AI will accelerate the breeding of little-studied crops to increase food security

Modern agriculture faces serious challenges: a growing population and climate change threaten food security. Despite the fact that more than 12,000 plant species can be used for food, global agriculture relies on a limited number of crops. Approximately 30 plant species provide 95% of the calories consumed by humanity. This dependence makes the food system monotonous and vulnerable to external factors.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences offer a solution: the revival of little-studied but valuable plant species. These crops have high biodiversity, nutritional value and resilience to local conditions.

Unlocking the potential of crops with AI

Researchers have developed a strategy using AI to accelerate breeding and unlock the potential of crops. Incorporating crops such as fonio, teff, cowpea, and regional vegetables and fruits can strengthen food security, increase climate resilience, and enrich agrobiodiversity.

However, their widespread adoption requires investment and modern breeding methods. The proposed DSAP strategy, which combines genome editing, accelerated breeding, and AI phenomics, has the potential to overcome these obstacles, significantly accelerating the development of new high-yielding and resilient varieties.

Tags: AI