Redesigning crop varieties to win the race between climate change and food security

Molecular Plant, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(10), P. 1590 - 1611

Published: Sept. 7, 2023

Climate change poses daunting challenges to agricultural production and food security. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, more frequent extreme events have already demonstrated their effects on local, regional, global systems. Crop varieties that withstand climate-related stresses are suitable for cultivation in innovative cropping systems will be crucial maximize risk avoidance, productivity, profitability under climate-changed environments. We surveyed 588 expert stakeholders predict current novel traits may essential future pearl millet, sorghum, maize, groundnut, cowpea, common bean varieties, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. then review the progress prospects breeding three prioritized future-essential each of these crops. Experts most priorities remain important, but rates genetic gain must increase keep pace with climate consumer demands. Importantly, predicted include targets also prioritized; example, (1) optimized rhizosphere microbiome, benefits P, N, water use efficiency, (2) performance across or specific systems, (3) lower nighttime respiration, (4) improved stover quality, (5) increased early vigor. further discuss cutting-edge tools approaches discover, validate, incorporate diversity from exotic germplasm into populations unprecedented precision, accuracy, speed. conclude greatest challenge developing crop win race between security might our innovativeness defining boldness breed tomorrow.

Language: Английский

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Data-driven, participatory characterization of farmer varieties discloses teff breeding potential under current and future climates

eLife, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Sept. 2, 2022

In smallholder farming systems, traditional farmer varieties of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) support the livelihoods millions growers consumers. NUS combine cultural agronomic value with local adaptation, transdisciplinary methods are needed to fully evaluate their breeding potential. Here, we assembled characterized genetic diversity a representative collection 366 Ethiopian teff ( Eragrostis tef ) materials, describing phylogenetic relations adaptation on landscape. We phenotyped for its performance, involving farmers in participatory variety evaluation. Our analyses revealed environmental patterns allowed us identify 10 clusters associated climate variation uneven spatial distribution. A genome-wide association study was used loci candidate genes related phenology, yield, farmers’ appreciation. The estimated genomic offset under change scenarios highlighted an area around lake Tana where cropping may be most vulnerable change. results show that approaches efficiently propel untapped into modern foster more resilient sustainable systems.

Language: Английский

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Chronicling digital teaching at a South African historically disadvantaged comprehensive university: navigating institutional culture for agricultural sciences academics

African Identities, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 19

Published: Jan. 13, 2025

Language: Английский

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Trait preferences and lentil varietal adoption in central Ethiopia: A multistakeholder approach

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 20(4), P. e0319152 - e0319152

Published: April 2, 2025

Agricultural technologies, including modern/improved crop varieties, are a critical measure for improving productivity, meeting food security needs, and bridging inequalities. This notwithstanding, adoption of some improved varieties in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) tends to be low, with factors such as limited information, poor access inputs, risk averseness cited reasons low adoption. Few studies SSA, Ethiopia particularly, examine the influence lentil trait preferences on adoption, ones that do only look at farmers’ perspectives who often treated homogenous group. is despite importance lentils subsistence growing market crop, fact diverse may determine among farmers. To address these knowledge gaps, this study used mixed methods approach involving multiple stakeholders (n = 808) understand gendered patterns varietal preferences, using an intersectional lens. The findings revealed rates women men alike due disease resistance, insufficient attention from breeding programs preferred processing consumer traits, well differentiated needs Paying serves inform gender-intentional improve income generation potential farmer groups. As such, we recommend sex-disaggregated data collection socially groups representatives order priorities along development suit different needs.

Language: Английский

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Drought stress memory in maize: understanding and harnessing the past for future resilience

Plant Cell Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 44(5)

Published: April 25, 2025

Language: Английский

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Citizen science informs demand‐driven breeding of opportunity crops

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 13, 2025

Societal Impact Statement Amid global challenges of food insecurity, poor nutrition, and climate change, neglected crops like amaranth are gaining renewed attention. We studied farmers' preferences for varieties across diverse geographical contexts to guide targeted breeding. Our results revealed significant variation in farmer preferences, emphasizing the need context‐specific breeding strategies. These findings can support development improved that meet local needs, expand economic opportunities—especially women—promote healthier diets, boost biodiversity. This work also offers a model participatory research on opportunity crops, informing inclusive agricultural policies sustainable strategies Africa beyond. Summary Opportunity known as underutilized species (NUS), offer benefits diversify systems with nutritious climate‐resilient foods. A major limitation incorporating these farming is lack varieties, which impedes farmers from accessing quality planting materials crops. The study explored how citizen science methods demand‐driven seed production NUS using leafy – hardy vegetable ‐ case study. identified market segments, particular attention gender social differentiation. used tricot approach conduct on‐farm trials 14 2,063 Benin, Mali, Tanzania. then analyzed traits varietal aggregate among segments farmers, cluster analysis. Farmers' overall were driven principally by plant survival, yield, leaf size, taste, marketability. Distinct (older women generalists, young specialists, older men specialists) preferred different depending business orientation. along their unique variety provide valuable information breeders enterprises, system development. lessons learned our exercise be applied enhance supply other elsewhere.

