Developing resource use efficiency for crops under future climate extremes and air quality.
This project will develop a new generation of process based crop models to better understand the mechanisms and impacts of multiple stresses.
Poor air quality in Europe will continue to substantially impact crop yields until at least 2050, in spite of international efforts aimed at reducing emissions. Air pollution is already causing yield losses of between 10 and 15% on average across Europe for sensitive staple crops such as wheat.
In coming decades drought, high temperatures, low soil fertility will impact agriculture. Greenhouse Gas emissions are still on course to cause large changes in climate over the coming decades so the outlook for agriculture is worrying.
Although we understand how these environmental challenges will impact crops individually, we know far less about their combined impact. It is still unclear how multiple stresses (air pollution and climate) combine to impact crop growth, development and yield through influences on important crop resource use efficiencies such as radiation, water and nutrient use.
European policies to control emissions will determine the extent to which crop resource use efficiency and productivity will be affected. This will in turn influence the economics of the European arable agricultural sector and have implications for food supply within Europe and associated trade flows both within Europe as well as with the rest of the World.
Funding
SusCrop is an ERA-Net Cofund Action under H2020, which aims to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) in the field of Sustainable Crop Production through enhanced cooperation and coordination of different national and regional research programmes.
Contact
SUSCAP is keen to reach out to research organisations, plant breeders and the farming community to respond to the needs of the agricultural community.
Email: l.emberson@york.ac.uk
SUSCAP 