Significance of Plant Breeding Research

Abstract

Crop plants provide the material basis for an environmentally sound, sustainable and efficient agricultural and horticultural production. To meet the challenges of a changing climate, growing world population, fading natural resources and increasing consumer demands with regard to food quality, crop plants are needed which are better adapted to environmental conditions and human requirements. Plant breeding plays a key role to achieve this, and plant breeding research is needed to genetically enhance our crop plants by using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). Investigating PGRFA requires research activities which combine classical and biotechnological approaches and follow a long-term and foresighted perspective. The examination of genetic diversity provided by PGRFA, its utilisation and maintenance is a service of breeding research which can hardly be overestimated in its socioeconomic relevance. To provide this public service within the political framework set by the Federal Government is a task of plant breeding research in the scope of BMELV.