J. Glover, J. Reganold, L. Bell, J. Borevitz, E. Brummer, E. Buckler, C. Cox, T. Cox, T. Crews, S. Culman, L. Dehann, D. Eriksson, B. Gill, J. Holland, F. Hu, B. Hulke, A. Ibrahim, W. Jackson, S. Jones, S. Murray, A. Paterson, E. Ploschuk, E. Sacks, S. Snapps, D. Tao, D. Van Tassel, L. Wade, D. Wyse and Y. Xu
Abstract: Global food security largely depends on annual grain crops, including cereals, oilseeds, and legumes, which make up nearly 70% of human caloric consumption globally. Annual grain crop production; however, often compromises essential ecosystem services, which can lead to partial or complete loss of productivity, especially on marginal lands. Perennial crops generally have advantages over annuals in maintaining important ecosystem functions. Compared to their annual counterparts, perennial plants generally have longer growing seasons, deeper rooting depths, and intercept, retain, and utilize more of the natural precipitation. Their greater belowground productivity reduces erosion risks and maintains 30 percent or higher levels of soil carbon than those maintained by annual crops. Scientists have also documented 5-fold reductions in water loss and 35-fold reductions in nitrate loss under perennial cropping systems. Because they do not need to be replanted every year, perennial crops require fewer passes of farm equipment and lower inputs of fertilizer and pesticides. Past efforts to develop perennial grain crops were hindered by the lack of modern plant breeding technologies; however, new genetic technologies such as genome-wide selection will allow plant breeders to develop lines and varieties with greater efficiency in the process. Argentina, Australia, China, Sweden, and the United States have already initiated modern programs to develop perennial grain crops. With greater scientific capacity, plant scientists could soon have our first high-yielding perennial grain crops ready for production.
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