Genome- or gene-editing (abbreviated here as ‘GEd’) presents great opportunities for crop improvement. This is especially so for the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to more than half of the world’s growing population. A brief description of the science of gene-editing is provided with examples of GEd products. For the benefits of GEd technologies to be realized, international policy and regulatory environments must be clarified, otherwise non-tariff trade barriers will result. The status of regulations that relate to GEd crop products in Asian countries and Australasia are described, together with relevant definitions and responsible regulatory bodies. The regulatory landscape is changing rapidly: in some countries, the regulations are clear, in others they are developing, and some countries have yet to develop appropriate policies. There is clearly a need for the harmonization or alignment of GEd regulations in the region: this will promote the path-to-market and enable the benefits of GEd technologies to reach the end-users.
We propose a platform called “LCA-Multidimensional Map (LAMP)” to support companies and individuals aiming for CO2 zero emissions (CZEs) by efficiently conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) of their products and activities, collecting information necessary for CZEs, and developing CO2 reduction plans. LAMP is a multidimensional platform that supports the development of CZEs targets in cyberspace without temporal or spatial constraints. Using this software, LCAs can be conducted using existing database groups constructed in two and three dimensions in various sectors as well as data groups with temporal information, such as evolving and continuous records, and spatial information in a cross-sectional manner. Furthermore, based on the LCA results, CO2-emission-reduction plans can be formulated (extraction of alternatives), and their effectiveness can be confirmed through LCA again. As an example of how to use LAMP, we introduce the characteristics of LCA in horticulture, the second-largest source of CO2 emissions after livestock in the agricultural sector, along with examples of alternative plans for greenhouses, collaboration plans with other sectors, and basic methods for promoting CZEs in horticulture. Although this concept needs to be tested and validated in the future, it might encourage individuals or companies to cooperate in LAMP development or inspire them to advocate for more progressive ideas.