A lack of scientists specialised in plant breeding has the potential to lead to dire food security implications globally, according to new research released out of Australia.
A joint paper between Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, Lincoln University in New Zealand and McGill University in Canada has painted a concerning picture about future capacity in the plant-breeding area.
Plant breeding is a multidisciplinary science that underpins the global production of food, animal feed, fuel and fibre.
Using detailed surveys in three Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, the study investigated the current state of the plant breeding sector across tertiary education, government and industry levels.
The findings highlight increasing concerns about the shortage of trained plant breeders, especially in the private sector, impacting food security and the economy. It provides valuable insights for decision makers toward strategic planning to address global food and fibre production challenges.
The paper found that to maintain the current level of agrifood, fibre and feed production, the skills shortage needs to be urgently addressed.
Lead author and CSIRO scientist Dr Lucy Egan said the shortage has been building for some time and has the potential to impact agricultural production worldwide.
“What we’re seeing is a whole generation of highly skilled plant breeding specialists who are now reaching retirement age, with a gap left as university graduates opt to focus on other areas of plant science including molecular biology,” Egan said.
“The implications of this shortage could be dire, affecting global food security and the economies of different countries around the world, including NZ and Australia.”
Lincoln University’s Dr Rainer Hofmann said the situation is similar in NZ.
“Agricultural production plays such a key role for our country, so it’s really important we start looking at strategies to slow this skills shortage,” Hofmann said.
“Our research looked at the current state of plant breeding across tertiary, government and industry sectors and found that decreasing skills in plant breeding will have flow-on effects for a wide range of agrifood and fibre sectors.”
The report has highlighted a number of responses to the skills shortage, including the need for a co-ordinated approach between the public and private sectors.
McGill University’s Dr Valerio Hoyos-Villegas said one of the keys in addressing the shortage will be the establishment of dedicated training facilities in various countries.
Suggestions for improvements include the establishment of the dedicated facilities, national funds for graduate fellowships and increased private sector involvement in plant breeding education.
The importance of adapting plant breeding courses to emerging scientific and technological advancements is highlighted, along with industry-relevant training and improved promotion of the sector.
“We also need more focus on graduate programmes in plant breeding and increased private sector involvement if we are to keep pace with emerging scientific and technological advances in the sector,” Hoyos-Villega said.
“Due to the long-term nature and the variety of agricultural industries plant breeding serves, it is important that funding and research become a matter of priority, with modernised plant breeding education top of mind.”
