Biologist pioneers increased protein in staple crops, helps alleviate global protein shortage

Groundbreaking Research in Improving Global Nutrition and Sustainability

Introduction

A Mississippi State biologist’s groundbreaking research in improving global nutrition and sustainability is featured this week in New Phytologist, a leading plant biology journal.

Research Objective

Ling Li, an associate professor in the MSU Department of Biological Sciences, has spent more than a decade studying rice and soybean crops, with the goal of providing a new strategy for crop improvement to increase protein content. Her work offers a potential solution to combat global protein deficiency, a condition affecting millions, particularly children, contributing to cognitive impairments, stunted growth and susceptibility to diseases like Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition caused primarily by a deficiency in dietary protein.

Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

“With rising concerns about protein deficiency and the environmental impact of animal-based protein sources, boosting plant protein content is crucial for improving both human health and sustainability,” Li said.

Research Findings

Li’s research—which includes more than 10 years of field work and field data to support her findings—focuses on optimizing the genetic expression of rice and soybean plants, resulting in increased protein levels and reduced carbohydrate content. Her novel approach uses gene editing to remove repressor elements from noncoding DNA sequences, unlocking the potential for higher protein production in crops. This strategy not only offers improved nutritional value but also promotes more sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the reliance on animal-derived proteins.

Regulatory Approval

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service determined Li’s gene-edited high-protein crops can be listed as nonregulatory soybean and rice, she said.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The findings provide a promising blueprint for enhancing crop productivity and nutritional quality through precise genome editing, with far-reaching implications for global food security and environmental sustainability.

Collaboration

Li’s research includes collaboration with the Bing Yang Lab at the University of Missouri and the Dan Voytas Lab at the University of Minnesota.

About the Journal

New Phytologist is a leading international journal focusing on high-quality, original research across the broad spectrum of plant sciences, from intracellular processes through to global environmental change. The journal is owned by the New Phytologist Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of plant science. For more information, visit https://www.newphytologist.org.

About Mississippi State University

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.biology.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses the research on improving global nutrition and sustainability, specifically focusing on combating protein deficiency, which is connected to SDG 2. It also mentions the environmental impact of animal-based protein sources and the promotion of more sustainable agricultural practices, which are related to SDG 12. Additionally, the article highlights the potential implications for global food security and environmental sustainability, aligning with SDG 15.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and older persons.
• Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

The article’s content relates to Target 2.2 as it aims to address protein deficiency, which contributes to stunted growth and cognitive impairments in children. The research also aligns with Target 12.2 by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing reliance on animal-derived proteins. Furthermore, the focus on improving crop productivity and nutritional quality supports Target 15.1 by aiming to ensure sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 2.2.1: Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age.
• Indicator 12.2.1: Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP.
• Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but the research’s focus on addressing protein deficiency in children aligns with Indicator 2.2.1, which measures the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 years of age. The promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and reduced reliance on animal-derived proteins relates to Indicator 12.2.1, which measures material footprint and resource efficiency. The emphasis on improving crop productivity and nutritional quality can be linked to Indicator 15.1.1, which measures forest area as a proportion of total land area.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: eurekalert.org