2023-09-24 09:30:00
According to FAO data, in 2022, almost three in ten people in the world will suffer from hunger. More than one in ten were severely food insecure. To solve this problem, “super-plants” could emerge in the near future.
Superplants: the solution to low crop yields
The biggest dilemma facing cultivation currently is low plant yields. Although the latter may have improved over time, the increase in water consumption has also increased drastically.
To face these challenges which have not progressed for decades, a “super-plants” project has been launched. Named “Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency” (RIPE), it focuses on genetic modification of plants.
Its head is Professor Steve Long from the University of Illinois. Furthermore, he says that photosynthesis conversion efficiency is key to achieve this feat. Indeed, this represents the ability of plants to efficiently convert solar radiation into biomass.
Thus, their main goal is to produce super-plants which will have high photosynthetic efficiency. This represents not only better production, but also a significant reduction in water consumption for crops.
The challenge of the complexity of photosynthesis
The challenge lies in the complexity of the photosynthetic process. This process involves more than 100 steps. Each is coded by a large number of genes. This offers millions of potential permutations.
To solve this problem, the research team used powerful computers. They created a digital replica of the photosynthesis process. So, this one is capable of exploring millions of possible variations.
Promising results with yield improvements thanks to superplants
With the tests carried out with these super-plants, the results are already promising. Improvements in performance more than 20% were observed in soybean plants in controlled environments. Furthermore, field tests are underway.
Part of the work also involves adjust how plants respond to changes in light levels. For later, this will allow faster adaptation.
Other initiatives to improve photosynthesis
Other initiatives, such as Wild Bioscience, also work to improve photosynthesis by genetically modifying plants. They work on the activation of genes already present in plants to make super plants.
This can increase the biomass of crop seeds. Those affected are wheat, soybeans and corn. This increase can exceed 20%. These could therefore potentially be commercially available. by 2030 or 2031.
Exploring new approaches with red light
At the same time, researchers are exploring new approaches. They are considering the use of red light for photosynthesis. This method could reduce energy consumption. However, there is still much to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Whether this will actually produce super plants or not.
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