Abstract
The existing methods of improving crops won’t be sufficient to provide adequate food for the world’s population by 2050. Meeting these increasing food demands calls for a fundamental shift in the traditional breeding framework. Recent progresses in genomics research are leading to a revolution in plant breedingPlant breeding, with new strategies promising more precise methods for developing better crops. For instance, advanced techniques such as high-throughput sequencingHigh-throughput sequencing are employed to explore the vast and intricate genomes of crop plants as well as their wild counterparts. A thorough understanding of the crop genomes and underlying genetic diversityGenetic diversity is providing new foundations to rapidly address the challenges faced in agriculture. The combination of data generated from sophisticated sequencing techniques and automated phenotyping systems, coupled with precise trait mapping methods, speeds up the accessibility of favourable alleles for crop breedingCrop breeding and research purposes. Together with optimized breeding approaches and precise genome editingGenome editing technologies to rapidly assemble and target the favourable alleles, genomics is transforming the processes of trait discovery and genetic engineering. The comprehensive strategy charted here will be important in providing a continuous supply of ideal crops for a secure future of agriculture.