PubMed · 2026-06-27
CRISPR gene-editing is already delivering measurable gains in crop water efficiency, disease resistance, shelf life, and nutrition globally, but soil health, biodiversity, and consumer acceptance remain critically under-studied. This review maps both the proven wins and the research blind spots, then outlines what Turkey specifically needs to turn early-stage work into farm-level impact for crops like wheat, barley, tomato, and olive.
Global CRISPR applications show measurable gains in food security, shelf life, and nutritional value, but soil health, biodiversity, consumer acceptance, and ethical dimensions remain systematically under-represented in the literature.
Turkey's CRISPR agricultural research is at an early stage, with the clearest potential in wheat, barley, tomato, and olive crops.
Three steps are identified for Turkey to close the gap: a domestic biosafety framework aligned with EU New Genomic Techniques regulations, sustained multi-location field trials, and cooperative-based deployment mechanisms to reach smallholder farmers.
