b'THE PERFECT SYNERGYHOW PLANT BREEDING IS ENABLING THE EU FARM TO FORK AND BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIESBY: STEFFEN NOLEPPAT he global population is projected to increase from an esti- overall productivity growth in EU arable farming, we analysed mated 7.7 billion people today to around 8.5 billion in 2030the impacts of plant breeding for the EU (still including the UK) and even 9.7 billion in 2050. This increase in populationand major arable crops. Our research findings are summarised alone will lead to a yearly one per cent increase in demand forin ten highlights:agricultural commodities. The global demand for agricultural1.On average and across all major arable crops cultivated products, however, is expected to increase at a much higherin the EU, plant breeding contributed approximately 67 per cent rate. Due to additional income, dietary shifts, and changes into all sectoral innovations since the turn of the millennium. This non-food demand, for instance for various industrial and energyis equal to a 1.16 per cent yield increase per annum and results producing processes, an annual demand growth rate for agricul- in manifold benefits for farmers and society at large.tural raw materials of about 2.0 per cent and more is plausible.2.Due to plant breeding in major arable crops in the Hence, global agriculture must provide considerably more outputEU over the past two decades, yields per hectare as well as to satisfy the future accelerating demand. arable production have increased. On average, crop production would have been over 20 per cent lower in 2020 without genetic MORE WITH LESS improvements since the turn of the millennium.This alone is already a substantial challenge. It is made even3.Higher yields per hectare increase the supply of pri-more difficult by the increasingly difficult environment in whichmary agricultural products on international markets. For exam-EU farmers must produce in the future. Climate change, vari- ple, an additional 53 million tons of cereals and almost eight ous societal objectives and numerous environmental constraintsmillion tons of oilseeds are currently produced in the EU due to narrow the alternatives to produce healthy food and other agri- plant breeding progress in the past two decades. This contrib-cultural produce. The growing societal demands are reflectedutes to stabilising markets and reducing price volatility.in the EUs Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. Better4.Plant breeding also improves the EU agricultural net inputs, as opposed to an increased amount thereof, are neededtrade balance. Without plant breeding progress in the past 20 to cope with these future challenges. For crop production, thisyears, the EU would have become a net importer of all major means that yields must be increased through efficient inputs.arable crops in 2020, including wheat and other cereals.Consequently, better machinery, better and less fertilizer, better5.Plant breeding in the EU is also indispensable for com-and less plant protection products and, of course, improvedbating hunger and malnutrition, as it improves world food secu-seeds must be employed on less agricultural land. rity. Given current European and global food baskets, genetic crop improvements in the EU over the past 20 years have con-CONTRIBUTIONS OF PLANT BREEDING IN THE EU tributed to the additional availability of food for far over 100 Our most recent research aimed to highlight major socio-eco- million people.nomic values and environmental benefits of plant breeding per- 6.Furthermore, plant breeding in the EU generates formed in the EU. More particularly, we answered the questionadditional economic prosperity by increasing the gross domes-if and to what extent plant breeding in the EU has contributed,tic product. The entire agricultural value chain benefits, from and still contributes, to increased yields and production in arableinput suppliers to final consumers. In 2020 alone, genetic crop farming. These increases lead to improved market and tradeimprovements in EU arable farming since the turn of the mil-conditions, increased world food supply, higher economic pros- lennium have generated additional social welfare of more than perity and social welfare, additional farm income and jobs, lowerEUR 14 billion in the agricultural sector and have added more land use, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the preservation ofthan EUR 26 billion to the GDP of the EU in total. biodiversity, and reduced water usage. 7.Plant breeding for arable farming in the EU also secures employment and increases farmers and agricultural TEN HIGHLIGHTS employees income. On average, approximately 6,100 EUR per Based on sophisticated modelling and calculation tools of agri- fully employed farmer are attributed to plant breeding over the cultural and environmental economics, as well as a comprehen- past two decades. This is approximately one third of the cur-sive assessment of plant breeding contributions to yield andrent arable farm income in the EU. Moreover, almost 90,000 jobs 18IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'