Biologist pioneers increased protein in staple crops, helps alleviate global protein shortage

Ling Li, an associate professor in the MSU Department of Biological Sciences, has spent more than a decade studying rice and soybean crops, with the goal of providing a new strategy for crop improvement to increase protein content. Her work offers a potential solution to combat global protein deficiency, a condition affecting millions, particularly children, contributing to cognitive impairments, stunted growth and susceptibility to diseases like Kwashiorkor, a severe form of malnutrition caused primarily by a deficiency in dietary protein.

“With rising concerns about protein deficiency and the environmental impact of animal-based protein sources, boosting plant protein content is crucial for improving both human health and sustainability,” Li said.

Li’s research — which includes more than 10 years of field work and field data to support her findings — focuses on optimizing the genetic expression of rice and soybean plants, resulting in increased protein levels and reduced carbohydrate content. Her novel approach uses gene editing to remove repressor elements from noncoding DNA sequences, unlocking the potential for higher protein production in crops. This strategy not only offers improved nutritional value but also promotes more sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the reliance on animal-derived proteins.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service determined Li’s gene-edited high-protein crops can be listed as nonregulatory soybean and rice, she said.

The findings provide a promising blueprint for enhancing crop productivity and nutritional quality through precise genome editing, with far-reaching implications for global food security and environmental sustainability.

Li’s research includes collaboration with the Bing Yang Lab at the University of Missouri and the Dan Voytas Lab at the University of Minnesota.