About the project

Grass-based forage is central to Norway's dairy, meat, and farm economy, with permanent grasslands occupying 70–80% of the country's agricultural land. Rising temperatures due to climate change allow high-yielding perennial ryegrass to grow further north. However, its expansion, mainly as monocultures requiring extensive nitrogen fertilization, increases greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen leaching. Traditional breeding for high yield and low nitrogen input is time-consuming and costly.

The NitroGenEdit pilot project tests Norwegian perennial ryegrass cultivars for nitrogen uptake and its yield effects in hydroponic systems. It will also establish transformation protocols using CRISPR genome editing to target genes related to nitrogen transporters.

The project comprises three work packages:

Characterization of ryegrass genotypes under varying nitrogen levels (WP-1), development of CRISPR methods to modify nitrogen-regulating genes in two cultivars (WP-2), and dissemination of results to farmers, academia, and other stakeholders (WP-3).

Findings from this pilot project will enhance the understanding of nitrogen uptake in local cultivars and lay the foundation for larger projects with extensive field trials across Norway (lab to field). This initiative aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 2, 9, and 13.

• Background

  Challenges of Fertilizer Use in Norwegian Forage Grasslands

  Forage grasslands dominate 70–80% of Norway's agricultural land, providing essential livestock feed and supporting rural economies through ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, water filtration, and biodiversity. However, excessive fertilizer use, particularly nitrogen, leads to environmental and economic issues.

  Over-fertilization results in nitrate leaching, contaminating groundwater and posing health risks. Additionally, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent global warming agent. Rising fertilizer costs also burden farmers, making traditional practices increasingly unsustainable.

  Sustainable nutrient management solutions are urgently needed. Developing forage grasses with improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) through advanced genomic and biotechnological methods offers a promising pathway. These innovations can enhance soil fertility and reduce synthetic fertilizer reliance, benefiting both the environment and farmers.

  Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Sustainability

  Improving NUE in perennial ryegrass is crucial for reducing fertilizer dependency and environmental impacts. NUE reflects a plant's ability to convert available nitrogen into growth and biomass efficiently. High-NUE plants require less fertilizer, reducing runoff, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

  Hydroponic systems are ideal for evaluating NUE under controlled conditions, allowing precise manipulation of nitrogen levels to study plant uptake efficiently. These findings can accelerate breeding programs for nitrogen-efficient varieties.

  Genomic tools, like CRISPR-Cas9, further revolutionize NUE improvement. By targeting nitrogen-regulating genes, researchers can develop and select high-NUE varieties. Integrating genomics and advanced phenotyping into breeding strategies enhances the speed and precision of developing nitrogen-efficient forage grasses.

  Towards Sustainable Agriculture

  Advanced genomic and biotechnological approaches address fertilizer inefficiencies, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable agriculture. Improved NUE benefits farmers by lowering fertilizer costs and protecting the environment. These strategies contribute to global climate goals, ensuring agricultural productivity aligns with ecological sustainability.

  This integrated approach offers a balanced solution, paving the way for greener, more resilient forage grasslands in Norway.

• Objectives

  The main goal of this NitroGenEdit pilot project is to develop innovative perennial ryegrass varieties that require less nitrogen but deliver higher yield and quality using advanced CRISPR-mediated genome editing technology.

  This pilot project will lead to a larger research initiative where newly developed material can be tested under Norwegian field conditions with reduced nitrogen input (Lab to Field).

  The project aims to demonstrate the commercial potential of genome editing as a sustainable and ethical technology.

  These objectives will be achieved through the following secondary goals:

  • Characterize how Norwegian perennial ryegrass genotypes utilize nitrogen in hydroponic systems and how this affects yield and quality.
  • Develop CRISPR-mediated genome editing protocols to introduce or disrupt nitrogen-regulating genes, followed by detailed functional validation.
• Participants

  

  Odd Arne Rognli

  Professor emeritus

  Tel. 67232790

  Send e-mail

  WP3 leader

  External participants

  Kristin Håland Gylstrøm - Graminor