C4FUTURE fortifying and enhancing resilience in C4 crops for current and future climate change adversities

2021

C4FUTURE (Fortifying and Enhancing Resilience in C4 Crops for Current and Future Climate Change Adversities) will implement Machine Learning, Genomic Prediction & Selection, and Genome-wide Association Studies, which show superior results.

C4FUTURE (Fortifying and Enhancing Resilience in C4 Crops for Current and Future Climate Change Adversities) will implement Machine Learning, Genomic Prediction & Selection, and Genome-wide Association Studies, which show superior results. These technologies will be supported by extensive phenotypic and phenomic crop characterizations including innovative techniques of root phenotyping and of canopy characterization in field by aerial and/or ground vectors, for responses to soil water ressources. The choice of two C4 cereal crops – maize and sorghum – is dictated by current climate change scenarios and the necessity to significantly and sustainably improve agricultural production, improve nutritional and health-promoting quality of the crop products, and ultimately improve human health, contributing actively to the United Nations’ Strategic Development Goals. The climate change scenarios predict a more dry, hot and carbon dioxide-laden Earth, in which C4 plants will be favored, meaning that humans will rely heavily on C4 crops like maize and sorghum. These crops are seeing strong resurgence in Europe for human food and animal feed production purposes. Therefore C4FUTURE is well poised to invest technological assets to enhance climate change resilience in these crops, in preparation for the predicted climate change threats.

Udfører/hovedansøger
Aarhus Universitet
Projektets samlede budget DKK 2.076.059,00
Bevillingsstørrelse tildelt
DKK 1.856.217,00