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Exploring pathways for dryland food systems transformation: a stakeholder consultation report
No full text55 page
Celebrating Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative research odyssey from genomics to the field on his induction as Fellow of the Royal Society
No full textProfessor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground-breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource-rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape.1504-151
Seed market dynamics and diffusion of new wheat varieties in Bihar, India: a supply-side perspective
No full textAn examination of the dynamics of seed markets in Bihar, India, reveals a paradox—despite an influx of wheat varieties bred by public and private sectors and the proliferation of seed market networks in rural villages, older wheat varieties remain prevalent—necessitating a thorough investigation of the seed distribution system. Unlike most empirical studies that examine the adoption of new and improved crop varieties from a farmer's perspective, our study shifts the focus to the seed supply side. We analyse data collected from 200 private seed dealers who cater to the needs of over 163,000 farmers spread across 10 districts in Bihar. We use descriptive statistics alongside dealer-level and varietal-level regression models to examine the relationship between seed sales and varietal age. Findings indicate that the number of varieties available with a dealer (varietal richness) is positively associated with the number of seed buyers (dealer’s reach) and the total quantity of seeds sold. Private varieties are in demand despite their higher prices. Dealer-level models showed that varietal age affects neither the reach nor the sales, allowing older public-sector varieties to coexist with more recent private-sector ones. However, the varietal-level regression models show that dealers rank the new varieties higher as the ones being sold more. To explore the potential of private seed markets to reduce the proliferation of old wheat varieties that are more susceptible to evolving biotic and abiotic stress factors, we recommend strengthening the varietal registration and seed certification processes, implementing better seed traceability systems, and fostering public–private partnerships in variety development and seed dissemination. Investing in market experiments to incentivize seed dealers to engage in quality assurance can help refine strategies and ensure efficient and inclusive dissemination of promising wheat varieties
Quantitative trait loci and genomic prediction for grain sugar and mineral concentrations of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]
No full textDevelopment of high yielding cowpea varieties coupled with good taste and rich in essential minerals can promote consumption and thus nutrition and profitability. The sweet taste of cowpea grain is determined by its sugar content, which comprises mainly sucrose and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) including raffinose and stachyose. However, GOS are indigestible and their fermentation in the colon can produce excess intestinal gas, causing undesirable bloating and flatulence. In this study, we aimed to examine variation in grain sugar and mineral concentrations, then map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and estimate genomic-prediction (GP) accuracies for possible application in breeding. Grain samples were collected from a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population grown in California during 2016–2017. Grain sugars were assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Grain minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry and combustion. Considerable variation was observed for sucrose (0.6–6.9%) and stachyose (2.3–8.4%). Major QTLs for sucrose (QSuc.vu-1.1), stachyose (QSta.vu-7.1), copper (QCu.vu-1.1) and manganese (QMn.vu-5.1) were identified. Allelic effects of major sugar QTLs were validated using the MAGIC grain samples grown in West Africa in 2017. GP accuracies for minerals were moderate (0.4–0.58). These findings help guide future breeding efforts to develop mineral-rich cowpea varieties with desirable sugar content
Shaping India's climate future: A perspective on harnessing carbon credits from agriculture
No full textHuman activities are responsible for emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to global warming and climate change. As the world's second-largest producer of staple food and the third-largest emitter of GHGs, India has been witnessing an increase in demand for food and energy, resulting in increased emissions. Thus, to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2070, India must focus urgently on climate change mitigation. Its agriculture sector has the potential to transition from being a net emitter to a net absorber of GHGs by adopting sustainable farming practices such as zero tillage, laser-assisted precision land leveling, direct seeding of rice, intercropping, biochar application, use of solar energy, and more efficient management of irrigation water, soil nutrients, livestock feed, and manure. To incentivize climate consciousness, a voluntary carbon credit trading system could be utilized in agriculture, supported by a measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification platform. This system would also bring about social, environmental, and financial co-benefits for its stakeholders. Specifically, the agriculture sector could substantially reduce the country's annual emissions by 84% from 2019 to 2070. But to realize their potential, the carbon markets must overcome the limitations currently set by policy, economic, cultural, and biophysical factors.113–13
Evaluating nutritional yield patterns through diverse cropping systems to enhance nutritional security in the eastern IGP of India
