The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine identified 5 science breakthroughs to advance agriculture
Date:08-30-2019
The United States has been the world's leading agricultural producer for many years. Today the U.S. food and agriculture system faces formidable challenges and will be tested as world food production must double to meet the needs of a global population expected to reach 8.6 billion by 2030. In addition, natural systems in many regions are stressed by water scarcity, increased weather variability, floods, and droughts.
Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030 is released by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to identify ambitious scientific directions in food and agriculture. The project involved the scientific community in describing scientific opportunities with high potential to create knowledge breakthroughs that will lead to new paradigms for research and food production. Below are the five scientific breakthrough areas identified by NASEM that could have the greatest positive impact on food and agriculture:
1) Prioritize transdisciplinary science and systems approaches.
Understanding system interactions is critical for finding holistic solutions to food and agricultural challenges.
2) Create an initiative to more effectively employ existing and new sensing technologies.
Novel nanosensors and biosensors can continuously monitor environmental conditions for signs of stress.
3) Facilitate the use of new agri-food informatics, information technology, data science, and artificial intelligence in food and agricultural research.
Improved integration of datasets is needed to understand complex problems and facilitate data-driven management approaches.
4) Use genomics and precision breeding to improve traits in agriculturally important organisms.
For instance, the tomato metabolome was effectively modified for enhanced taste, nutritional value, and disease resistance.
5) Increase the understanding of the animal, soil, and plant microbiomes.
While research on the human microbiome is advancing rapidly, understanding of the agricultural microbiome is markedly more rudimentary.
The report also points out that the science breakthroughs alone cannot transform food and agriculture. Investments are needed for tools, equipment, facilities, and human capital to conduct cutting-edge research in food and agriculture. Innovation and adequate funding are crucial for making food and agriucutural system more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
Print this page. 