Genetic diversity found in wild wheat varieties may hold the key to preventing crop disease, building climate resilience, and reducing agricultural emissions, a new study has found.
The study, published Monday in the scientific journal Global Change Biology and led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, or CIMMYT, reviewed the impact of various global efforts to utilize ancient and wild relatives to increase genetic diversity in wheat varieties.
It found that although only a small fraction of the genetic resources found in wild and ancient wheat varieties have been utilized in modern breeding programs, they have already helped to improve heat and drought tolerance, prevent the spread of disease, and increase productivity to the worth of an estimated $11 billion.
About the author
Catherine Davison
Catherine Davison is an independent journalist based in Delhi, India, writing on issues at the intersection of health, gender, and the environment.
