The Carlsberg Foundation has granted DKK19.5 million (€2.6 million) to the 'Crops for the Future – Tackling the challenges of changing climates' project.
The project is being undertaken by the Carlsberg research laboratory, and will attempt to improve food production in a sustainable manner.
Plant Genetics
Carlsberg is hoping the research will generate significant knowledge of plant genetics, essential for the breeding of plants in the future and form the basis of more sustainable production based on increased drought tolerance and improved disease resistance.
Chairman of the Carlsberg Foundation, professor Flemming Besenbacher, said increased knowledge of plant genetics is a "great need for the world to have better and more climate-tolerant crops".
Plant-Based Foods
Vice-president of the Carlsberg research laboratory Birgitte Skadhauge said that "due to strong population growth and the continuing climate change, the world is on a knife-edge in relation to the production of plant-based foods."
Skadhauge added that because of the "decrease in fertile agricultural land and agriculture in general", the development of crops suitable for the changing production conditions is vital.
The researchers will conduct an in-depth analysis of crops once placed under the stress conditions that arise during heat and drought.
The results will be used to identify specific genes important to drought tolerance, disease resistance, harvest yield, and nutritional value, and will allow for the locating of genetic variants that can improve said characteristics in the crop.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
