PubMed · 2026-05-23
Agave is one of the most water-efficient crops on Earth, thriving in dryland conditions where most plants fail — but insect pests are a serious threat to yields. Researchers argue that inserting Bt pest-resistance genes (already proven in corn and cotton) into agave is now technically within reach and could make this climate-resilient crop even more viable.
Drylands cover 41% of Earth's surface and are expanding due to climate change, raising the strategic importance of drought-tolerant crops like agave.
Agave's extremely low water requirements and high biomass productivity make it one of the most sustainable crops for semi-arid regions, yet insect pests significantly reduce yields and economic returns.
Recent advances in plant transformation and regeneration techniques have lowered the historical barriers to genetic engineering in monocots, making Bt integration into agave technically feasible for the first time.
