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[FILE IMAGE]: Dried-out branches are seen amongst caked mud.
A groundbreaking study in the genetics department at Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape could reshape how crops are protected in South Africa.
The study is in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council.
Scientists are using advanced genetic-editing technology to boost grapevine resilience against disease and drought.
A geneticist, Dr Manuela Campa, says this breakthrough could strengthen crop resilience, given the increase in environmental pressures.
“We focus on crop improvement, and in particular, we focus on grapevines because they’re obviously the interesting crop for the region, the Western Cape and Stellenbosch in particular. And we want to use the latest technologies, in this case, genome editing with CRISPR, to induce mutations that can allow these plants to be more resistant and able to cope with climate change for sustainable agriculture. So, we look at different types of stresses.”
