Artificial Intelligence, Gene Editing and Plant Biotechnology as Tools to Enhance Sustainable Agriculture: An Overview of Current Progress and Future PromiseArtificial Intelligence, Gene Editing and Plant Biotechnology as Tools to Enhance Sustainable Agriculture: An Overview of Current Progress and Future Promise

Background: With global population growth and pressure on resources due to climate change, sustainable agriculture is an important part of achieving food security while reducing negative environmental impacts. Newer technologies including plant biotechnology and gene editing, as well as advances in artificial intelligence (AI) provide innovative ways to help grow more productive, resilient crops as well as to use fewer resources per crop by enabling precise crop improvements, developing enhanced stress-tolerant and disease-resistant crops and allowing for data-driven agricultural management. Thus, these technologies contribute towards sustainable farming systems.

Main text: This article reviews the combination of plant biotechnology, genetic engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) for developing sustainable agriculture. It examines (1) various methods of using biotechnology, including tissue culture, molecular breeding and gene transfer, to improve crops; (2) the use of CRISPR-Cas systems to edit genes and improve drought tolerance, disease resistance and nutritional value of crops; and (3) uses of AI in precision agriculture, including monitoring crops, measuring disease levels, predicting crop yields and managing resources. The article explains how these technologies can work together to speed up the development of improved crops and create crops that will succeed in a changing climate. It also discusses the current difficulties and future potential in sustainable agriculture and food security around the world.