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Plant breeding, genetics, and genomics has a critical role to play in 21st century agriculture, energy, and environmental stewardship. It has already brought us a long way in increasing crop productivity and in cultivating crops resistant to pests, pathogens, and drought. Centuries of plant breeding and selection for preferred traits has resulted in tremendous and positive impacts on food security and an improved quality of life. More recently, scientific advances in genomics and genetics are enabling rapid and targeted advances in plant improvement. But there is still much work to do - and many goals to achieve. Constantly evolving plant pests and pathogens, global climate change, and changing social needs make plant genomics, genetics, and breeding ever more critical.
Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics for U.S. Agriculture
Human life would be impossible without plants. Plants provide food, fiber, shelter, and medicines. In addition, plants perform a crucial role in sequestering critical greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, from the air we breathe. How can we feed and provide adequate nutrition to a growing world population? Can plants contribute to environmentally sound, economically, and socially sustainable sources of energy? How can agriculture-related pollution be reduced? Given these and other current challenges, plant breeding, genetics, and genomics research, education, and extension are more valuable now than ever before.
A Healthy, Well-Nourished Population
Plant science is the foundation of an affordable food supply. It makes possible affordable fruits and vegetables, abundant staple foods, and feeds for producing nutrient-dense meat and milk. Plant breeding, genetics, and genomics can deliver scientific advances that make preventive health care a part of daily diets.
A Safe and Secure Food System
Plant science is the knowledge that delivers robust crops capable of withstanding or recovering from unknown future pests, diseases, or climate changes that could threaten food security. Plant breeding, genetics, and genomics will provide the food reserves that allow governments to meet global food security emergencies.
An Agricultural System That Can Compete in the Global Economy
Competitive agriculture requires continual access to efficient, high-quality crop varieties. Steady investment in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics is a way to ensure that the right varieties are ready at the right time, while adding value and competitive advantages for producers and countries.
Economic Opportunities for Rural Populations
Plant science is the avenue for delivering, in useable forms, the research advances that can add value to agricultural production or create new products. These advances would not reach the public otherwise. Plant breeding, genetics, and genomics will be the delivery technology for a thriving bio-based economy of renewable resources for energy and industry.
Harmony Between Agriculture and the Environment
Plant science can merge advances in environmental science to develop crops that provide specific environmental benefits, such as trapping pollutants and improving water and air quality. Plant breeding, genetics, and genomics allow countries like the United States to enjoy the benefits of soil, water, and wildlife conservation because of agricultural productivity that reduces pressure on natural resources.
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