The march to using more gene editing tools continues, but what does it mean? And what about the most complex crop farmers raise – wheat? Inari, a Cambridge, Mass., based startup is charting a course to design and develop crops using gene editing tools. To get some insight on that work and where the industry is, we talk Catherine Feuillet (foo-YAY), chief scientific officer, about the work at the company.

Feuillet has long been involved in mapping plant and in her career led the global effort to sequence bread wheat. She explains that work, and why wheat is a special in the world of genetics. Short answer? It’s got a very complex genome.

She also discusses the changing attitude toward gene editing in the global regulatory world. In fact she’s even optimistic about wider acceptance of GMO crops. As for gene editing, she shares insight about changing attitudes in Europe, and this French scientist has some personal perspective on the issue.

Inari recently entered into an agreement with Australia’s InterGrain to develop new wheat varieties, which she discusses as well. While Inari is working on a range of innovations across soybeans, corn and wheat, her passion is wheat. And she discusses the unique opportunity that complex genome presents.

Want to know where plant breeding is going? Give it a listen.

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