Back to Search Start Over

Roots, Tubers and Bananas: Planning and research for climate resilience

Authors :
Merideth Bonierbale
Maria I. Andrade
D. Harahagazwe
Jürgen Kroschel
Graham Thiele
Awais Khan
Michael Friedmann
Emile Faye
Bettina Heider
Olivier Dangles
Dorcus C. Gemenet
Mihiretu Cherinet
Roberto Quiroz
Source :
Open Agriculture, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp 350-361 (2017), Open Agriculture
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
De Gruyter, 2017.

Abstract

The CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) includes vegetatively propagated staple crops linked by common breeding, seed, and postharvest issues, and by the frequency with which women are involved in their production and use. RTB crops are the backbone of food security across the humid tropics in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and in more localized areas of Asia and Latin America. Around 300 million poor people in developing countries currently depend on RTB value chains for food security, nutrition and income. Climate change poses challenges which could undo progress in poverty reduction and markedly increase food insecurity. This article examines planning and research for climate resilience across RTB crops, with a particular focus on the contrasting potato and sweet potato cases in SSA. A six-step framework for climatesmart breeding is proposed: (1) downscaling climate change models and crop modeling; (2) identifying and understanding key climate change responsive traits; (3) breeding and varietal selection; (4) phenotyping and genomic research to accelerate gains; (5) developing management options for climate-smart varieties; and (6) deployment (seed systems). In summary, climate-smart breeding means we need to do what we already do but faster, better, and smarter.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23919531
Volume :
2
Issue :
1
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Open Agriculture
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....18ae0d95444c499f97c4ce2b90b1c5af