Creating perennial crops

摘要

"Paying for Perennialism" by Sarah Whekhel and Elizabeth Popp Berman (Issues, Fall 2011) calls attention to an important area of research that, if successful in its goals, will enhance agricultural sustainability in the face of the growing world demand for food and the many challenges of a changing climate. Although past research to develop perennial grains has been slow-going, today's genomics-based tools are enabling breeders to work much faster and attempt ambitious projects not previously possible.