Report on the Strategic Role of Hybrid Rye in Sustainable EU Agriculture

Introduction

Hybrid rye presents a strategic opportunity for the future of European agricultural policy, aligning closely with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a historically underutilised cereal, its potential to enhance sustainability, promote food sovereignty, and build climate resilience warrants objective evaluation. This report outlines the benefits, applications, and challenges of hybrid rye, with a significant focus on its contribution to key SDGs.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Hybrid rye’s characteristics directly support the achievement of several critical SDGs, positioning it as a valuable tool for sustainable food systems.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Hybrid rye contributes to food security and sustainable agriculture by:

• Enhancing the productivity of marginal land that is less suitable for other major cereals.
• Promoting local development and reducing dependence on imported raw materials for animal feed, thereby strengthening EU food sovereignty.
• Offering a resilient crop option that can diversify farm rotations and provide stability in the face of climate variability.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The cultivation and use of hybrid rye align with sustainable production patterns through:

• Reduced Inputs: It requires significantly fewer nitrogen fertilisers, crop protection products, and less water compared to other cereals.
• Lower Environmental Footprint: Its production generates a lower carbon footprint, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices.
• Local Supply Chains: Sourcing hybrid rye locally for animal feed, as promoted by initiatives like the Seed2FEED programme, shortens transport routes and supports local economies.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Hybrid rye is an effective tool for climate change mitigation and adaptation:

• Lower Emissions from Cultivation: The crop’s carbon footprint is approximately 20% lower per tonne than that of wheat or barley.
• Reduced Livestock Emissions: Incorporating rye into pig feed can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with pork production by an average of 20-30%.
• Climate Resilience: Its robust nature makes it well-suited to adapt to changing climatic conditions, ensuring more stable yields.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The crop supports terrestrial ecosystems by:

• Improving Soil Health: Its extensive root system helps maintain soil structure and health.
• Reducing Pollution: The reduced need for fertilisers and plant protection products minimises the risk of diffuse pollution into soil and water systems.

Applications in European Agriculture

Crop Production and Land Use

Hybrid rye is a high-performance crop that allows farmers to produce more with fewer resources. It is particularly effective on marginal lands where it can deliver strong yields without heavy chemical inputs. This characteristic makes it a valuable asset for diversifying crop rotations, reducing overall input costs, and lessening environmental pressure on agricultural land.

Livestock Feed and Animal Welfare

Hybrid rye serves as a credible and efficient local alternative to imported cereals for animal feed.

• Pigs and Poultry: It is highly effective in pig and poultry diets. The KWS 6-R system, which is ISO 14064-2 certified, demonstrates that rye-fed pigs are healthier, exhibit fewer signs of stress, have better gut health, and require less medication.
• Cattle: In beef cattle farming, its role is more nuanced. Due to its limited nutritional value compared to other sources, it is best used as a supplementary fodder to provide security during transitional periods or in years with low grass production, rather than as a replacement for high-quality fodder.

Challenges and Areas for Development

Despite its benefits, several obstacles must be addressed to maximize the potential of hybrid rye:

1. Agronomic Risks: The crop is susceptible to fungal diseases such as ergot (Claviceps purpurea) and fusarium, which require constant vigilance and management, although varietal progress has partially mitigated this risk.
2. Seed Dependency: Farmers cannot reuse seeds from second-generation hybrids (F2) without significant loss of vigour and yield. This creates a dependency on seed producers and increases annual operational costs.
3. High Seed Cost: The initial purchase price of hybrid rye seeds is higher than for other cereals, though this additional cost can be offset by a 30% reduction in sowing density and increased yields.
4. Limited Suitability for Human Consumption: The cereal’s high sensitivity to pre-harvest sprouting (measured by the Hagberg Falling Number) currently makes it unsuitable for breadmaking.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Hybrid rye is an underutilised resource that offers significant economic and environmental opportunities for the European Union. It represents a practical tool for achieving a balance between agricultural performance, environmental sustainability, and strategic food autonomy.

