Open AccessGlobal agricultural intensification during climate change: a role for genomics
Author(s) -
Abberton Michael,
Batley Jacqueline,
Bentley Alison,
Bryant John,
Cai Hongwei,
Cockram James,
Costa de Oliveira Antonio,
Cseke Leland J.,
Dempewolf Hannes,
De Pace Ciro,
Edwards David,
Gepts Paul,
Greenland Andy,
Hall Anthony E.,
Henry Robert,
Hori Kiyosumi,
Howe Glenn Thomas,
Hughes Stephen,
Humphreys Mike,
Lightfoot David,
Marshall Athole,
Mayes Sean,
Nguyen Henry T.,
Ogbonnaya Francis C.,
Ortiz Rodomiro,
Paterson Andrew H.,
Tuberosa Roberto,
Valliyodan Babu,
Varshney Rajeev K.,
Yano Masahiro
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.12467
Subject(s) - agriculture , food security , climate change , biology , natural resource economics , productivity , resilience (materials science) , psychological resilience , agricultural productivity , adaptation (eye) , food processing , microbiology and biotechnology , crop diversity , crop yield , agroforestry , environmental resource management , agronomy , ecology , environmental science , economics , psychology , physics , food science , neuroscience , psychotherapist , macroeconomics , thermodynamics
Summary Agriculture is now facing the ‘perfect storm’ of climate change, increasing costs of fertilizer and rising food demands from a larger and wealthier human population. These factors point to a global food deficit unless the efficiency and resilience of crop production is increased. The intensification of agriculture has focused on improving production under optimized conditions, with significant agronomic inputs. Furthermore, the intensive cultivation of a limited number of crops has drastically narrowed the number of plant species humans rely on. A new agricultural paradigm is required, reducing dependence on high inputs and increasing crop diversity, yield stability and environmental resilience. Genomics offers unprecedented opportunities to increase crop yield, quality and stability of production through advanced breeding strategies, enhancing the resilience of major crops to climate variability, and increasing the productivity and range of minor crops to diversify the food supply. Here we review the state of the art of genomic‐assisted breeding for the most important staples that feed the world, and how to use and adapt such genomic tools to accelerate development of both major and minor crops with desired traits that enhance adaptation to, or mitigate the effects of climate change.