Toward plant breeding for multicrop systems

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205792119
• Publication Date: 2023-03-27T19:21:56Z
• Authors: Virginia M. Moore; Tessa Peters; Brandon Schlautman; E. Charles Brummer
• Keywords: Monoculture; Intercropping; Cropping system

Increasing cropping system diversity has great potential to address environmental problems associated with modern agriculture, such as erosion, soil carbon loss, nutrient runoff, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. As other agricultural sciences, plant breeding primarily been conducted in the context dominant monoculture systems, little focus on multicrop systems. Multicrop systems have increased temporal and/or spatial include a diverse set crops practices. In order support transition breeders must shift their programs objectives better represent more including rotations, alternate-season crops, ecosystem service intercropping The degree which methods need change will depend question. Plant alone, however, cannot drive adoption Alongside shifts approaches, changes are needed within broader research, private sector, policy contexts. These policies investments that collaboration across disciplines development, leadership from both public sectors develop promote new cultivars.