Scientists make breakthrough discovery that could solve major problem in food supply: ‘The results are spectacular’ – Yahoo

Report on a Novel Molecular Solution for Agricultural Drought Resistance

A recent scientific development by researchers in Spain presents a significant advancement in agricultural technology, directly addressing critical challenges outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning food security, water management, and climate action.

1.0 Introduction: Addressing Global Food and Water Crises

Extreme weather events, notably drought, pose a severe threat to global food production, jeopardizing the achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). With global warming exacerbating water scarcity, innovative solutions are imperative to build resilient agricultural systems as targeted by SDG 13 (Climate Action). Research led by the Spanish National Research Council has yielded a molecule, inverted cyanobactin (iCB), designed to enhance the natural drought resistance of plants, offering a promising tool for sustainable agriculture.

2.0 The Challenge: Water Stress in Global Agriculture

The strain on global food systems is intrinsically linked to water availability, a core focus of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Current agricultural practices are highly vulnerable:

• Approximately 34% of global crop production relies on irrigation.
• An estimated 60% of this irrigated agriculture is located in regions experiencing high to extreme water stress, where demand for freshwater exceeds supply.

This vulnerability underscores the urgent need for innovations that improve water-use efficiency in agriculture, a key target within SDG 6, to ensure the sustainability of food production for a growing global population.

3.0 The Innovation: The Inverted Cyanobactin (iCB) Molecule

The development of iCB represents a targeted scientific innovation consistent with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The molecule was engineered to enhance plant resilience through a multi-pronged mechanism.

3.1 Mechanism of Action

The iCB molecule functions by mimicking abscisic acid, a natural plant hormone that regulates drought response. Its application via a foliar spray triggers several protective actions:

1. Regulation of Transpiration: iCB induces the closure of small pores on leaves, significantly reducing water loss through evaporation.
2. Activation of Stress-Adaptation Genes: Beyond regulating transpiration, the molecule activates a broader genetic response to drought, enhancing the plant’s overall resilience.
3. Enhanced Cellular Protection: iCB stimulates the production of protective molecules like proline and raffinose, which safeguard plant cells during stress and aid in the recovery of photosynthesis post-drought.
4. Stimulation of Root Growth: The molecule was observed to promote root growth towards moisture, improving the plant’s ability to access available water sources.

4.0 Potential Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

The successful application of iCB, particularly for staple crops such as corn, wheat, and rice, could have a profound impact on several SDGs.

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By protecting crops from severe drought, iCB can help stabilize food supplies, increase the productivity and resilience of small-scale food producers, and ensure sustainable food production systems.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The technology improves the water-use efficiency of crops, reducing the agricultural demand on stressed freshwater resources.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): iCB serves as a critical adaptation strategy, strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems to climate-related hazards like drought.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): By enabling agriculture in water-scarce environments and reducing pressure on land and water resources, this innovation can contribute to efforts to combat desertification and restore degraded land, as outlined in Target 15.3.

According to the research co-leaders, plants treated with iCB not only withstand severe drought but are also able to effectively recover photosynthetic function after the stress has passed, demonstrating a robust pathway toward more resilient and sustainable agriculture.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article directly addresses food security by focusing on a technological breakthrough to protect crops from drought. It explicitly states that “Extreme weather conditions like drought are threatening the global food supply” and that the new molecule could help in “stabilizing the global food supply,” which is central to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring food security.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article connects agricultural production to water scarcity, noting that a significant portion of global crop production occurs in “areas facing high or extreme water stress.” The developed molecule helps plants “retain water” by regulating transpiration. This directly relates to improving water-use efficiency in agriculture, a major component of sustainable water management.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The problem of drought is framed as a consequence of climate change, with the article mentioning that the situation “will only get worse as the planet continues to overheat” and referencing “increasingly unstable weather conditions.” The research provides a solution to adapt to these climate-related hazards, thereby strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems.

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

• Target 2.4 (under SDG 2)

  This target aims to “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, extreme weather, drought…” The development of the iCB molecule is a clear example of a resilient agricultural practice designed to help crops “withstand severe drought,” directly strengthening their capacity for adaptation.

• Target 6.4 (under SDG 6)

  This target calls to “substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.” The article explains that the molecule helps plants reduce water loss through transpiration. By enabling crops to use water more effectively, this innovation contributes directly to increasing water-use efficiency in agriculture, which is the largest consumer of freshwater globally.

• Target 13.1 (under SDG 13)

  This target focuses on strengthening “resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” Drought is identified as a major climate-related hazard threatening food production. The iCB spray is an adaptive tool that enhances the resilience of crops, allowing them to survive and recover from severe drought conditions.

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

• Indicators for Target 2.4

  The article implies indicators related to agricultural productivity and resilience. Specific metrics could include:

  1. Crop yield under drought conditions: The article mentions the potential for iCB to be used on “staple crops like corn, wheat, and rice” to stabilize the food supply, implying that a key measure of success would be maintaining or improving their yield during droughts.
  2. Rate of photosynthesis recovery: The article explicitly states that treated plants “are able to recover photosynthesis after stress,” which is a measurable biological indicator of a plant’s health and its ability to remain productive after a drought event.

• Indicators for Target 6.4

  The article implies indicators related to water consumption and stress. These include:

  1. Reduction in agricultural water use: By helping plants “retain water” and reduce transpiration, the technology’s effectiveness could be measured by the volume of irrigation water saved per hectare of treated crops.
  2. Change in the level of water stress: The article cites that “roughly 60% [of irrigated crops] are grown in areas facing high or extreme water stress.” A reduction in this percentage, partly due to more efficient water use by crops, would be a key indicator of progress.

• Indicators for Target 13.1

  The article implies indicators that measure the adoption and effectiveness of adaptive strategies. These include:

  1. Crop survival rate during severe drought: The statement that plants treated with iCB “withstand severe drought” points to the survival rate of crops as a direct measure of their enhanced resilience.
  2. Adoption of drought-resistant technologies: The successful application of the iCB spray on a wide range of plants, especially staple crops, would serve as an indicator of the implementation of adaptive measures to combat climate-related hazards.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yahoo.com