Harnessing Diversity in Response to Climate Change and the Demand for Increase Agricultural Productivity

Farmers, especially in the developing world, will need a genetically diverse portfolio of improved crop varieties suited to a wide range of agroecologies and farming systems that are resilient to climate variability. This presentation will frame several of the critical issues plant improvement programs are currently addressing to ensure sustainable intensification of cropping systems to feed a population over 9 billion by 2050. We will draw on several examples from projects currently funded by the Gates Foundation and provide an update on our new strategy to address food security by leveraging genetic resources from international and national gene backs. The presentation will highlight critical challenges the international crop improvement community must address in order to keep pace with increasing global demand against the backdrop of climate change and dwindling natural resources.