Review: Improving global food security through accelerated plant breeding. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lenaerts, Bert; Collard, Bertrand C.Y.; Demont, Matty
• Is Part Of: Plant science. Volume 287(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: RGA rapid generation advance -- MAS marker-assisted selection -- DALY disability-adjusted life year; Food security -- Accelerated plant breeding -- Rice -- Rapid generation advance -- Technology adoption; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110207
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-9452

Abstract

Highlights: A shift in breeding mentality is needed to realise improved varieties' potential to increase food security. Information on markets, environment and climate, pre-breeding research and effective dissemination methods are needed too. Rapid generation advance has the highest adoption potential of all the accelerated breeding methods in the public sector. Foregone benefits from earlier adoption could have mitigated the long-term negative impact of hunger on human development. Postponing accelerated breeding technologies makes no economic sense and immediate adoption is economically optimal. Abstract: With an expected 9 billion people by 2050 and average income on the rise in the developing world, meeting future food demand will be a challenge. Climate change, urbanisation and land degradation are putting further pressure on the food supply. The multifaceted and self-reinforcing nature of these challenges calls for a fundamental transformation of the food system. In the past, crop improvement through breeding has been the major tool to lift people out of poverty and increase global food supply. To adequately address these food security challenges, new improved crop varieties need to be developed and reach farmers sooner as a partial solution. In this review, we focus on various proven conventional and biotechnological accelerating plant breeding methods that do not require genetic engineering or gene editing. We pay specific attention to the feasibility for implementation by national agricultural research systems in developing countries in the short term. We argue that postponing technologies that can accelerate breeding makes no economic sense and justify immediate adoption of accelerated breeding practices in the public sector. Considering a wide range of factors including the economics of accelerated breeding, we advocate the use of a method called rapid generation advance (RGA) as the most feasible method for accelerating breeding in the public sector.