Challenges facing sustainable protein production

Challenges facing sustainable protein production: Opportunities for cereals

Safdar, Luqman B. (University of Adelaide; University of Nottingham)
Foulkes, M. John (University of Nottingham)
Dr. Kleiner, F.K. (TU Delft BN/Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam Lab; University of Nottingham; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Searle, Iain R. (University of Adelaide)
Bhosale, Rahul A. (University of Nottingham)
Fisk, Ian D. (University of Adelaide; University of Nottingham)
Boden, Scott A. (University of Adelaide)

2023

Rising demands for protein worldwide are likely to drive increases in livestock production, as meat provides ∼40% of dietary protein. This will come at a significant environmental cost, and a shift toward plant-based protein sources would therefore provide major benefits. While legumes provide substantial amounts of plant-based protein, cereals are the major constituents of global foods, with wheat alone accounting for 15–20% of the required dietary protein intake. Improvement of protein content in wheat is limited by phenotyping challenges, lack of genetic potential of modern germplasms, negative yield trade-offs, and environmental costs of nitrogen fertilizers. Presenting wheat as a case study, we discuss how increasing protein content in cereals through a revised breeding strategy combined with robust phenotyping could ensure a sustainable protein supply while minimizing the environmental impact of nitrogen fertilizer.

grain protein content
innovative breeding
protein nutrition
sustainability

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:68b845bc-f8a1-45b3-97c5-e7e8c683b506

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100716

Plant Communications, 4 (6)

Institutional Repository

review

© 2023 Luqman B. Safdar, M. John Foulkes, F.K. Dr. Kleiner, Iain R. Searle, Rahul A. Bhosale, Ian D. Fisk, Scott A. Boden