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Ensuring Food Safety Through CRISPR-Based Biosensors
Science in Action: Biosensing for Food Safety
Context: Food safety is an essential cornerstone of public health and nutrition. However, alarming estimates show that 1 in 10 people worldwide fall ill after consuming contaminated food, with 420,000 deaths reported annually due to unsafe food, according to global health data.
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- The economic toll is equally significant—low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) incur treatment costs of over US$ 15 billion annually, as estimated by the World Bank.
- In this landscape, emerging biotechnologies like CRISPR-based biosensors are poised to revolutionise how we detect, monitor, and mitigate foodborne illnesses.
A Global and Growing Challenge
- Foodborne diseases are an escalating global concern, intensified by urbanisation, shifting food habits, and climate change, particularly impacting LMICs.
- Bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Listeria, and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli are primary culprits.
- The recent outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in India was traced to C. jejuni, highlighting the severity of such pathogens.
- Contamination can occur at any stage of the food supply chain. Thus, robust surveillance systems are crucial for preventing outbreaks, safeguarding consumer trust, and maintaining trade integrity.
The Role of Surveillance Technologies: WGS and NGS
- Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) are powerful tools endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for detecting foodborne pathogens with high precision. WGS enables the tracking of outbreak origins and guides targeted corrective action.
- Yet, these technologies face limited implementation in the food industry due to high costs, complex infrastructure, extensive sample processing, and the need for technical expertise. This presents a critical opportunity for cost-effective innovations like CRISPR biosensors to fill the gap.
CRISPR: A Disruptive Biosensing Technology
- CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), initially known for gene editing, is now emerging as a cutting-edge biosensing tool.
- CRISPR-based biosensors can detect DNA or RNA from foodborne pathogens and produce clear readouts through fluorometric or colorimetric signals—often visible to the naked eye.
- The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recognised CRISPR as a transformative technology for food and health. The platform gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Sherlock™, a CRISPR-based test, received emergency approval from the U.S. FDA to detect SARS-CoV-2.
- Applications are rapidly expanding. In 2023, Casgevy, a CRISPR-based gene therapy, was approved for treating sickle cell disease. And in May 2025, the world witnessed the first personalised CRISPR treatment for a baby with a rare genetic disorder.
CRISPR in Food Safety: On the Frontlines
- Several CRISPR-based biosensors are in active research and development for food safety:
- A fluorescent CRISPR-Cas biosensor has been developed to detect Listeria monocytogenes, the pathogen behind listeriosis.
- A portable CRISPR biosensor capable of identifying E. coli O157:H7 in milk samples has been created, targeting a common but severe cause of foodborne illness.
- These devices offer high sensitivity, portability, and affordability, making them ideal for low-resource settings and field-based testing. They bypass the need for bulky lab equipment and are simple to use, making them suitable for real-time, point-of-use diagnostics.
India’s Bioeconomy and CRISPR Opportunity
- India’s burgeoning bioeconomy provides fertile ground for CRISPR-based innovations. With no explicit regulatory barriers against CRISPR-based biosensors—since they do not involve genetically modified organisms—they do not fall under the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). However, approvals from FSSAI (for food safety) and possibly CDSCO (for medical applications) are required.
- India’s bioeconomy has grown exponentially—from US$10 billion in 2014 to US$165.7 billion in 2024, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9%. The sector now contributes 4.25% to national GDP and aims to reach US$300 billion by 2030.
- Government programs like Bio-E3 and Bio-RIDE promote bio-innovation in food security and health.
- Institutions like BIRAC and C-CAMP support translational research and biotech entrepreneurship.
- Notably, Indian start-ups are developing indigenous CRISPR-based diagnostic platforms, including tools to detect antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hospital-acquired infections.
Challenges and Future Potential
- To fully realise the promise of CRISPR-based biosensors, several challenges must be addressed:
- Improving sensitivity and specificity
- Enhancing shelf-life and stability—especially for biosensors requiring cold storage
- Streamlining operational steps for faster diagnostics
- Developing multi-pathogen detection platforms
- Integrating AI, nanotechnology, cloud computing, and Raman spectroscopy for enhanced analytical performance
- The global biosensors market, valued at US$27.84 billion in 2023, is expected to reach US$56.54 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.2%. CRISPR technologies stand at the nexus of this growth, particularly in the realm of public health, food safety, and diagnostics.
From Proof to Practice: Towards Viksit Bharat
- The theme of World Food Safety Day 2025—‘Science in Action’—calls on researchers to transform innovation into implementation. CRISPR-based biosensors represent a powerful point-of-use solution for detecting and responding to foodborne illnesses, helping reduce the socio-economic burden they impose.
- As India works toward achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, CRISPR-enabled diagnostics and surveillance systems will be integral to building a self-reliant, health-secure, and tech-driven bioeconomy.
- With its thriving start-up ecosystem, world-class R&D infrastructure, and a growing emphasis on food safety, India is well-positioned to lead global efforts in next-generation biotechnology.
