Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Safety

Plant biotechnology has emerged as a transformative field in the context of sustainable agriculture and food safety. Recent decades have witnessed significant achievements in understanding the genetic and molecular underpinnings of key plant traits, responding to challenges such as climate change, evolving pathogens, and the necessity to feed a growing population. Despite substantial progress, agriculture continues to face mounting pressure due to environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and rising global demand for both yield and nutritional quality. Research has demonstrated that advanced technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, gene editing, and synthetic biology, have opened new avenues to decode plant stress tolerance, improve resistance to pests and diseases, and optimize essential traits. Nonetheless, gaps remain in translating fundamental discoveries into deployable solutions—particularly in developing multi-stress-resistant, high-yielding, and nutritionally enhanced crops adapted for diverse ecological conditions. Further integration of omics-based approaches, artificial intelligence, and targeted breeding techniques will be crucial for mitigating the persistent challenges of sustainability and food safety.This Research Topic aims to advance scientific understanding and practical innovation by elucidating the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying key agronomic traits in crops. Specifically, it seeks to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, nutrient-rich, and high-yield crop varieties through modern biotechnological tools such as functional gene mining, genome editing, and multi-omics integration. The goal is to generate knowledge that informs the design of smarter, more adaptable crops, enhances their use efficiency for water and fertilizers, and reduces dependence on chemical inputs, thereby supporting global food security and sustainable agricultural systems.To gather further insights in the intersection of plant biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, and food safety, we welcome manuscripts that address a broad range of innovations while focusing on the following key areas:Elucidation of molecular mechanisms responsible for crop tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressorsApplication of genome editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9) in improving crop yield, nutrient content, and food safetyExploration of plant-microbiome interactions and their potential to enhance crop health and soil sustainabilityStrategies for integrating advanced biotechnologies with traditional agricultural practices for more resilient production systemsArtificial intelligence and multi-omics approaches to enhance crop breeding, resource use efficiency, and reduce pesticide/fertilizer relianceSocioeconomic and regulatory aspects of deploying biotechnology in agricultural productionWe welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological studies contributing to these themes. Topic editors: María José Giménez, Guanglian Liao Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79775/plant-biotechnology-for-sustainable-agriculture-and-food-safety