Plant Biology Advances May Help Feed The World, According To Leading Cell Biologists

Researchers pioneering a series of new discoveries in plant cell biology claim their work will help supply food and energy for the world's growing population.

Twelve of the world's leading plant biologists published a paper in the journal Nature detailing their work. In it they write that with global population predicted to rise at least 25 percent by 2050, the sustainable production of foods is critical to human health and environmental health. They write that as we near the sustainable limit of 15 percent of Earth's surface being used for crop production, innovative solutions are needed to produce more food on arable land.

One solution they propose is expanding arable land by breeding tolerance to salinized or acidic soils into plants. Success has already been shown by breeding salt-tolerant wheat varieties, reporting increasing wheat yield on salt-affected soils by 25 percent, according to a statement by the University of Western Australia.

Other research outlined in the paper includes how genetic manipulation of sugar transporters can be used to fight plant disease and ensure healthier crops.

"Our knowledge of the molecular nature and regulation of transporters has expanded vastly over the past twenty years," they write.  "As shown in the examples here, fundamental research into transport mechanisms in plants is leading to rapid innovations for improving yields, extending the range of arable land that can be used for crops and improving the performance of plants under stress.

"This research also points to new solutions for more sustainable use of limited soil nutrients and for enhanced human nutrition through biofortification."

The paper "Using membrane transporters to improve crops for sustainable food production" was published in Nature on May 1.  Its authors are leading plant biologists from institutions in Australia, the United States, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.