International Climate-Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium (ICRCGC)

Climate change poses a major challenge for global food security.  Climate will influence both yield and quality of crop plants. Application of genomics will be a key strategy to tackle this challenge. Development of crop varieties that will be productive in harsh and variable environments will therefore be imperative. Genomics-assisted breeding and transgenic approaches result in  a  better understanding of crop performance in a changing climate while supporting crop improvement programs. Characterization of available germplasm and exploration of wild crop genetic resources will greatly benefit from the utilization of genomics tools. Research needs to target appropriate traits, species and regions to achieve optimal impact. Coordination of international research efforts will be important to better define and advance the priority objectives. The formation of an International Climate-Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium (ICRCGC) is proposed as a forum and network to advance this important mission.