Ethiopia is making strides to become a climate-proof breadbasket. In a new effort, researchers are combining genomics and climate science to ensure that Ethiopia’s crops can withstand the increasingly unpredictable climate.

The effort seeks to use genomics technology to give Ethiopia’s crops the ability to withstand changing temperatures, increasing drought, and disease. The researchers are also examining how to improve crop yields and nutrition.

The team is focusing on wheat, barley and teff, which are the staples of Ethiopia’s diet and a major source of income. The researchers are using genomics tools to identify and select for traits that can make the crops more resilient to climate change.

This effort is part of a larger effort to make Ethiopia’s agricultural sector more climate-resilient. The researchers hope their work will help ensure that Ethiopian farmers can continue to produce the crops they need to feed their families and communities.

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source: Phys.org