Key Takeaways:
- Novo Nordisk Foundation grants up to USD 21.1 million to CIMMYT for the CropSustaiN initiative.
- The initiative aims to develop new wheat varieties to reduce agriculture’s nitrogen footprint.
- The project could enhance global food security and environmental sustainability.
- The initiative leverages biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) to curb the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
- The research builds on successful collaboration with JIRCAS and involves multiple international research institutions.
Novo Nordisk Addressing Agriculture’s Environmental Impact
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a substantial grant of up to USD 21.1 million to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) for an ambitious initiative aimed at mitigating agriculture’s environmental impact. The CropSustaiN initiative focuses on developing new wheat varieties capable of reducing agriculture’s nitrogen footprint, which could significantly enhance global food security and environmental sustainability.
As the global population approaches 10 billion, the reliance on fertilizers to boost agricultural production has become increasingly critical. However, this century-long dependence has led to severe ecological stress, with nitrogen leaching into natural ecosystems and the release of greenhouse gases pushing the Earth’s environmental limits to a critical threshold.
Innovation in Nitrogen Management
To address these challenges, the CropSustaiN initiative aims to shrink the nitrogen footprint of agriculture by developing technology based on a natural process called biological nitrification inhibition (BNI). This groundbreaking approach leverages a plant’s innate ability to suppress soil nitrification through the release of natural compounds, potentially reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
“Success in this initiative could lead to a major shift in agricultural practices globally, benefiting both the planet and farmers’ livelihoods. In addition to using less fertilizer, cost for the farmer will be minimal because all the components are already in the seed. This initiative could, potentially, be extended from wheat cultivation to include other staple crops like maize and rice,” says Claus Felby, Senior Vice President, Biotech, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
BNI: A Revolutionary Mitigation Approach
BNI represents a genetic mitigation strategy that complements existing methods and could substantially decrease the need for synthetic fertilizers. “BNI could be a part of how we revolutionize nitrogen management in agriculture. It represents a genetic mitigation strategy that not only complements existing methods but also has the potential to decrease the need for synthetic fertilizers substantially. The mitigation potential of better nitrogen fertilizer management could be as impactful for the Global South as the Green Revolution,” explains Bram Govaerts, Director General, CIMMYT.
Rooted in a seed-based genetic strategy, BNI promises to curb the use and leaching of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution, without compromising wheat yield or soil vitality. Unlike synthetic nitrification inhibitors, BNI could offer a more scalable and cost-effective solution, potentially reducing nitrogen fertilizer usage by 20%, depending on regional farming conditions.
CropSustaiN’s Broader Implications
By harnessing the power of genetics in plant seeds, CropSustaiN aims to develop new wheat varieties that require significantly less nitrogen fertilizer. Using conventional breeding techniques, genes from wild crop relatives with better nitrogen use efficiency are incorporated. CIMMYT ensures that these breeding products are available to its global network of partners for the international public good.
The CropSustaiN initiative involves validating BNI efficacy across diverse climates and integrating the technology into mainstream agricultural protocols. While there are risks associated with the venture, the potential rewards—ranging from widespread BNI adoption to valuable insights into nitrogen management—position it as a pioneering initiative. Ensuring that the seeds developed through this program are accessible to all farmers without exclusive patent rights, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is leading an inclusive approach to agricultural innovation.
Building on Successful Collaboration
CropSustaiN builds on joint research by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and CIMMYT that began in 2015. The initiative has already yielded BNI wheat lines tested over three farming seasons, which are now poised for further development and global scaling, indicating a potential paradigm shift in agricultural practices.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has laid the groundwork for CropSustaiN by funding related BNI research at CIMMYT, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Aarhus University, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Copenhagen. This support has fostered an ecosystem of research innovation, setting the stage for significant advancements in sustainable agriculture.
Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash
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