A Hungarian research group has developed a gene editing process for producing new grain varieties

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The condition for improving the quantity and quality of food is the production of grain varieties with high yield and resistance to pathogens – they justified the research focusing on modern breeding processes, which also includes the patenting of new methods and their practical application. As a result of the development, the variety candidate submitted for state recognition is resistant to the network leaf spot fungal disease, which is spreading strongly in Europe. The introduction of the resistant barley variety could slow down the spread of the pathogen and mitigate the resulting damage – they explained in the statement.

Their research promotes the production of healthy food and proposes solutions to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and reduce environmental burdens in the “One Health” approach – the unity of plant, animal, human and environmental health. Their project, which will end in 2026, received a non-refundable grant of HUF 2.431 billion in the National Laboratories Establishment and Complex Development tender. The contracted amount provides 100 percent support for the development – according to the information published on the MATE website.

MTI