TL;DR: New Zealand must rapidly develop climate-resilient crops to address the climate crisis. Professor Andrew Allan stresses the importance of gene editing and new genetic technologies, urging swift action to stay competitive. Public understanding and acceptance are crucial as regulations evolve. Failure to adapt could jeopardise the entire agricultural sector and the country’s clean green image.
Can Crops Keep Up with Climate Change?
New Zealand faces a pressing question: can our crops keep pace with the changing climate? This concern is crucial as agriculture grapples with the climate crisis.
Expert Concerns
At the Women in Seed conference in Christchurch, Professor Andrew Allan addressed 140 attendees. Allan, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Auckland and principal scientist at Plant and Food Research expressed his major concern: the ability to breed new cultivars quickly enough for a changing climate. Allan is working on a five-year, $14.5 million project called “The Flowering Crisis: Confronting a Changing Climate’s Threat to NZ’s Crops.”
The Need for Speed
Allan’s background in plant biology spans physiology, molecular biology, and genomics. He emphasised the need for rapid development of crops that can withstand higher temperatures, new pests, and diseases, as well as extreme weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle, which devastated many crops.
Gene Editing: A Necessary Tool
Allan stressed the importance of gene editing (GE) in adapting to climate change. Although GE is not yet in New Zealand supermarkets, it is in Asian markets, and new regulatory techniques offer opportunities for New Zealand. Allan highlighted the fierce competition in global markets, where other countries are not regulated.
The Role of Genetics
Agriculture relies on a simple equation: Genetics x Environment x Management (G x E x M). While DNA changes constantly, public concern arises when scientists alter DNA, even though new technologies like CRISPR, a protein that cuts DNA, are crucial. Allan argued that embracing these disruptive technologies is necessary to keep up with the rapid changes brought by the climate crisis.
Climate Projections
The Ministry for the Environment has created scenarios based on global models. By 2040, the mean temperature could rise between 0.7°C and 1°C in the best case. By 2090, it could rise by 3°C in the worst case. Traditional plant breeding, which can take 10 to 20 years to develop a new crop, is too slow to meet these challenges.
Embracing Speed
Allan emphasised that speed is essential. New Zealand must be quick in its scientific efforts to publish and discover new findings ahead of others. Genomics, which uses markers for key genes, is already in use in plant breeding to identify desirable attributes early.
Addressing GE Concerns
New Zealand needs to address issues around GE. While there are opportunities, there are also concerns about its impact on the country’s clean green image. Allan pointed out that the climate crisis itself threatens this image, potentially turning it “brown and dead.”
Public Perception and Regulation
Convincing the public that new genetic technologies are safe and beneficial is crucial. Gene technology can significantly speed up the development of new crop cultivars, and regulations overseas are changing to allow these crops to be grown and sold commercially. However, in New Zealand, these crops are still classified as genetically modified, with strict regulations.
Co-Existence and Testing
Allan advocated for co-existence and rigorous testing of new technologies. While some people may be upset by new technologies, not accepting them could harm the entire industry. Allan emphasised the need to stay viable and adapt to new regulatory systems, which will bring exciting new offerings for the public to consider.
The race to outbreed climate disruptions is on. New Zealand must embrace new genetic technologies and adapt quickly to ensure the future of its agriculture. Public trust and understanding are vital in this journey, as is the willingness to innovate and accept new solutions.
