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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Soil, Water & Air Resources Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330282
Title: Meeting global needs via genetics x environment x management

Author
item Hatfield, Jerry
item Walthall, Charles

Submitted to: Fluid Journal
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2016
Publication Date: 11/22/2016
Citation: Hatfield, J.L., Walthall, C.L. 2016. Meeting global needs via genetics x environment x management. Fluid Journal. 23:11-20.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Global food needs are projected to double by 2050 to feed a projected 9 billion people and the challenge presented to agriculture is whether this is feasible. These goals will be faced with an increasing variability in climate and more extremes in temperature and precipitation in all parts of the world, not to mention a decreasing land resource base in extent and quality. While there are many challenges to be met, focusing on the interactions of genetics x environment x management (G x E x M) offers the potential to feed the 9 billion. However, we must understand that a critical part of the management complex will be how we address nutrient management to ensure product quantity and quality and pest management to reduce the pressures on plants. We can meet this challenge; however, the paradigm of how we currently conduct research will not be rapid enough and we need to develop the transdisciplinary teams to represent each component of the G x E x M interaction.