Breeding for resilient cropping systems
Goals
Resilient cropping systems amplify natural agroecological processes such as a plant’s defense against insects to enhance the growth and yield of crops. Moreover, these systems aim to decrease the use of pesticides and fertilizers. How can CropXR develop resilient breeding methodologies that align with such cropping systems? Agro tries to answer this question by making a crucial connection between research into resilient crops and research into the properties of more resilient agronomic systems in which crops are grown. What are the needs and roles of stakeholders in this system and how can their knowledge and skills/expertise be used?
Approach
The multi-actor and multi-disciplinary team of Agro examines which plant properties confer resilience in new cropping systems such as intercropping or strip cropping. Which different crop lines or genotypes perform well in combination with each other when grown in the field? To answer this, plant traits are monitored in these systems both above and belowground, to understand how crop plants respond to new growing environments. The research is coupled with measurements in controlled greenhouse conditions. Finally, stakeholder research with partners at different points along the food production chain will analyse current requirements and reveal opportunities for change.
Activities
The team measures the stress resistance of plants, for instance as a result of climate change, under highly controlled conditions in greenhouses. In the field, trait plasticity (which means how a plant adapts its growth to an environment) will be measured between cropping systems. In addition, for controlled testing in the field in Wageningen, an open field greenhouse (OFG) is being developed. Furthermore, the implications of strip cultivation for stakeholders are explored, as well as developing novel breeding strategies and approaches for intercropping.
Team
Work package leader Olga Scholten, Program Manager Plant Breeding, WUR
Benedikt Haug, researcher Plant Breeding, WUR
Guido van den Ackerveken, Professor and chair of Translation Plant Biology / Scientific director CropXR, UU
Guusje Bonnema, Associate professor Plant Breeding, WUR
Koen Beumer, Assistant professor Societal Implications of Science and Technology, UU
Max Wellens, PhD candidate, WUR
Peter Bourke, Assistant professor Plant Breeding, WUR