Genomics for food security and crop improvement
Shifting weather patterns, rising temperatures, and the spread of pests and diseases are putting crops at risk, threat- ening the livelihoods of millions of people and leading to global hunger. Josh Clevenger, PhD , and Alex Harkess, PhD , HudsonAlpha Faculty Investigators, are harnessing plant genomics to pinpoint genes linked to beneficial traits that can enhance plants’ resilience. Their research is improving key crops that are vital to sustaining our global food supply. THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL IMPACT OF PEANUT RESEARCH Because peanuts are an excellent source of plant-based protein and healthy fats, they are a nutritional and econom- ic lifeline for over a billion people worldwide, especially in regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. This global crop generates billions of dollars annually and supports the liveli- hoods of small family farms to multinational corporations. Like many crops, peanuts are vulnerable to pests, drought, and disease, farmers sometimes lose entire harvests and go without vitally needed income. For communities that rely on peanuts as a main food source, a peanut short- age or infected harvests can be life-threatening.
By identifying genetic markers for traits like disease resis- tance and higher yields, Dr. Clevenger and his team are helping to develop new peanut varieties that are better equipped to withstand changing environmental conditions and pests. Through their work with Alabama peanut farm- ers through HudsonAlpha Wiregrass and global partner- ships such as the Groundnut Improvement Network of Africa (GINA), Dr. Clevenger’s team is revolutionizing the global peanut industry and ensuring breeders from Alabama to Africa and Australia have access to genomic tools that are essential for success.
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AS OUR GLOBAL POPULATION GROWS, MILLIONS OF FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH FOOD INSECURITY. SECURING THE GLOBAL PEANUT CROP THROUGH PLANT GENOMICS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN REDUCING HUNGER AND EMPOWERS US TO FIND BREAKTHROUGHS THAT LEAD TO GROWING MORE FOOD TO FEED MORE PEOPLE.
JOSH CLEVENGER, PHD FACULTY INVESTIGATOR
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