Bioengineering Photosynthesis to Drive Crop Improvement: Engineering Carbon-Concentrating Mechanisms, Kranz Anatomy, Chloroplast Mimics, and New Cellular Compartments

Global food security is increasingly threatened by climate change and population growth, necessitating enhanced agricultural productivity. Photosynthesis, the foundation of life on Earth, represents a crucial target for bioengineering. This chapter explores innovative strategies for enhancing photosynthetic efficiency, focusing on approaches that optimise natural carbon fixation mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on three key research areas: (1) leveraging biophysical carbon-concentrating mechanisms to integrate functional pyrenoids and carboxysomes into higher plant chloroplasts; (2) introducing CAM, Kranz anatomy, and C₄ photosynthetic traits into staple crops; and (3) engineering chloroplast genomes. Moreover, the chapter highlights breakthroughs in gene editing, cellular reprogramming, and synthetic biology. Emerging tools, such as spatial-omics and synthetic gene circuits, which are transforming conceptual approaches into commercial applications, are also discussed. This exploration of cutting-edge bioengineering approaches offers promising avenues for developing next-generation crops with improved photosynthetic performance, contributing to a more sustainable and food-secure future.