Climate change, biodiversity and food security are interlinked topics that require holistic approaches and toolboxes. Recent advancements in plant breeding innovation, including genome editing, have emerged as tools for improving the adaptation of crops to biotic and abiotic stresses. To expand their resilience to climate threats and mitigate their effects.
Local varieties and niche/orphan crops in Europe and Africa are valuable for a socioeconomic reasons, being normally cultivated by small and/or specialized farmers, but also represent a source of diversity for sustainable food systems. Innovative tools like genome editing unlocked opportunities for amendment of characteristics or challenges that may jeopardize their perdurance (e.g. yield instability, susceptibility to new plant health treats after new fungus, bacteria or pest outbreaks, etc) and offer opportunities for conservation of this diversity.
As a science-based company, Bayer aims to contribute to the use of innovation in complementary mainstreams that could contribute to the sustainable development goals of United Nations and the European Green Deal.
Science based policies and fit for purpose regulatory oversights will ultimately enable the opportunities that scientific advancements are offering to the society.
We are looking for ideas or proof of concepts that use genome editing in benefit of local varieties, particularly those regarded as “orphan” or “research-neglected, in Europe and Africa. We are aimed to generate a wealth of proposals that turns targeting modification of plants as a tool for maintain/increase diversity (environment) and/or producers benefits (socio-economic). Considerations related to the societal acceptance will be noted.
- Use of genome editing to overcome limiting factors in the cultivation of varieties that local varieties and niche/orphan crops that may contribute to the sustainable food systems (environmental or socio-economic aspects).
- The final genome edited plant should not contain foreign DNA. Recipient of the grant must comply with all local and national regulations.
- Final product developed by transgenesis or intragenesis
Bayer’s vision of #HealthForAll, #HungerForNone drives our need to strengthen innovation capabilities in all areas of agriculture. We know we can’t accomplish this alone, so we're always interested to hear about novel, early-stage scientific innovations that can contribute to feeding the world without starving the planet. You have our commitment to take a look, match with our R&D priorities and provide you timely feedback.
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