Plant diseases pose a direct threat to the food security of any nation. Numerous plant pathogens are responsible for substantial yield losses in major food crops. Pathogens belonging to diverse groups possess specialized mechanisms of infection and can affect multiple crops under favourable conditions. In severe cases, pathogen infection can result in crop losses of up to 100%. Fungal pathogens are particularly notorious for causing destructive diseases. Several bacterial pathogens are also well known for causing serious infections in plants. Historically, major plant disease outbreaks have contributed to famines, causing widespread crop failure and severe disruption to human populations. Thus, plant diseases remain a major challenge to crop production, food security, and agricultural sustainability.

Aquaculture is expanding rapidly, but infectious diseases continue to threaten production, profitability, and animal welfare. At the same time, CRISPR technology is evolving beyond its original role as a programmable DNA-cutting system. Base editing and prime editing enable increasingly precise genetic modification. Meanwhile, Cas12- and Cas13-based systems offer new possibilities for pathogen detection and RNA targeting. This broader technological landscape is sometimes described as ?CRISPR 3.0?. However, the term is conceptual rather than a formally standardized scientific classification. For aquatic animal health, its importance may lie not only in genome editing, but also in rapid pathogen diagnosis, functional investigation of host-pathogen interactions, precision breeding and future pathogen-targeted interventions. CRISPR-based assays have already been demonstrated for important shrimp pathogens, and recent work has extended multiplex detection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei (EHP) to rapid, fieldoriented formats. Researchers are also investigating genome editing for disease-related traits in fish, while more advanced approaches such as prime editing and RNA targeting are emerging. However, most applications beyond diagnostics remain experimental and face challenges involving delivery, editing efficiency, ecological safety, animal welfare and regulation. CRISPR is therefore unlikely to replace conventional biosecurity and disease management practices. Instead, its greatest potential may be as one component of an integrated precision-health framework for aquaculture.

This article examines the structural and socio-economic transformation of fish vendors at the Bhandewadi, Mangalwari and Mayo Fish Market hubs in Nagpur. By analyzing the shift from the survival tactics of the COVID-19 era to the formalized infrastructure projects of 2026 and examining vendor income, product loss rates, hygiene practices, and digital adoption over six years, the study highlights how urban planning and national schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) are reshaping the informal food economy. Ultimately, it shows how smart city planning and modern cold-chain facilities have helped stabilize incomes and improve quality.