Climate-smart Crops: Delivering Tolerant Genes Based on Engineered Nanocarriers and CRISPR/Cas Genome-editing System

Crop productivity is seriously threatened by climate changes such as global warming, which causes biotic and abiotic stress in crops. It is important to develop environmentally tolerant crop varieties to mitigate environmental stresses and feed the growing population. This chapter focusses on the combination of CRISPR/Cas technology and nanovehicles in plant breeding to improve agricultural productivity. The chapter begins with a general introduction to gene delivery through various nanocarriers, including liposomal, polymeric, and other nanoparticles, including the mechanism of catalase. The use of this approach is beneficial for several aspects related to CRISPR/Cas-mediated application in crops, such as increased bioavailability, specificity of target genes and controlled release or reduction of toxicity, probably due to the role of nanocarriers. This is illustrated by examples of applications where this convergence can lead to a significant improvement in disease resistance, stress tolerance, and yield. In addition, the chapter deals with the regulation and ethics of genetically modified plants and nanotechnology. This includes the existing regulations, their description, as well as safety and environmental concerns and challenges (such as public perception or ethics). We emphasize the need for a rigorous safety assessment and open, transparent communication between all stakeholders to build trust and promote the integration of these technologies. Finally, the chapter proposes an agenda for further research, including nanocarriers that respond to a specific trigger and targeted components, new types of effective carriers, and the combination of CRISPR/Cas with other strategies such as conventional breeding. In this way, researchers can utilize the incorporation of CRISPR/Cas technology into nanocarriers to address current obstacles in agriculture that will ultimately bring great benefits to global food security and sustainable agricultural practices.