Artificial Intelligence to Aid in the Selection of Understudied Crops for Food Security

Agriculture worldwide is currently facing serious challenges, including population growth and worsening climate conditions, which threaten the stability of food supply. Despite the existence of over 12,000 plant species that can be used for food, only about 30 species provide humanity with 95% of the calories consumed. This one-sided dependency creates a vulnerable and unstable food system.

This is reported by AgroReview

New Opportunities for the Agricultural Sector: The Role of Understudied Crops

Experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences propose changing this situation by returning to understudied yet promising crops. These plants are characterized by diversity, nutritional value, and resilience to local climatic conditions. Their integration into production can strengthen food security and enhance the resilience of agricultural systems to environmental changes.

Innovations in Selection: Artificial Intelligence and the DSAP Strategy

A team of researchers has developed an approach based on the use of artificial intelligence to optimize selection and unlock the potential of underutilized crops. This includes plants such as fonio, teff, and cowpea, as well as various regional vegetables and fruits. Their implementation can not only increase resilience to climate change but also significantly expand agro-biodiversity.

“Incorporating crops such as fonio, teff, cowpea, and regional vegetables and fruits can strengthen food security, enhance climate resilience, and enrich agro-biodiversity.”

Successful implementation of these crops requires significant investments and the application of modern selection approaches. The proposed DSAP strategy, which combines genome editing, accelerated selection, and AI phenomics, allows for a substantial acceleration in the creation of new high-yielding and resilient varieties, overcoming traditional barriers in agricultural development.