The Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS) has undertaken an innovative approach by collecting samples of ancient plant DNA from around the world. The objective? Compare these millennial samples with the DNA of modern plants to understand the adaptation mechanisms put in place by nature over the millennia.
Professor Eske Willerslev, the evolutionary geneticist leading this research, explains: “Using ecosystem modeling, we can identify the combinations of species that have led to the most sustainable ecosystems in the past. » This approach could serve as a blueprint to create resilient food systems in the face of climate change.
The first results are particularly promising. Dr. Claus Felby, Senior Vice President of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, enthuses: “The initial results are breathtaking. We discovered how rice adapted to a much wetter climate around 8,000 years ago in China, down to the individual gene level. »
Captivating discoveries for tomorrow’s agriculture
The study of ancient plant DNA reveals essential information for the future of our agriculture:
- Adaptation of plants to past climate changes
- Evolution of soil microbiology
- Mechanisms of resistance to extreme conditions
These discoveries could allow a more targeted and rapid plant selectionwhile strengthening the resilience of crops to extreme weather conditions, such as droughts and floods, which are becoming more and more frequent with global warming.
The AEGIS project, supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Wellcome Trust to the tune of $85 million over seven years, opens up promising prospects for the agriculture of the future. Researchers can now study changes in DNA going back up to 50,000 years, or even millions of years for some samples.
A crucial issue for global food security
The importance of this research cannot be overstated. Subsequently, six major crops – rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soybeans and sugarcane – account for 75% of humanity’s plant food intake. Ensuring the survival and adaptation of these plants is therefore essential to maintaining our food supply network.
The following table illustrates the importance of these crops in our diet:
| Culture | Share in world food |
|---|---|
| Riz | 20% |
| Wheat | 18% |
| But | 15% |
| Potato | 10% |
| Military | 7% |
| Sugar cane | 5% |
Modern agricultural methods have long favored the selection of traits such as high yields to maximize profits and meet the demands of large food retailers. However, this approach may have hindered the natural ability of plants to adapt to climate change.
Studying historical genetic diversity could fill these gaps and help us develop more resilient crops. This approach is all the more crucial as global warming also threatens wetlands, essential for climate regulation and biodiversity.
By drawing inspiration from millennia-old plant adaptation strategies, scientists hope to create varieties capable of thriving in an ever-changing world. This green revolution could well be the key to sustainably feeding a growing global population, while preserving our planet for future generations.
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