Scientists make game-changing discovery that could help protect food supply from looming threat: ‘It is necessary’ – The Cool Down

Advancing Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger Through Climate-Resilient Wheat Varieties

Introduction: A Breakthrough in Agricultural Science for Global Food Security

• A recent study reveals that high-yield wheat varieties demonstrate significant resilience in adverse climate conditions, such as drought and extreme heat.
• This discovery presents a pivotal strategy for advancing Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.

The Challenge: Climate Change and its Impact on SDG 2 Targets

• Rising global temperatures and erratic weather patterns, central concerns of SDG 13 (Climate Action), are severely threatening global food production.
• Key staple crops, including wheat, have experienced reduced yields, jeopardizing food supplies for millions and hindering progress toward achieving zero hunger.
• This creates a critical need for agricultural innovations that build resilience against climate-related stresses, directly addressing SDG Target 2.4 to ensure sustainable food production systems.

Key Research Findings and Proposed Agricultural Strategy

• The study, published in Trends in Plant Science, challenges the conventional debate between breeding for high yield versus specific environmental adaptation.
• Researchers observed that wheat varieties selected for maximum yield potential in optimal environments also tend to outperform other varieties under stress conditions like moderate drought.
• A proposed two-stage strategy to support sustainable agriculture includes:

1. Initial selection of wheat varieties with the highest yield potential under ideal growing conditions.
2. Subsequent testing and adaptation of a smaller subset of these high-performing varieties in specific, local environments to ensure resilience.

Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action

• This approach offers a cost-effective pathway for the agricultural sector to adapt to the impacts of climate change, directly supporting SDG 13.
• By ensuring more stable crop production, the strategy enhances the resilience of food systems against climate shocks.
• According to Professor José Luis Araus, a co-author of the study, this strategy is more effective and profitable for farmers than developing crops solely for extreme conditions, contributing to the economic viability of farming communities and the goals of sustainable agriculture.

Conclusion: A Strategic Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

• The research provides a critical tool for policymakers and agriculturalists working to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• By focusing on high-potential wheat varieties, nations can bolster their food security, build resilience to climate change, and make significant strides toward realizing SDG 2: Zero Hunger.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Analysis

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

The article primarily addresses issues related to food security, agricultural innovation, and climate change adaptation. Based on this, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are relevant:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core theme of the article is “achieving food security” and enhancing crop production, which is central to SDG 2’s mission to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture. The research focuses on wheat, a staple food crop, and its resilience to ensure a stable food supply.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly links the need for resilient wheat varieties to “extreme climate conditions, such as prolonged droughts” and “oppressive heat waves.” It discusses adapting agricultural practices to the impacts of climate change, which directly aligns with the goals of SDG 13.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article is based on a scientific discovery by a “team of researchers.” This highlights the role of scientific research and innovation in developing solutions for global challenges like food security and climate change, which is a key aspect of SDG 9.

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

Several specific targets can be identified from the article’s discussion:

• 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, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.”
  • Explanation: The research on wheat varieties that “perform well in adverse conditions such as droughts and oppressive heat waves” is a direct effort to implement resilient agricultural practices to adapt to climate change and ensure food production.
• Target 2.a (under SDG 2): “Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries.”
  • Explanation: The article itself reports on the findings of agricultural research (“A team of researchers has discovered…”). This scientific study represents an investment in technology and knowledge to enhance agricultural productivity.
• Target 13.1 (under SDG 13): “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
  • Explanation: The development and selection of wheat varieties that can withstand “prolonged droughts” and “rising global temperatures” is a clear strategy to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector to climate-related hazards.
• Target 9.5 (under SDG 9): “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.”
  • Explanation: The article is centered on a scientific study published in “Trends in Plant Science” that aims to provide a “more cost-effective strategy for the agriculture industry.” This directly relates to enhancing scientific research to upgrade the technological capabilities of a key sector.

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

The article implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 2.4: Crop Yield under Stress Conditions.
  • Explanation: The article discusses how climate change has been “reducing crop yields” and how the new strategy focuses on selecting varieties with “high yields under optimal conditions” that also “perform well in adverse conditions.” Therefore, measuring and comparing the yield of these selected wheat varieties during droughts or heatwaves versus normal conditions would be a direct indicator of progress in implementing resilient agricultural practices.
• Indicator for Target 13.1: Performance of Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties.
  • Explanation: The article states that a “high-yielding candidate selected in the best environment will normally outperform varieties that have not been selected for their yield potential… under a wide range of conditions, such as moderate drought.” An indicator would be the rate of adoption and the performance (survival rate, productivity) of these climate-adapted wheat varieties in regions facing extreme weather.
• Indicator for Target 9.5 & 2.a: Investment in Agricultural Research.
  • Explanation: The existence of the study itself, published in a scientific journal, implies research activity. Progress could be measured by the number of research publications, patents, and the amount of public and private funding allocated to developing climate-resilient crops like wheat.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thecooldown.com