A Vision for Crop Improvement and Food Security in a Changing Climate

Registration link: https://agrilinks.org/events/vision-crop-improvement-and-food-security-changing-climate

An estimated 690 million people–approximately one out of every eleven people on Earth–are undernourished, and this number is expected to increase as the global population expands from 7.9 billion to a predicted 8.5 billion in 2030. To satisfy the growing demand for food, a projected 70% increase in global agricultural production will be required by 2050. This demand is compounded by the climate crisis, which is projected to increase global temperatures by 1-2°C, from the pre-industrial level, by 2050. For every 1°C increase, the global yields of the three major cereals– rice, wheat, and maize– are expected to decrease by 3-7%. The world’s rural poor, who depend on agriculture for their food and livelihood, will be the hardest hit.

Applications of genomics offer the promise of addressing these challenges by transforming breeding strategies, advancing genetic gains, and increasing the productivity of plant and animal species. This can only be achieved if the lessons learned from cutting-edge science are translated for development impact. Join this webinar to hear more about scientific opportunities to improve staple cereals in a changing climate.