RCN: Enhancing Global Plant Transformation Capacity through Research, Training, and Partnerships

全球农作物产量需要增加至少50%，以满足不断增长的人口对粮食、饲料和纤维的需求。增加产量的需求与气候变化的时间相吻合，这使得作物生产更具挑战性。因此，了解植物如何工作变得比以往任何时候都更重要，特别是确定允许植物高产和适应不利生长条件的基因。鉴定基因功能的最有力工具是基因编辑，基因功能在改良植物中起着重要作用。然而，基因编辑可能过于昂贵，并且只能有效地用于少数作物。该研究协调网络的目标是使来自美国及其他地区的研究人员更容易交流信息和想法，以开发新方法来提高植物基因编辑效率。它还将作为一个信息的中央存储库，并组织培训机会，以确保新一代的科学家将可采取所需的基因发现研究，以提高农业生产力和美国生物经济。植物基因工程（转化）和基因编辑是植物功能基因组学研究和基于基因组学的作物改良的关键工具。目前的转化系统受到低效、复杂的方法以及缺乏转化生物学和技术的艺术和科学方面的培训和专业知识的显著限制。迫切需要在全球范围内提高植物转化能力。提高能力需要：（1）在转化技术方面取得研究进展;（2）加强转化生物学和技术方面的知识交流和培训。在NSF的支持下，建立了植物基因工程网络研究协调网络（PlantGENE），以促进研究并确保技术、知识和专业知识的共享。PlantGENE的目标是确保从研究和开发中获得的关于转化的现有知识和新信息在整个研究界迅速和包容地共享。为了实现这一目标，PlantGENE将1）建立一个由公共和私营组织的研究人员组成的全球网络，以共同应对当前的挑战; 2）促进合作和培训机会; 3）利用与国际研究机构建立的关系，将知识、技术和方法转移到服务不足地区的实验室; 4）分享经过验证的最先进的方法，开发培训模块，并提供由植物转化专家设计和领导的虚拟和现场研讨会; 5）与植物生物技术组织合作，如体外生物学协会（SIVB）和国际植物生物技术专家协会（IAPB）。所有项目信息和成果将提供给更广泛的植物研究界。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Worldwide crop production needs to increase at least 50% to meet the demands for food, feed, and fiber of a growing population. The need for increased production coincides with a time of changing climate that makes crop production more challenging. Hence, it has become more important than ever to understand how plants work, and specifically to identify genes that allow plants to have high yields and adapt to adverse growing conditions. The most powerful tool available to identify gene function, which plays an important role in improving plants, is gene editing. However, gene editing can be prohibitively expensive and can only be efficiently used in a handful of crops. The goal of this Research Coordination Network is to make it easier for researchers from across the U.S. and beyond to exchange information and ideas to develop new approaches to improve gene editing efficiency in plants. It will also act as a central repository of information and organize training opportunities to ensure that a new and diverse generation of scientists will be available to take on gene discovery research needed to advance agricultural productivity and the U.S. bioeconomy.Plant genetic engineering (transformation) and gene editing are critical tools for the advancement of plant functional genomics research, and genomics-based crop improvement. Current transformation systems are significantly limited by inefficient, complicated methods, and a lack of training and expertise in the art and science of transformation biology and techniques. There is a critical need for increasing plant transformation capacity worldwide. Improving capacity will require 1) research advances across transformation technologies; and 2) enhanced knowledge exchange and training in transformation biology and techniques. With NSF support, the Plant Genetic Engineering Network Research Coordination Network (PlantGENE) has been established to facilitate research and to ensure sharing of technology, knowledge, and expertise. The goal of PlantGENE is to ensure that existing knowledge and new information gained from research and development on transformation are rapidly and inclusively shared across the research community. To meet this goal, PlantGENE will 1) establish a global network of researchers from public and private organizations to collectively address the current challenges; 2) facilitate collaboration and training opportunities; 3) exploit established relationships with international research institutes to enable transfer of knowledge, technologies, and methodologies to laboratories in underserved regions; 4) share proven and state-of-the-art methods, develop training modules, and offer virtual and in-person workshops designed and led by experts in plant transformation; and 5) engage with plant biotechnology organizations such as the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB) and the International Association of Plant Biotechnologists (IAPB). All project information and outcomes will be made available to the broader plant research community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.