Biotechnological Advances in Crop Improvement for Abiotic Stress Tolerance

Precise DNA-level modifications have greatly accelerated gene editing in agriculture. The integration of functional markers, metabolomics, and advanced breeding techniques plays a crucial role in developing stress-tolerant, high-yielding crop varieties. The future of genome editing in agriculture will focus on using pangenomes, refining breeding precision, and enhancing agronomic and nutritional traits. Genetic engineering and genome editing have transformed crop improvement, especially with the adoption of CRISPR/Cas-based techniques, offering efficient methods for enhancing crop resilience, stress tolerance, yield, and disease resistance. Challenges such as regulations, public acceptance, and intellectual property rights must be effectively addressed. Despite these obstacles, the integration of genetic engineering, genome editing, and advanced breeding holds great promise for developing resilient, high-yielding crops. This approach effectively addresses global challenges, such as climate change and food security. The chapter provides an overview of genetic engineering, genome editing, and their applications in crops, with a focus on recent CRISPR/Cas-based techniques and marker integration. It highlights the technological potential of these methods, addresses implementation challenges, and promotes sustainable agriculture for food security. This chapter contributes to the advancement of resilient agriculture to meet evolving global demands.