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CRISPRcon 2020 Revisited: The Role of Funders and Philanthropists in Setting the Gene Editing Agenda
Investment in gene editing technologies plays a significant role in the technology’s evolution and its application to issues in health, agriculture, conservation and more. The final panel discussion of CRISPRcon 2020, conducted Oct. 29, focused on investment by exploring the current funding pathways and priorities for applications of gene editing, including who is creating them and what values are being used to evaluate their application and impact.
“Funders and investors have a really big influence on where technologies go. This is just a fact. One can regulate all you want and exert governance in various kinds of ways but if you have a big push through funding—from research and development to fusion—that’s just going to have a big impact on where technologies go and where gene editing will go,” said David Winickoff, head of the Working Party on Bio-, Nano-, and Converging Technology, who moderated the session.
“Now, the role of gene editing. If you look within on-farm investments and what the researchers are telling us, one of the key areas is, for instance, climate resilient crops. Gene editing has a powerful and critical role to play in that but it’s also critically important that on-farm investments such as extension are prioritized and the bigger system in terms of just being able to not only have access to improved seeds, for instance, but access to extension services, agronomic practices, access to functioning markets post-harvest handling, it is a big picture. So, gene editing is absolutely one of those things that has enormous potential…but it’s one tool of many,” said Browning.
“Genome editing and other relevant technologies are coming into compliment. Conventional breeding has done a lot on the continent but we do have areas where we need to up the game and consider different approaches where the conventional approaches have failed and that’s why the African Union considered that emerging technologies coming in should be harnessed by the local scientists. And we are very happy to see that there is a shift of the paradigm in the African countries today,” said Ouedraogo.
“Gene editing technology is really a part of the solution space for these kinds of typical public health challenges, but really understanding how these investments fit together, more modelling and more analysis would be needed to identify the kind of optimal mix,” said Cheever.
“I think that responsible venture capitalists will tell you, or at least I hope, that responsible VCs will recognize their own shortcomings. And also try not to monopolize the discourse and say ‘we’re the solution to all innovation.’ I just don’t think that’s the case. That’s why we have the Gates Foundations and all these other players,” said Seyedin-Noor.
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, became the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack is focusing on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
Shelby Coffey III is a distinguished journalist, media executive, and thought leader whose career has helped shape the landscape of American news and public discourse. Over several decades, Coffey has held some of the most influential roles in journalism, including serving as editor of the Los Angeles Times, executive vice president of ABC News, and deputy managing editor of The Washington Post. His editorial leadership extended to key roles as president of CNN Financial News, editor of the Dallas Times Herald, and U.S. News & World Report.
Jerry Steiner has spent 40 years involved in agriculture following growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He began his career with Monsanto, in multiple business leadership roles. From 2003-2013 he served as a member of the Executive team, as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs. He led the company’s global Government, Public and Industry Affairs teams across the 70 countries where Monsanto conducts business. This experience got Jerry connected to the Keystones centers work in agriculture. Key among his responsibilities were shaping the company’s public policy and building partnerships aimed at helping farmers around the world produce more food, while conserving valuable resources like water and energy. Two unique partnership that developed under his leadership were drought tolerant corn with 5 African countries, CIMMYT and the Gates foundation, and a building a sustainable business model in Brazil with the value chain leading to significant multi-company investment and soybean varieties that can protected themselves.
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Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first Black Member of Congress in Colorado history. In December 2022, Rep. Neguse was elected by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), becoming the first Coloradan to serve in a senior elected leadership role in the House in over 85 years. He serves on the Natural Resources and Judiciary Committees, and was also appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to serve as one of four Democrats on the prestigious Rules Committee. Rep. Neguse serves as Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, which he previously Chaired in the 117th Congress.
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