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https://theconversation.com/wild-genes-in-domestic-species-how-we-can-supercharge-our-crops-using-their-distant-relatives-233437>
"Food security is shaping up as one of the biggest challenges we face globally.
In some places, access to food has steadily deteriorated in recent years, due
to wars, inflation and climate-driven extreme weather. The cost of basic foods
such as eggs and vegetables has made news worldwide.
Food price inflation is now ahead of overall inflation in over half the world’s
nations. The obvious answer is to grow more crops, especially the energy-dense
top six – rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soybeans and sugarcane.
Unfortunately, it’s getting harder to produce food due to conflict, more
extreme weather such as flash droughts and floods and a surge in plant diseases
and pests.
For farmers to keep producing in an uncertain future, we need better crops. But
much cutting edge agricultural research focuses on improving specific aspects
of a plant – better drought resistance, or a better ability to tolerate salt in
the soil. This may not be enough to cope with future shocks.
Our research suggests a way to accelerate the creation of stronger crops by
drawing on the full genetic strength of crop species."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
