Two years ago, the Russian government adopted a program for the development of genetic technologies until 2027. The authors paid special attention to genome editing technologies: “The existing varieties and hybrids of agricultural plants and animal breeds were obtained as a result of long-term selection aimed at the formation of the required traits. Genetic technologies, which involve a directed change in the own genes of a plant or animal without introducing foreign genetic material, give the same end result. "
By the end of the program, it is planned to create 30 species (at least four agricultural crops from among the main ones in Russia - wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, barley and others) of genetically edited animals and plants. Moreover, the goal is precisely practical: we are talking about new varieties "in demand in the real sector of the economy."
An important step towards this - the study of plant genomes - has already been taken. Since 2019, there are three research centers in Russia that have already completed the decoding of several genomes. The Kurchatov Genomic Center has developed wheat with a shortened earing time and potatoes that do not accumulate sugar in the cold. These technologies are already being introduced by agricultural holdings and farms.
First, it can become an advantage for domestic companies in the competition. Already now, producers of genetically engineered crops can get higher yields. For example, according to the director of the plant growing enterprise Denis Golovin, beet varieties created with the help of these technologies can yield almost twice the yield than ordinary varieties. Freer legislation on editing plants for sale could make Russia more attractive for investment in agriculture.
In addition, genome editing can bring tastier and healthier vegetables to the shelves.
Several years ago, the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences bred a potato variety with a partially disabled gene for vacuolar invertase, which determines the starch content in cells. In the production of chips from such potatoes, less acrylamide should be obtained - a substance that is suspected of having a carcinogenic effect on the body. And if you reduce the concentration of amylopectin in the same potato, it will become less nutritious. For those who are losing weight, this will be an advantage.