Genomic breeding has the potential to accelerate the response to the food security challenges of the future.
"Genomic breeding is a process by which we can tease apart an organism's genetic code and find the genes responsible for plant performance" says John Rivers, co-author of the paper and a PEB PhD student performing his research at the ANU.
Breeding using genomic techniques could revolutionise plant breeding, providing farmers with more productive crops in a shorter amount of time.
The paper details the potential that genomics and "big data" computing holds for plant breeders, such as breeding plants for specific environments and accelerating the improvement of neglected crops. The publication also discusses what is now needed to gain the most from genomic breeding.
Simply put, it requires "more scientists collecting more, and better, data" says Rivers.
The FE2W Network will today host a Policy Forum Lunch and a public event, Feeding more than 9 Billion: Challenges and Choices by 2050, at the ANU in parallel with the release of the special issue publication in Food Security.
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