In this Root2Resilience podcast episode, we provide an introduction to plant breeding, exploring what it is and how it has evolved over the past centuries, as well as in recent years. We discuss the concept of pre-breeding and why it plays a crucial role in developing improved crop varieties. The episode also looks at where breeding material originates from and how environmental conditions influence breeding strategies. In addition, we highlight the work of the Root2Resilience project and its importance for shaping the future of plant breeding.

Key Topics Discussed

• What plant breeding is and how it works.
• The evolution of plant breeding over time.
• The role and importance of pre-breeding.
• Where breeding material comes from.
• Plant breeding within the Root2Resilience project.
• What plant breeding aims to achieve now and in the future.
• How environments influence plant breeding strategies.

Guests

• Klaus Oldach: KWS Germany – klaus.oldach(at)kws.com
• Joanne Russell: James Hutton Institute UK – joanne.russel(at)hutton.ac.uk

Moderated by: Nina Gallmann (FiBL)

Produced by: Nina Gallmann and Laura Kemper

Further information

• Learn more about Root2Resilience and stay up to date: www.root2res.eu
• Project on Cordis: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060124
• Project on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@root2res

Funding

Root2Resilience is supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no 101060124, by Innovate UK through the Horizon Europe Guarantee Scheme and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under contract number 23.00050.

Get involved

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network and subscribe to hear more from the Root2Resilience project. Together, we can help build a more resilient future for agriculture!