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Our Goal: By 2050, we must eliminate the global productivity gap by sustainably doubling agricultural output to meet the needs of a growing world. Learn More

Harvest 2050
January 14, 2010 4:11 PM

New year, new decade, new ag breakthrough

In a notable illustration of public/private collaboration at work, a research team - including U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists - "has sequenced the majority of the soybean genome, providing an unprecedented look into how this important legume crop converts four critical ingredients - sunlight, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen - into protein and oil, the basic building blocks for many consumer products."

 

Soybean and other legumes play a critical role in global food security and human health and are used in a wide range of products, from tofu, soy flour, meat substitutes and soy milk to soy oil-based printing ink and biodiesel, said Molly Jahn, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. This new information about soybean's genetic makeup could lead to plants that produce more beans that contain more protein and oil, better adapt to adverse environmental conditions, or are more resistant to diseases.

 

As we begin a new year, and a new decade, this type of major agricultural innovation is a critical step toward achieving the important goal of closing the global productivity gap by 2050. While it's difficult to embrace a sense of urgency about the year 2050, consider this perspective: It took 15 years and a collaborative effort on the part of 18 federal, state, public and private organizations to accomplish this momentous feat in soybean bean genome sequencing.

Given that, 2050 is closer than we can imagine.

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About Harvest 2050

Harvest 2050 offers thought provoking views and analysis from Global Harvest Initiative Executive Director Bill Lesher on the latest innovations, policy discussions and other news supporting GHI's efforts.

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