The rate of annual yield increases for major staple crops must more than double relative to current levels in order to feed a predicted global population of 9 billion by 2050. Controlled hybridization and selective breeding have been used for centuries to adapt plant and animal species for human use. However, achieving higher, sustainable rates of improvement in yields in various species will require renewed genetic interventions and dramatic improvement of agricultural practices. Genomic prediction of breeding values has the potential to improve selection, reduce costs and provide a platform that unifies breeding approaches, biological discovery, and tools and methods. Here we compare and contrast some animal and plant breeding approaches to make a case for bringing the two together through the application of genomic selection. We propose a strategy for the use of genomic selection as a unifying approach to deliver innovative ‘step changes’ in the rate of genetic gain at scale.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.3920

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.3920

BIOTECH & PLANT BREEDING

Biodiversity; Genetic Improvement; Plant Breeding; Plant Genetic Resources

Food Prices; Climate Change; Food Security; Animal Breeding; Plant Breeding; Biodiversity; Genomic Prediction

Nature Genetics