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Background <p>Achieving sustainable crop yield improvement is essential to address the dual challenges of climate change and global population growth. Genetic innovations offer powerful tools to enhance plant productivity, resilience, and resource-use efficiency, but their deployment must be aligned with the functioning of soil–plant systems and the constraints of diverse agroecosystems.</p> <p><i>Scope&#xa0;</i>This review synthesises current genetic strategies for crop improvement, including traditional breeding, marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and modern biotechnologies such as CRISPR–Cas gene editing and synthetic biology. We highlight how advances in high-throughput phenotyping, genome sequencing, and AI-driven predictive breeding accelerate the discovery and selection of complex agronomic traits, including drought tolerance, nutrient-use efficiency, and pest and disease resistance. We further examine the roles of gene–environment interactions and epigenetic regulation in shaping trait expression and yield stability across variable environments. Particular attention is given to the development of nutrient-efficient and climate-resilient cultivars and their implications for soil processes, nutrient cycling, and agroecosystem sustainability, alongside discussion of regulatory frameworks, ethical considerations, and public acceptance.</p> Conclusions <p>Genetic innovations are poised to transform crop improvement by enabling more precise and rapid manipulation of complex traits, with demonstrable agronomic and ecological benefits. However, challenges remain in editing polygenic traits, managing off-target risks, navigating heterogeneous regulatory regimes, and ensuring equitable access. Realising the full potential of these tools requires integrating advanced genetics with sustainable soil and crop management, responsible governance, and trust-building with farmers and society. Coupled in this way, genetic approaches can support climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and socially acceptable agricultural systems.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Harnessing Genetic Innovations for Climate-Resilient and High-Yield Crops: A Pathway to Sustainable Agriculture

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月3日

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  • Xu Qiao,
  • Abdul Waheed,
  • Cui Dong,
  • Aishajiang Aili,
  • Murad Muhammad,
  • Hailiang Xu

摘要

Background

Achieving sustainable crop yield improvement is essential to address the dual challenges of climate change and global population growth. Genetic innovations offer powerful tools to enhance plant productivity, resilience, and resource-use efficiency, but their deployment must be aligned with the functioning of soil–plant systems and the constraints of diverse agroecosystems.

Scope This review synthesises current genetic strategies for crop improvement, including traditional breeding, marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and modern biotechnologies such as CRISPR–Cas gene editing and synthetic biology. We highlight how advances in high-throughput phenotyping, genome sequencing, and AI-driven predictive breeding accelerate the discovery and selection of complex agronomic traits, including drought tolerance, nutrient-use efficiency, and pest and disease resistance. We further examine the roles of gene–environment interactions and epigenetic regulation in shaping trait expression and yield stability across variable environments. Particular attention is given to the development of nutrient-efficient and climate-resilient cultivars and their implications for soil processes, nutrient cycling, and agroecosystem sustainability, alongside discussion of regulatory frameworks, ethical considerations, and public acceptance.

Conclusions

Genetic innovations are poised to transform crop improvement by enabling more precise and rapid manipulation of complex traits, with demonstrable agronomic and ecological benefits. However, challenges remain in editing polygenic traits, managing off-target risks, navigating heterogeneous regulatory regimes, and ensuring equitable access. Realising the full potential of these tools requires integrating advanced genetics with sustainable soil and crop management, responsible governance, and trust-building with farmers and society. Coupled in this way, genetic approaches can support climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and socially acceptable agricultural systems.

Graphical Abstract