Agriculture

Training Course on Genetic Engineering and Gene Editing for Crop Resilience

Introduction

In the face of climate change, food insecurity, and increasing global population, genetic engineering and gene editing have emerged as revolutionary tools to improve crop resilience, boost agricultural productivity, and ensure sustainable farming. Training Course on Genetic Engineering and Gene Editing for Crop Resilience provides a comprehensive understanding of modern biotechnological applications in agriculture, focusing on CRISPR/Cas9 and other advanced gene-editing techniques. Participants will learn how genetic innovations are reshaping the future of crop production by enhancing traits such as drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutrient efficiency.

The course is designed to build both technical competence and practical insights, equipping participants with the knowledge to implement, regulate, and evaluate genetic solutions in real-world contexts. By exploring successful case studies and the latest scientific breakthroughs, learners will gain the confidence to apply gene editing for sustainable crop improvement, align with regulatory frameworks, and contribute to global food system resilience.

Programme Curriculum

Training Course on Genetic Engineering and Gene Editing for Crop Resilience

Introduction

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Understand the fundamentals of genetic engineering and gene editing in agriculture.
Apply CRISPR/Cas9 and other gene-editing technologies for crop improvement.
Evaluate genetic traits that enhance climate resilience and yield optimization.
Analyze the ethical, regulatory, and biosafety aspects of gene-edited crops.
Identify target genes responsible for stress tolerance and nutrient use efficiency.
Design gene-editing strategies for disease resistance in crops.
Integrate genetic engineering into precision agriculture systems.
Interpret genomic data using bioinformatics tools for trait selection.
Manage intellectual property rights related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Build stakeholder support and communicate science-based benefits of gene-edited crops.
Develop field-testing protocols to assess genetic modifications.
Collaborate with international researchers and institutions in agri-biotech innovation.
Implement gene-editing interventions aligned with sustainable agriculture goals.

Target Audience

Agricultural scientists and researchers
Plant geneticists and biotechnologists
Agronomy students and academics
Government agricultural officers
Policy-makers in agriculture and food security
Biotech startup founders and innovation hubs
Seed company professionals and breeders
NGOs and extension officers promoting sustainable agriculture

Course Duration: 10 days

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Genetic Engineering

History and evolution of genetic modification
Key differences between genetic engineering and conventional breeding
Core technologies in genetic manipulation
Applications in major staple crops
Regulatory landscape overview
Case Study: Golden Rice – Nutritional engineering and public impact

Module 2: Gene Editing Technologies

CRISPR/Cas9 mechanism and workflow
TALENs and ZFNs comparison
Target site selection and validation
Editing efficiency and precision
Limitations and off-target effects
Case Study: CRISPR-edited wheat for fungal resistance

Module 3: Crop Stress Tolerance Engineering

Identifying genes for abiotic stress resistance
Engineering drought and salinity tolerance
Role of transcription factors and promoters
Laboratory to field transition
Evaluating edited crop performance
Case Study: Drought-tolerant maize in sub-Saharan Africa

Module 4: Pest and Disease Resistance

Genetic control of viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens
Engineering insect-resistant crops
RNAi technology applications
Biosafety and gene flow concerns
Long-term impact on ecosystem and biodiversity
Case Study: Bt brinjal in Bangladesh

Module 5: Nutritional Enhancement

Biofortification through gene editing
Genetic pathways of vitamin and mineral synthesis
Consumer health benefits and market acceptance
Regulatory and labeling issues
Future trends in functional foods
Case Study: Iron-fortified cassava in West Africa

Module 6: Bioinformatics and Genomic Tools

Genomic databases and gene annotation
Designing guide RNAs for CRISPR
Software tools for target validation
Data interpretation and visualization
Integrating omics data for trait selection
Case Study: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in rice

Module 7: Precision Agriculture Integration

Combining gene editing with IoT and sensors
Phenotyping for edited traits
Decision support systems
Site-specific farming approaches
Enhancing smallholder farmer productivity
Case Study: Precision biotech farming in Kenya

Module 8: Regulation and Policy

National and global regulatory frameworks
GMO vs gene-edited crop classification
Public perception and misinformation
Risk assessment and biosafety evaluation
Harmonizing policies for trade and innovation
Case Study: USDA’s regulation of gene-edited crops

Module 9: Ethics and Public Engagement

Ethical concerns in plant gene editing
Inclusive innovation and farmer rights
Gender and access to biotech tools
Community engagement strategies
Building public trust in GM crops
Case Study: Stakeholder dialogue in Nigeria's GM cowpea approval

Module 10: Intellectual Property and Licensing

Patents in gene-editing technology
Access and benefit-sharing
Licensing models for public research
Legal conflicts and resolution
Protecting indigenous genetic resources
Case Study: CRISPR patent wars and implications for developing nations

Module 11: Field Trials and Testing

Design of controlled field trials
Environmental risk assessment protocols
Data collection and statistical analysis
Monitoring edited traits across seasons
Reporting and compliance procedures
Case Study: Open-field testing of gene-edited tomato in Brazil

Module 12: Seed Systems and Commercialization

Seed multiplication and certification
Market readiness and value chains
Private-public partnership models
Farmer training and outreach
Ensuring trait stability across generations
Case Study: Hybrid gene-edited sorghum in Ethiopia

Module 13: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Resilience

Linking gene editing with SDGs
Enhancing crop adaptability to changing climates
Water use efficiency and soil health
Carbon footprint of biotech crops
Policy incentives for climate-resilient technologies
Case Study: Climate-resilient rice in Southeast Asia

Module 14: Innovation Hubs and Startups

Accelerators and biotech incubators
Funding and investment opportunities
Startup ecosystem in agri-biotech
Innovation pipelines and IP transfer
Collaboration with academic institutions
Case Study: African ag-biotech startup success stories

Module 15: Future of Plant Biotechnology

Synthetic biology in agriculture
AI and machine learning in gene discovery
Nanotechnology-assisted gene delivery
Global trends and foresight analysis
Preparing for next-gen gene editing
Case Study: Synthetic wheat genome assembly

Training Methodology

Expert-led interactive lectures
Hands-on lab and bioinformatics sessions
Real-world case study analysis
Group-based innovation challenges
Field visit or virtual simulations
End-of-course capstone project

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@fineskilltrainingcenter.org or call +254769199797

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to Fineskill Training Center account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.

Programme Fee

Duration: 10 Days

Method: Online or Physical

Online Price: $2,000

Physical Price: $3,000

Certification: Accredited Certificate

View Available Dates 📄 Download Course Outline (PDF)

Available Sessions

Location

Month

Year

Oct 19 2026

19 Oct — 30 Oct 2026

💻 Online / Virtual session

Online $2,000