Trend Gene-edited 'super trees' engineered to store more carbon

Summary

The report says genetic engineering has opened the way to a new generation of trees able to capture more CO2 and hold it for longer. Recent techniques such as CRISPR-Cas and base editing can alter plant DNA precisely without adding foreign genetic material, improving photosynthetic efficiency, speeding growth and encouraging deep roots that keep carbon in the soil for centuries. Genetic modification of trees is not new, but until recently it mostly served productivity, and its use is now shifting toward climate goals. Examples include Living Carbon's modified poplars and the Salk Institute's Harnessing Plants project, which seeks more suberin to slow decomposition. Some experts warn of ecological risks such as unintended gene spread, reduced biodiversity and higher water use. Managed with care, the report believes these trees could become one more tool to expand carbon sinks.