ICRISAT Secured CRISPR-Cas9 Licensing Agreement
The research organization gained access to gene-editing tools to improve crop resilience across Asia and Africa.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Biotech
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ICRISAT has secured a humanitarian licensing agreement for CRISPR-Cas9 technology from Corteva and The Broad Institute. This deal allows the organization to develop and deploy gene-edited crop varieties for smallholder farmers in Asia and Africa.
Why it matters
The agreement aims to strengthen food security by enabling the development of crops that can better withstand drought, heat, pests, and diseases. This initiative is designed to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and foster a more resilient global food system.
The agreement grants ICRISAT rights to use CRISPR-Cas9 for research and product development across pulses, millets, oilseeds, sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut.
The players
ICRISAT
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics is a non-profit organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and Africa.
Corteva
Corteva is a major agricultural chemical and seed company that provides technology and research support for global food production.
The Broad Institute
The Broad Institute is a biomedical and genomic research center that manages key intellectual property regarding CRISPR-Cas9 technology.
The details
By integrating genomic expertise with existing seed systems, researchers can accelerate the development of crop varieties with improved environmental tolerances. This technology allows for precise modifications that help farmers adapt to changing agricultural challenges.
Timeline
October 14, 2026: The gene editing licensing agreement was officially announced.
The Tech Race
The adoption of CRISPR-Cas9 represents a move toward genetic precision, replacing or supplementing slower, traditional cross-breeding methods. This positions ICRISAT to leverage cutting-edge genomic tools that were previously limited to large-scale commercial biotech entities.
While the technology is currently focused on agricultural research, it aims to stabilize food supplies for communities reliant on pulses and millets. Future benefits include more reliable crop yields, which can help maintain food availability and pricing for millions of consumers.
The takeaway
The integration of gene-editing technology into small-scale farming demonstrates a shift toward high-tech solutions for global food security. These advancements may eventually lead to more resilient varieties of common household crops appearing in regional markets.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Biotech.
Live Poll
Do you believe gene editing in agriculture will ultimately improve global food security?