To better exploit its potential, the following actions are recommended:

• Strengthen Research and Innovation: European programs such as Horizon Europe should prioritise research into hybrid rye to overcome existing challenges.
• Develop Varieties for Human Consumption: A key research challenge for European public breeders should be to improve hybrid rye’s suitability for baking, potentially by introgressing genes from bread wheat. This would significantly expand its market and value.
• Promote Integration into Farming Systems: Policymakers should recognise hybrid rye’s role in meeting Green Deal objectives and encourage its integration into EU farming systems as a complementary crop to corn, barley, and wheat.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on hybrid rye connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting its potential to create a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agricultural system in the European Union. The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article focuses on enhancing food sovereignty, increasing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. It discusses how hybrid rye can ensure a stable food supply by reducing dependence on imported raw materials and making use of marginal land.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The text calls for investment in research and innovation to improve the qualities of hybrid rye, such as making it suitable for human consumption. This aligns with the goal of enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article emphasizes that hybrid rye requires fewer inputs like water, fertilizers, and crop protection products. This promotes the efficient use of natural resources and the reduction of chemical pollution, which are central to sustainable production patterns.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: A key theme is hybrid rye’s role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The article explicitly states that the crop has a lower carbon footprint, reduces greenhouse gas emissions in livestock farming, and is resilient to climate change.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The benefits of hybrid rye for soil health and its ability to enhance marginal land without heavy inputs contribute to the goal of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems and halting land degradation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion of hybrid rye’s benefits and potential, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.4 (under SDG 2): “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.”
   • Explanation: The article directly supports this target by describing hybrid rye as a crop that promotes “resilience and adaptation to climate change,” “helps maintain soil health,” and enhances productivity on “marginal land” with fewer inputs.
2. Target 9.5 (under SDG 9): “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation…”
   • Explanation: The author calls to “strengthen research and innovation within European programs such as Horizon Europe” and poses the challenge for breeders to make rye suitable for breadmaking, directly aligning with the goal of enhancing scientific research and innovation in the agricultural sector.
3. Target 12.2 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.”
   • Explanation: The article highlights that hybrid rye “needs less water… and it requires fewer fertilisers and crop protection products,” which is a clear example of promoting the efficient use of natural resources in agriculture.
4. Target 13.1 (under SDG 13): “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
   • Explanation: The article mentions that hybrid rye meets the priority of “resilience and adaptation to climate change,” making it a strategic crop for future-proofing European agriculture against climate-related challenges.
5. Target 15.3 (under SDG 15): “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.”
   • Explanation: The article’s points on hybrid rye’s ability to “enhanc[e] the value of marginal land” and “maintain soil health” contribute directly to this target by offering a method to improve land quality and make less productive land viable for agriculture.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several specific, quantifiable indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets, particularly in relation to climate action and resource efficiency.

1. Indicator for SDG 13 (Climate Action): Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
   • Mention in Article: The article quantifies the climate benefits of using hybrid rye. It states that the crop produces “around 20% less CO₂ per tonne than wheat or barley.” Furthermore, it specifies that by using rye in pig feed, “farmers can on average reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to pork production by 20 to 30%.”
   • Measurement: These percentages serve as direct indicators for measuring progress in reducing the carbon footprint of both crop and livestock production.
2. Indicator for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Reduction in Agricultural Inputs.
   • Mention in Article: The article repeatedly states that hybrid rye requires “fewer fertilisers and crop protection products” and “less water.” It also mentions a “30% reduction in sowing density” could offset the higher seed cost.
   • Measurement: While not always quantified with a specific percentage (except for sowing density), the reduction in the volume of fertilizers, pesticides, and water used per hectare or per tonne of yield can be measured to track progress towards more sustainable production.
3. Indicator for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Yield and Land Use Efficiency.
   • Mention in Article: The article mentions that hybrid rye “delivers strong yields” and can “enhanc[e] the value of marginal land.”
   • Measurement: Progress can be measured by tracking the yield of hybrid rye (in tonnes per hectare), especially on land previously considered marginal or less productive, thereby indicating an increase in overall food production capacity.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theparliamentmagazine.eu