Ling Li, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Mississippi State University (MSU), has devoted over a decade to advancing crop improvement strategies for rice and soybean. Her research aims to increase protein content in these staple crops, offering a potential solution to the widespread issue of global protein deficiency, a condition affecting millions worldwide, particularly children. Protein deficiency leads to serious health problems such as cognitive impairments, stunted growth, and diseases like Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition caused primarily by inadequate dietary protein. Li’s research is timely given growing concerns about both protein deficiency and the environmental impacts of animal-based protein sources.
She emphasizes the importance of boosting protein content in plants, not just to improve human health but also to contribute to environmental sustainability. With growing concerns about protein deficiency and the environmental impact of animal protein sources, increasing plant protein content is important to improve human health and well-being. , says Lee. His ten years of field research focused on optimizing the genetic makeup of rice and soybean plants. Through gene editing, Lee’s team has developed techniques to increase protein levels and reduce carbohydrates. A new innovation in his work is the removal of repressor elements from non-coding DNA sequences, a process that allows high protein production in these products. This approach not only increases the nutritional value of rice and soybeans, but also promotes sustainable agriculture by reducing the dependence on animal proteins that contribute to the environment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has classified Li’s gene-edited, high-protein soybeans and rice as nonregulatory crops. This recognition signifies that her genetically modified crops meet safety standards and can be developed without strict regulatory hurdles, paving the way for broader agricultural use. Collaborating with leading research groups, including the Bing Yang Lab at the University of Missouri and the Dan Voytas Lab at the University of Minnesota, Li’s work presents a promising future for crop improvement. By employing precise genome editing techniques, her research offers a blueprint for enhancing both the productivity and nutritional quality of crops. These advancements have profound implications for global food security and environmental sustainability, marking a significant step forward in addressing global challenges related to health and nutrition.