety frameworks and status of CRISPR-edited crops. The stringent and underdeveloped regulatory regimes in Africa pose a significant barrier to realizing the potential of new plant breeding technologies to enhance small-scale farmer livelihoods. Persistent regulatory emphasis on the method used instead of the nature of the new trait created causes disarray among regulators, product developers, and the general public and causes anxiety about the use of CRISPR technology for crop improvement. This work presents an overview of the current and potential future regulatory frameworks for CRISPR-edited crops in Africa. The implications of divided policies on genome-edited crops are also discussed.