Challenges facing sustainable protein production
Opportunities for cereals
Luqman B. Safdar (University of Adelaide, University of Nottingham)
M. John Foulkes (University of Nottingham)
Friedrich H. Kleiner (University of Nottingham, TU Delft - BN/Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)
Iain R. Searle (University of Adelaide)
Rahul A. Bhosale (University of Nottingham)
Ian D. Fisk (University of Nottingham, University of Adelaide)
Scott A. Boden (University of Adelaide)
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Abstract
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.
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