13764
10.30848/PJB2026-12(2)
<p>
Perspectives on food security: increasing crop yields by improving photosynthesis</p>
Saqer S. Alotaibi
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The focus on the enhancement of photosynthesis – the process whereby plants turn light energy into chemical energy – is one of the research areas that has great significance for sustainable agriculture and global food security. The main method for converting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) into organic carbon compounds is the Calvin–Benson (CB) cycle, which is very important for the metabolism and the growth of plants. Among the enzymes involved in the process, 8 out of the 11 are dedicated to the regenerative ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), which is the molecule that accepts CO<sub>2</sub>. There is evidence from research carried out on a variety of plants that the regeneration of RuBP is a key factor in the enhancement of the process of photosynthesis. Also, by using omics technologies and synthetic biology, new pathways for optimizing or improving the process of photosynthesis and yielding more crops are being invented. The present review discusses the significant and effective developments and approaches focused on boosting the photosynthetic capacity and the uptake of CO<sub>2</sub> via the CB cycle enzymes, e.g., Rubisco, and genetically modifying such enzymes as sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBPA). </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">It recommends integrating emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and machine learning to maximize its potential for developing productive and sustainable agri-systems</span></p>
inpress
2026
58
12
1
9