By 2050, the global population is projected to exceed 9.5 billion, posing a formidable challenge to ensure food security worldwide. To address this pressing issue, mutation breeding in horticultural crops, utilizing physical or chemical methods, has emerged as a promising biotechnological strategy. However, the efficacy of these mutagens can be influenced by various factors, including biological and environmental variables, as well as targeted plant materials. This review highlights the global challenges related to food security and explores the potential of mutation breeding as an indispensable biotechnological tool in overcoming food insecurity. This review also covers the emergence of CRISPR-Cas9, a breakthrough technology offering precise genome editing for the development of high-yield, stress-tolerant crops. Together, mutation breeding and CRISPR can potentially address future food demands. This review focuses into these biotechnological advancements, emphasizing their combined potential to fortify global food security in the face of a booming population.

到2050年，全球人口预计将超过95亿，这对确保全球粮食安全构成巨大挑战。为了解决这一紧迫问题，利用物理或化学方法对园艺作物进行突变育种已成为一种有前景的生物技术策略。然而，这些诱变剂的功效可能受到多种因素的影响，包括生物和环境变量以及目标植物材料。本综述强调了与粮食安全相关的全球挑战，并探讨了突变育种作为克服粮食不安全不可或缺的生物技术工具的潜力。这篇综述还涵盖了 CRISPR-Cas9 的出现，这是一项突破性技术，为开发高产、抗逆作物提供精确的基因组编辑。突变育种和 CRISPR 结合起来有可能满足未来的食品需求。本综述重点关注这些生物技术进步，强调它们在人口激增的情况下加强全球粮食安全的综合潜力。