Boosting plants’ natural insect defense without compromising yield
Food and agriculture cohort
Team: Jennifer Brophy, Elizabeth Sattely, Arielle Johnson, Sarah Niehs
This project aims to reduce agricultural pesticide use – and the associated CO₂ equivalent emissions – by genetically enhancing plants’ natural pest defenses. The team aims to engineer crops to produce high levels of defensive compounds only in specific cells, avoiding the typical trade-off between growth and defense. This precision approach leverages the jasmonic acid pathway to boost insect resistance without sacrificing yield. The result could be high-performing, pest-resistant crops that reduce environmental harm and offer a more natural, consumer-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides and Bt-engineered plants.
Jennifer Brophy uses genetic tools to help plants adapt to climate change. Lately, she has focused her efforts on improving crops to reduce the need for chemical pesticides that can contaminate air and water.