Language: Английский

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Just agricultural science: The green revolution, biotechnologies, and marginalized farmers in Africa

Elementa Science of the Anthropocene, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Contemporary agricultural development has changed in significant ways since the green revolution (GR). Its goals have expanded beyond national to achievement of environmental and social goals, and, notably, targeted gains for marginalized farmers. Moreover, advances molecular breeding tools used achieve such goals. This research examines a prominent biotechnology program, pest resistant (Bt) cowpea Burkina Faso, asks whether how this program can best its goal delivering benefits I argue that 2 substantially criticized assumptions GR-era development—the scale-neutrality seeds sufficiency expert technical knowledge—continue guide Bt project limit ability deliver The presence these guiding be located key programmatic decisions work at cross purpose project’s notably (a) choice parent variety favoring commercial producers, (b) an absence institutions extend adoption benefits, (c) lack meaningful farmer inclusion. case adds body shows biological innovations alone—what call “just science”—are not sufficient drive socially just outcomes farmers without accompanying innovations.

Language: Английский

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Innovative approaches to integrating gender into conventional maize breeding: lessons from the Seed Production Technology for Africa project

Frontiers in Sociology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: Sept. 19, 2023

The integration of gender concerns in crop breeding programs aims to improve the suitability and appeal new varieties both women men, response about unequal adoption improved seed. However, few conventional have sought center social inclusion concerns. This community case study documents efforts integrate into maize-focused Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA) project using innovation history analysis drawing on authors’ experiences. These included deliberate exploration potential gendered impacts technologies innovations project’s approach variety evaluation, culminating use decentralized on-farm trials tricot approach. Through this study, we illustrate power active respectful collaborations between breeders scientists, spurred by donor mandates address inclusion. Gender was further facilitated open-minded leaders allocation funding research. SPTA proved be fertile ground experimentation interdisciplinary collaboration around maize breeding, has provided proof concept larger projects seeking considerations.

Language: Английский

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Validating a novel genetic technology for hybrid maize seed production under management practices associated with resource‐poor farmers in Zimbabwe

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 9, 2024

Societal Impact Statement A hybrid maize seed production technology has the potential to reduce complexity of and increase quality. Here, we investigate impact this on yields when is recycled. Hybrid recycling a practice used by resource‐poor farmers as coping mechanism during drought years. Recycling produced using could provide small yet significant yield benefit they chose recycle. This study provides an example how social considerations can be incorporated into testing strategies new technologies ensure equitable benefits. Summary Understanding performance genetic in farmers' real‐world realities, especially those relevant farmers, often overlooked but essential was developed simplify sub‐Saharan Africa, thereby improving access high‐quality seed. Hybrids with segregate 50:50 for pollen‐producing non‐pollen producing are designated 50% (FNP). FNP higher low‐input environments. As remains common Zimbabwe, including among households, it important understand gains from technology. The assessed three scenarios on‐station on‐farm. extent types households over 3‐year period were also investigated. associated although not continually practiced across Yield retained under practices, albeit reduced. greatest only non‐pollen‐producing plants used. longer ears more kernels per ear. While reduces due inbreeding depression, years cannot afford plant only, conferred 116 kg ha −1 .

Language: Английский

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“Whose demand?” The co-construction of markets, demand and gender in development-oriented crop breeding

Agriculture and Human Values, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 40(1), P. 83 - 100

Published: July 27, 2022

Abstract Advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality in agriculture is a recognised development goal, also within crop breeding. Increasingly, breeding teams are expected to use ‘market-based’ approaches design more ‘demand-led’ ‘gender-responsive’ varieties. Based on an institutional ethnography that includes high-profile development-oriented initiatives, we unpack these terms using perspectives from political agronomy feminist science technology studies. By conceptualising the market as ongoing, relational performance made up of discourses, practices human nonhuman actors, trace how understood effective socioeconomic institution for soliciting demand, but becomes normative agenda. Construed demand variable, structural dimensions rendered less visible, which might strengthen rather than transform power relations’ status quo. On other hand, perspective broadens field vision not only gendered breeding, such crops traits falling outside sphere interest. putting studies into conversation, article contributes agronomy.

Language: Английский

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