Optimizing the world's beet yield with CRISPR / Cas9 technology

The sugar industry has not stopped growing in recent decades. Each year, approximately 160 million tons of sugar are produced, moving about 70,000 million dollars worldwide, according to the FAO. Each person consumes an average of 24 kilos per year and the FAO estimates that in the 2021-2022 season the production will be 207 million tons, 26% more than ten years before. Of the world's sugar production, around 80% is produced from sugar cane, while 20% comes from beet sugar. The latter is a chenopodiaceous, a plant that resists heat, cold and frost well when it comes to climate. However, when the climates are colder, beets reach their highest quality. Hence, the northern half of Europe is where most of the EU's sugar beet is grown. Beet seed companies need to adapt their production to such high demand, and for this, they must select the most profitable varieties. The main factor by which certain varieties are selected is for their white sugar yield per hectare. That is why key ...