The role of plant breeding for global food security

Hunger is both a problem of production and distribution. Plant breeding should not be regarded as a silver bullet, but its contribution to global food security can be substantial. Given the continued growth of the world population and an increasing scarcity of natural resources, the important role of plant breeding in increasing production is widely acknowledged. Less appreciated is the fact OF that plant breeding can also be instrumental in easing the distribution problem. The majority of the undernourished people worldwide lives in rural areas, where they directly or indirectly depend on small-scale farming. Suitable new crop varieties - both conventional and genetically modified ones - can increase small farm incomes, alleviate poverty, and stimulate economy.-wide growth. Furthermore, biofortified crop varieties can reduce micronutrient deficiencies which are particularly widespread among women and children. These positive impacts notwithstanding, public investments into breeding research programs are being increasingly scaled down. This trend should be stopped and reversed. In addition, the private sector, too, should put a stronger emphasis on the interests of developing countries in specific fields of its breeding research.