Biotech has been around for 20 years. Why hasn’t it produced any nitrogen efficient crops yet, and what are its prospects for the future?
Several genes for NUE have been tested in transgenic plants since the 1990s, and some have shown promise. But no crops genetically engineered for NUE have been commercialized, and the public record suggests most such crops are at relatively early stages of development and face several possible hurdles to successful use. One possible barrier is that genes regulating nitrogen use likely have more complex genetic interactions with the plant genetic material than the few currently successful engineered genes, and therefore cause more genetic side-effects that often lead to undesirable agricultural properties. Genetic side effects may limit the success of these new genes, even when NUE is improved. Some NUE GE crops may be successful, but their prospects are uncertain at this time.
