New wheat genome set to tackle future food shortages
UK scientists have recently reported an important breakthrough which could help to allay national fears over a future food shortage.
Wheat, one of the most important staples in the European diet, is in short supply at the moment as a number of countries have banned its export.
One of the biggest producers of wheat, Russia, has suffered severe droughts and wildfires in recent months, resulting in a reduced yield of crops. Floods in Pakistan and mudslides in China have had the same effect, serving to drive wheat prices higher. All of this has prompted worldwide worries about potential wheat shortages in the future.
Breakthrough
Scientists in the UK have now released draft sequences of the wheat genome, which they believe could be used to increase wheat yields and help farmers to develop new strains. These new strains are essential to securing wheat security, as Mike Bevan, director of the John Innes centre, explains:
Wheat, one of the most important staples in the European diet, is in short supply at the moment as a number of countries have banned its export.
One of the biggest producers of wheat, Russia, has suffered severe droughts and wildfires in recent months, resulting in a reduced yield of crops. Floods in Pakistan and mudslides in China have had the same effect, serving to drive wheat prices higher. All of this has prompted worldwide worries about potential wheat shortages in the future.
Breakthrough
Scientists in the UK have now released draft sequences of the wheat genome, which they believe could be used to increase wheat yields and help farmers to develop new strains. These new strains are essential to securing wheat security, as Mike Bevan, director of the John Innes centre, explains:
"Such varieties are crucial to meet increased demand from growing and more prosperous populations, confront the challenges of climate change and looming scarcities of land, water, and fertiliser, and avoid global food shortages and price spikes that particularly harm the poor,"
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