Breeding Technologies to Increase Crop Production in a Changing World

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 327; no. 5967; pp. 818 - 822
• Main Authors: Tester, Mark, Langridge, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 12.02.2010; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Agriculture - methods; Biotechnology; Breeding; Crop improvement; Crop production; Crop science; Crops; Crops, Agricultural - genetics; Crops, Agricultural - growth & development; Developing Countries; Environment; Environmental changes; Food security; Food, Genetically Modified; Genes, Plant; Genetic diversity; Genetic loci; Genetic Markers; Genetic Techniques; Genetic Variation; Genotype; genotyping; germplasm; global change; LDCs; Phenotype; Phenotypic traits; plant breeders; Plant breeding; Plant reproduction; Plants; Reviews; Selective breeding; Sustainable agriculture; Transgenic plants; Wheat
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1183700

To feed the several billion people living on this planet, the production of high-quality food must increase with reduced inputs, but this accomplishment will be particularly challenging in the face of global environmental change. Plant breeders need to focus on traits with the greatest potential to increase yield. Hence, new technologies must be developed to accelerate breeding through improving genotyping and phenotyping methods and by increasing the available genetic diversity in breeding germplasm. The most gain will come from delivering these technologies in developing countries, but the technologies will have to be economically accessible and readily disseminated. Crop improvement through breeding brings immense value relative to investment and offers an effective approach to improving food security.