Plant genetic resources for environmental renewal

As the world’s human population rises, environmental problems are intensifying. Climate change, particularly global warming, could bring about drastic changes in the location of the world’s agro-ecological zones and threatens to destabilize weather patterns, leading to an increase in the incidence of severe storms and droughts. Other widespread environmental problems include desertification, deforestation, erosion and the overuse of pesticides and other chemical inputs.

Agriculture is often seen to be in conflict with the environment and it is true that unsustainable agricultural practices have done damage to the environment. But farming does not have to be in conflict with nature. Plant genetic resources provide the raw material for breeding new varieties of crops and trees that can adapt to climate change. They can also provide the basis for new, more resilient production systems that are better able to cope with such stresses as drought or salinity and can reduce the potential for soil erosion. Genetic solutions to the challenges posed by pests and diseases can also help reduce the use of chemicals.

More and more industrialized countries are coming to recognize the environmental drawbacks of intensive, high-input agriculture. They are taking measures to diversify agricultural practices and to improve the efficiency of resource use. In Europe, one way in which this is being achieved is through providing incentives such as subsidies linked to the cultivation of traditional crops and landraces.

But a more environmentally friendly agriculture demands the use of varieties and species that can thrive with reduced fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals. This suggests a shift in emphasis in breeding programmes from yield alone towards an added emphasis on hardiness. Such a shift may require a re-thinking of crop-breeding strategies. Among many things, it will require that farmers and breeders have access to a wider range of genetic resources–including traditional varieties–as sources of useful genes and genotypes for new crop varieties.

Genetic diversity will supply useful genes, and diversity of species can provide alternative crops that offer options for agricultural diversification. Together, they can contribute to more sustainable agricultural systems that support development at the same time as maintaining environmental quality.

top	Other backgrounders