In a bold stride towards reimagining agriculture, a recent opinion paper published in *Plants, People, Planet* advocates for a radical shift in plant breeding practices to support the agroecological transition (AET). This transformative approach, led by Myriam Adam of CIRAD, UMR AGAP Institut in Montpellier, France, aims to address pressing global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change by fostering crop diversification and empowering farmers through collaborative research.
The paper emphasizes the need for inter- and transdisciplinary, inclusive research to enhance plant and crop diversity while empowering farmers. “Achieving this transition requires responsible governance to co-design cropping systems and ensure sustainable, safe, and resilient agricultural systems with healthy nutrition,” Adam asserts. This participatory approach encourages collaboration between farmers and researchers to co-develop solutions that enhance crop inter- and intra-species diversity within cropping systems.
The commercial implications for the agriculture sector are substantial. By adopting a systemic, co-learning approach, the industry can deepen its understanding of the complex interactions between plant diversity, management practices, and socio-ecological contexts. This could lead to the development of more resilient and adaptable crops, better suited to diverse agroecological contexts and farming needs.
The paper calls for the establishment of collaborative networks, participatory methods, and appropriate experimental and modeling tools to support this enhanced plant diversity for AET. “Researchers and institutions must collaborate with farmers to co-design systems that prioritize context-specific solutions, sustainability, and diversity,” Adam explains.
The potential impacts on the agriculture sector are far-reaching. Enhanced crop diversity can lead to improved food security, safety, and resilience, addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges. Moreover, this approach could strengthen food systems, making them more adaptable to global changes and ensuring equitable access to knowledge and resources.
This research could shape future developments in the field by promoting inter- and transdisciplinary training for future researchers in plant breeding for AET. By embracing these integrative practices, the agriculture sector can advance plant breeding science, transforming sustainable food systems and strengthening food security and resilience.
In a rapidly changing world, this research offers a beacon of hope for a more sustainable and inclusive future for agriculture. As the sector grapples with the impacts of global changes, this transformative approach to plant breeding could pave the way for a more resilient and adaptable agriculture sector, better equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century.