Emerging Biotechnologies and Innovations for Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Riddhi Rathore *
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, 173230, India.
Amisha Chauhan
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, 173230, India.
Siddhi Rathore
Floriculture and Landscaping, Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396450, India.
Mokkala Siva Prasad
Department of Vegetable Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, 173230, India.
Lokesh Thakur
Integrative Plant AdaptOmics Lab (iPAL), Biotechnology Division, CSIR‐Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India.
Pushpak Chandel
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, 173230, India.
Utkarsh Ingle
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, 173230, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Climate change presents challenges to agriculture globally, necessitating the development of resilient production systems to safeguard food security, farm incomes and environmental sustainability. Global agricultural systems face unprecedented pressure from climate change, population growth, and environmental degradation. This review examines emerging biotechnological innovations—including gene editing via Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems, synthetic biology approaches, and novel food production platforms—that hold transformative potential for building climate-resilient food systems. Drawing on literature from 2000 to 2026 sourced from peer-reviewed journals and authoritative international reports, the article synthesises current evidence on drought and heat tolerance engineering, disease resistance, photosynthesis enhancement, biological nitrogen fixation, cellular agriculture, vertical farming, and alternative protein sources. The review also critically evaluates the regulatory frameworks, biosafety considerations, and socioeconomic dimensions that govern the deployment of these technologies, with particular attention to equity and access in developing nations. Findings indicate that whilst individual technologies show considerable promise, their integration within holistic, systems-level approaches will be essential to realise their full potential. Key challenges include regulatory harmonisation, public acceptance, intellectual property barriers, and the need for inclusive innovation frameworks that prioritise smallholder farmers in climate-vulnerable regions. The article concludes by identifying priority areas for future research and policy action necessary to translate laboratory advances into field-scale solutions.
Keywords: CRISPR, gene editing, synthetic biology, climate-resilient agriculture, food security, vertical farming