February 24, 2015
Scientists bank on next-gen genomics for better food crops
Genomics, supported by technological progress, could help resolve hunger issues through scientific developments such as nutrition-rich crops, said agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan.
Swaninathan was addressing the final session of the 5th International Conference on Next Generation Genomics and Integrated Breeding for Crop Improvement (NGGIBCI-V) in Patancheru, India.
The event, held at the International Crops Research for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), was attended by over 300 delegates from 30 countries. The key agenda was the cooperation and initiation of efforts to introduce next-generation genomics into improving crops and, thus, strengthening global food and nutrition security.
Genomics involves uncovering the genomic content of crops and giving scientists access to favorable genes which support strong varieties with critical traits.
Swaninathan''s viewpoint was supported by some of NGGIBCI-V''s attendants.
"It is more a question of better food," Dr. Howard-Yana Shapiro, the chief agricultural officer of MARS Inc., commented on the need for higher-quality food crops.
Asis Datta, founder of the National Institute of Plant Genome Research in India, also believes that future genomic sequencing methods can address rising food demands as the world population grows.
"This powerful tool can (significantly) increase our capacity to utilise genetic diversity and develop highly nutritious, stress-tolerant crop varieties faster and cheaper than conventional crop improvement practices," added David Bergvinson, the director general of ICRISAT.
According to Bergvinson, genomic technologies will prove critical in providing more nutritious food for nine billion people in the world by 2050, as climate change continues to be a concern.