Exploring the Potential of Using CRISPR-Cas9 for Enhancing Nutritional Quality of Staple Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition remains a critical public health and development challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to the reliance on nutritionally limited staple crops. This study evaluated the effectiveness of CRISPR-Cas9–based genome editing as a biofortification strategy to enhance the nutritional quality of major staple crops. Using a mixed-methods experimental framework, targeted gene editing was applied to improve iron, zinc, and provitamin A accumulation while reducing antinutritional factors such as phytic acid. Quantitative analyses revealed substantial increases in micronutrient concentrations and bioavailability across edited crop lines, accompanied by stable or improved yield performance. Off-target mutation analysis confirmed high editing precision, and economic evaluation demonstrated superior cost-effectiveness relative to conventional breeding and transgenic methods. Graphical and tabulated results consistently showed strong correlations between editing efficiency and nutritional gain, validating the robustness of the approach. Qualitative assessment of regulatory and socio-economic contexts further indicated that CRISPR-Cas9 biofortification is scalable and well-suited to resource-constrained agricultural systems. Collectively, the findings establish CRISPR-Cas9 as a safe, efficient, and economically viable tool for developing nutritionally enhanced staple crops, offering a sustainable pathway to combat hidden hunger and improve food and nutritional security in Sub-Saharan Africa.