Ambitious climate action calls for climate-optimised crops

As professor of crop genetics and biotechnology, I would like to propose that the development of new climate-friendly varieties should be promoted and included as a real climate tool.

At the universities, we do not produce the crop varieties that are found in the fields. That is not our job. We are located earlier in the chain and generate the knowledge about the crops that is later used in plant breeding and the development of varieties. Our research shows that a number of plant breeding tracks have considerable climate-relevant reduction potential. For example: We can increase protein digestibility by more than 20% by bypassing the inhibitors in grain that negatively affect the breakdown of protein in feed and food, including not least soy protein. The latest research also shows how the protein content in the wheat kernel can be increased without this resulting in a reduction of the kernel yield. Kernel yield is usually inversely correlated to the protein percentage in the kernel. A higher yield in the form of carbohydrates actually dilute the protein percentage of the grain kernel. However, new knowledge from one of our research projects indicates that the protein share in the wheat kernel can be increased at the same time as the grain yield is increased. The result is important in several respects. The grain gives better yields, and the nitrogen that is incorporated into the protein of the grain kernel is not available for emission. Even nitrogen cannot be present in two places at the same time! Other examples from the Section for Crop Genetics and Biotechnology demonstrate that plant breeding can significantly reduce phosphorus emissions to the environment and that plant breeding can significantly reduce the need for fungicides and chemical growth control. The above list of examples is not exhaustive but demonstrates that plant breeding is an extremely potent tool. Plant breeding can improve crop efficacy and adaptation and – at the same time – guarantee an even smaller environmental and climate footprint for the products produced.

Unfortunately, plant breeding is often forgotten as a climate tool. If one looks at the concrete results that can be presented, it seems incomprehensible that plant breeding is absent in the currently so topical Green tripartite agreement. With this editorial I would like to emphasise that breakthroughs in research into plant breeding can make a significant contribution to the benefit of the environment and climate. A responsible and ambitious climate action also calls for climate-optimised crops, and the Section for Crop Genetics and Biotechnology is ready to contribute today.