Advances in rice synthetic biology: Toward a better staple crop and beyond

Summary

This narrative review synthesises recent developments in rice synthetic biology and their application to global agricultural and human health challenges. The authors document substantial progress across multiple engineering approaches—from genome editing and hybrid systems to metabolic pathway reconstruction and biofortification—positioning rice as a pivotal platform crop for synthetic biology innovation. The review outlines current capabilities in engineering enhanced nutritional quality, stress resilience, and resource efficiency, whilst noting emerging opportunities for rice to serve roles beyond food security through synthesis of high-value pharmaceuticals and therapeutic compounds.

UK applicability

Whilst rice is not a major UK crop, the synthetic biology approaches reviewed may inform UK plant science research and policy on agricultural innovation and food security. The review's emphasis on stress resistance and resource efficiency is relevant to UK efforts to develop climate-resilient food systems and reduce import dependency for staple crops.

Key measures

Advances in: multiplex genome editing capability; synthetic hybrid rice systems; apomixis induction; photosynthesis and nitrogen-fixation pathway engineering; micronutrient, pharmaceutical, and therapeutic protein biosynthesis in endosperm; yield; nutritional quality; stress resistance; resource-use efficiency

Outcomes reported

The review summarises recent advances in rice synthetic biology, including genome engineering, yield enhancement, nutritional quality improvement, stress resistance, and resource-use efficiency gains. It documents progress in multiplex genome editing, synthetic hybrid systems, apomixis induction, photosynthesis and nitrogen-fixation pathway reconstruction, and biosynthesis of micronutrients, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic proteins in the rice endosperm.

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