Food system actor perspectives on future-proofing European food systems through plant breeding

Stetkiewicz, S.; Menary, J.; Nair, A.; Rufino, M.; Fischer, A. R. H.; Cornelissen, M.; Guichaoua, A.; Jorasch, P.; Lemarié, S.; Nanda, A. K.; Wilhelm, R.; Davies, J. A. C.

Abstract

Crop improvement is a key innovation area in the pursuit of sustainable food systems. However, realising its potential requires integration of the needs and priorities of all agri-food chain stakeholders. In this study, we provide a multi-stakeholder perspective on the role of crop improvement in future-proofing the European food system. We engaged agri-business, farm- and consumer-level stakeholders, and plant scientists through an online survey and focus groups. Four of each group’s top five priorities were shared and related to environmental sustainability goals (water, nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency, and heat stress). Consensus was identified on issues including considering existing alternatives to plant breeding (e.g. management strategies), minimising trade-offs, and addressing geographical variation in needs. We conducted a rapid evidence synthesis on the impacts of priority crop improvement options, highlighting the urgent need for further research examining downstream sustainability impacts to identify concrete targets for plant breeding innovation as a food systems solution.

Citation

Stetkiewicz, S., Menary, J., Nair, A., Rufino, M., Fischer, A. R. H., Cornelissen, M., …Davies, J. A. C. (2023). Food system actor perspectives on future-proofing European food systems through plant breeding. Scientific Reports, 13(1), Article 5444. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32207-1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 24, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 3, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 13, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 13, 2023
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 5444
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32207-1
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/19286948
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-32207-1
• Additional Information: Received: 10 June 2022; Accepted: 24 March 2023; First Online: 3 April 2023; : MC was employed by BASF during the study period. No other competing interests are known.