Crop productivity is a key measure of the yield of crops grown in a specific area within a particular timeframe. Enhancing crop productivity is essential for meeting global food demands, especially with rising populations and environmental challenges. Multiple factors impact productivity, including genetic characteristics, climate conditions, pest and disease pressures, and soil quality. Biotechnology advancements like genetic modification and CRISPR-based gene editing allow scientists to tailor crop traits, improving resistance to pests, tolerance to drought, and nutrient efficiency. Furthermore, precision agriculture optimizes resource use, employing data-driven techniques to ensure crops receive the right amount of water, fertilizer, and light. Increasing productivity sustainably addresses food security while minimizing environmental footprints, supporting rural economies, and improving farmer resilience. Efforts to boost productivity thus play a crucial role in global agricultural sustainability and food system resilience.
Title : Preventing/minimizing development of resistance in fungal plant pathogens to fungicides
Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois, United States
Title : Mycorrhizae and their role in climate resilience in agricultural systems
Mary Cole, The University of Melbourne, Australia