Genetically engineered crops have been grown for more than 20 years, resulting in widespread albeit variable benefits for farmers and consumers. We review current, likely, and potential genetic engineering (GE) applications for the development of disease-resistant crop cultivars. Gene editing, gene drives, and synthetic biology offer novel opportunities to control viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, parasitic weeds, and insect vectors of plant pathogens. We conclude that there will be no shortage of GE applications totackle disease resistance and other farmer and consumer priorities for agricultural crops. Beyond reviewing scientific prospects for genetically engineered crops, we address the social institutional forces that are commonly overlooked by biological scientists. Intellectual property regimes, technology regulatory frameworks, the balance of funding between public- and private-sector research, and advocacy by concerned civil society groups interact to define who uses which GE technologies, on which crops, and for the benefit of whom. Ensuring equitable access to the benefits of genetically engineered crops requires affirmative policies, targeted investments, and excellent science.

中文翻译：

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基因组编辑，基因驱动和合成生物学：它们将有助于抗病作物，谁将从中受益？

转基因作物已经生长了20多年，尽管给农民和消费者带来了不同的收益，但仍获得了广泛的应用。我们审查了当前，可能和潜在的基因工程（GE）在抗病作物品种开发中的应用。基因编辑，基因驱动和合成生物学为控制病毒，细菌和真菌病原体，寄生性杂草和植物病原体的昆虫媒介提供了新的机会。我们得出的结论是，GE的应用将不乏应对抗病性以及农作物的其他农民和消费者优先事项的应用。除了回顾转基因作物的科学前景之外，我们还探讨了生物学家通常忽略的社会制度力量。知识产权制度，技术监管框架，公共部门和私营部门研究之间的资金平衡，以及相关民间社会团体的倡导进行互动，以定义谁使用哪种GE技术，哪种农作物以及谁受益。确保公平获得转基因农作物的利益需要采取积极的政策，有针对性的投资和出色的科学。