FFAR’s AgMission™ Director Allison Thomson spoke on a panel about the value of genetic diversity in crops in helping farmers manage extreme weather events and changing or difficult environmental conditions.
This panel, hosted by CGIAR, showed the power of crop genetic diversity to serve as a cost-effective strategy for improving food production globally across a range of species contributing to diversified diets. The panel specifically discussed roots and tubers, cereals, legumes and underutilized crops, highlighting how these crops:
- Thrive in a range environmental conditions;
- Provide reliable sources of nutrition; and
- Offer income stability in the face of unanticipated weather events.
FFAR’s participation in the panel highlighted the urgent need for pioneering research to help the agriculture sector cope with extreme weather impacts.