With the rising world's population, the changing climate, and increasing environmental pressures, it's more important than ever to speed up the development of novel crops that produce more, are drought or heat tolerant and use fewer pesticides. Genomic advances have the potential to accelerate the development of crops with promising agronomic traits.
The Key Idea behind “Agricultural Genomics” or “Agrigenomics”
Agricultural genomics, also known as Agrigenomics (the application of genomics in agriculture), has and will continue to boost sustainable production and provide answers to the world's growing food problems. Farmers, breeders, and researchers can quickly find genetic markers associated with desirable traits using modern technology, directing cultivation and breeding decisions.
Furthermore, farmers all around the world especially in developed countries are adopting genomics to enhance and speed plant and animal breeding processes in cattle farming and other food crops. Farmers and scientists may learn more about the genes that influence growth rate, seed and fruit qualities, and sensitivity to climate change and disease agents by studying these plants.
Genomics in Agriculture: The Ongoing Effort of Scientists
Genomics has the potential to minimize the number of trials and failures in scientific research, potentially improving the quality and quantity of crop yields in agriculture. Linking traits to genes or gene signatures aids crop breeding in the development of hybrids with the best characteristics. Scientists utilize genetic data to find desired features, which they subsequently transfer to another organism. Scientists are learning how genomics may increase agriculture produce quality and quantity. Scientists may, for example, employ desired features to develop a new product or improve an existing one, such as making a drought-sensitive crop more drought-tolerant during the dry season.
In addition to that Changes in the environment have necessitated the development of higher-yield crops. In particular, if researchers can figure out which genes govern which diseases, they may create plants that are resistant to certain diseases.
Agrigenomics Aids to:
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Improve and create crops that are more resistant to pests, diseases, drought, cold, floods, and other elements that affect their growth.
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To grow huge amounts of food in a limited area and to develop more nutrient-dense foods
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To produce disease-resistant, high-quality cattle as well as a healthy herd. Genomics aids in the precise prediction of genetic merit, the fine-tuning of selective breeding, the enhancement of desired features, and the improvement of animal health and welfare.
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Aquaculture benefits from genomics because it allows for faster growth rates, improved disease resistance, and increased stress tolerance in aquatic species. Aquaculture supplies essential high-quality protein that feeds the world's population.