No full textIn rural communities of eastern Indo Gangetic Plains (EIGP), having a restricted range of food choices presents major obstacles to maintaining nutritional health and overall well-being. Numerous families mainly depend on basic crops like wheat and rice, resulting in a repetitive diet that is deficient in vital vitamins, minerals, and proteins. As a result, communities, especially women and children, often experience malnutrition and deficiencies in like iron and vitamins. Preschool children's severe acute malnutrition has increased from 6.6% to 7.7%, which is putting them at high risk of the children (National Family Health Survey-3). To address these complex changes, the on-farm research was set up by the Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA) Initiative under CIMMYT with the partnership of CGIAR Institutes, JEEVIKA, and the Department of Agriculture in Nalanda district of Bihar, India, enhancing the nutritional diversity through cultivating diversified cropping systems.15 page
Situation report on Nepal’s agrifood systems: June 2024
No full textIn May, overall year-on-year inflation stood at 4.4 percent whereas the inflation in food and beverages was 6.3 percent in May 2024 in Nepal. Remittance in the first ten months of the current fiscal year amounted to NPR 1198.6 billion (USD 9 billion), which is a considerable 17 percent higher than the remittance in previous year during same period (in the US dollar terms). The increase in remittances may boost the disposable income of consumers, enhancing their purchasing power for food consumption, though inflation may dampen these effects to a lesser degree. The government of Nepal (GoN) has allocated NPR 27.9 billion (USD 208.4 million) for fertilizer subsidies in its budget for Fiscal Year (FYI 2024/25 (Nepali FY 2081/82), which account for 48.7 percent of the total budget allocated for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD). According to the MoALD, the annual demand for fertilizers is fulfilled through imports in min-June, while the remainder (i.e. 131,000 MT) is expected to arrive in Nepal by third week of June. These arrangements are meant to reduce the demand deficit to around 13 percent of the annual requirement. 1 During the same period, the fiscal policy from the government has lifted the VAT on imports of potatoes, onions and apples FY 2024/25 (Nepali FY 2081/82). This will potentially reduce the retail prices for the commodities in the near future.11 page
GWAS elucidated grain yield genetics in Indian spring wheat under diverse water conditions
No full textKey messageUnderpinned natural variations and key genes associated with yield under different water regimes, and identified genomic signatures of genetic gain in the Indian wheat breeding program. A novel KASP marker for TKW under water stress was developed and validated.AbstractA comprehensive genome-wide association study was conducted on 300 spring wheat genotypes to elucidate the natural variations associated with grain yield and its eleven contributing traits under fully irrigated, restricted water, and simulated no water conditions. Utilizing the 35K Wheat Breeders' Array, we identified 1155 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs), with 207 QTNs exhibiting stability across diverse conditions. These QTNs were further delimited into 539 genomic regions using a genome-wide LD value of 3.0 Mbp, revealing pleiotropic control across traits and conditions. Sub-genome A was significantly associated with traits under irrigated conditions, while sub-genome B showed more QTNs under water stressed conditions. Favourable alleles with significantly associated QTNs were delineated, with a notable pyramiding effect for enhancing trait performance. Additionally, allele of only 921 QTNs significantly affected the population mean. Allele profiling highlighted C-306 as a most potential source of drought tolerance. Moreover, 762 genes overlapping significant QTNs were identified, narrowing down to 27 putative candidate genes overlapping 29 novel and functional SNPs expressing (>= 0.5 tpm) relevance across various growth conditions. A new KASP assay was developed, targeting a gene TraesCS2A03G1123700 regulating thousand kernel weight under severe drought condition. Genomic selection models (GBLUP, BayesB, MxE, and R-Norm) demonstrated an average prediction accuracy of 0.06-0.58 across environments, indicating potential for trait selection. Retrospective analysis of the Indian wheat breeding program supported a genetic gain in GY at the rate of ca. 0.56% per breeding cycle, since 1960, supporting the identification of genomic signatures driving trait selection and genetic gain. These findings offer insight into improving the rate of genetic gain in wheat breeding programs globally
Improving hybrid rice breeding programs via stochastic simulations: number of parents, number of hybrids, tester update, and genomic prediction of hybrid performance
No full textKey message: Schemes that use genomic prediction outperform others, updating testers increases hybrid genetic gain, and larger population sizes tend to have higher genetic gain and less depletion of genetic variance Abstract: One of the most common methods to improve hybrid performance is reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS). Genomic prediction (GP) can be used to increase genetic gain in RRS by reducing cycle length, but it is also possible to use GP to predict single-cross hybrid performance. The impact of the latter method on genetic gain has yet to be previously reported. Therefore, we compared via stochastic simulations various phenotypic and genomics-assisted RRS breeding schemes which used GP to predict hybrid performance rather than reducing cycle length, which allows minimal changes to traditional breeding schemes. We also compared three breeding sizes scenarios that varied the number of genotypes crossed within heterotic pools, the number of genotypes crossed between heterotic pools, the number of hybrids evaluated, and the number of genomic predicted hybrids. Our results demonstrated that schemes that used genomic prediction of hybrid performance outperformed the others for the average interpopulation hybrid population and the best hybrid performance. Furthermore, updating the testers increased hybrid genetic gain with phenotypic RRS. As expected, the largest breeding size tested had the highest rates of genetic improvement and the lowest decrease in additive genetic variance due to the drift. Therefore, this study demonstrates the usefulness of single-cross prediction, which may be easier to implement than rapid-cycling RRS and cyclical updating of testers. We also reiterate that larger population sizes tend to have higher genetic gain and less depletion of genetic variance