Scientists achieve breakthrough that could have major impact on food supply: ‘A significant step’ – The Cool Down

Report on Advanced Chickpea Gene Research and its Contribution to Sustainable Development

Introduction

A recent scientific initiative by Murdoch University in Australia has resulted in the creation of a comprehensive chickpea pangenome. This genetic research is aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience, directly addressing key challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By mapping the genetic diversity of chickpeas, researchers are working to develop new varieties capable of withstanding adverse environmental conditions, thereby securing a vital food source.

Research Overview and Objectives

Development of the Australian Chickpea Pangenome

In collaboration with the Grains Research and Development Corporation, scientists have compiled in-depth genetic information from 15 types of chickpeas. This pangenome serves as a foundational tool for advanced breeding programs. The research successfully identified 34,345 gene families, including thousands associated with key agronomic traits.

Primary Research Goals

The principal objective is to accelerate the development of chickpea varieties with enhanced resilience and yield. Key genetic traits targeted for improvement include:

• Drought tolerance
• Acid soil tolerance
• Optimized flowering time
• Resistance to diseases

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This research project makes significant contributions to several SDGs by addressing the interconnected challenges of food security, climate change, and sustainable agriculture.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

By focusing on creating hardier, higher-yield chickpea varieties, the research directly supports SDG 2. The development of crops resilient to environmental stress is crucial for stabilizing food supplies, ending hunger, and achieving food security. This initiative aims to safeguard future chickpea production, a key protein source for millions globally.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The project is a direct response to the agricultural impacts of a changing climate. Global crop yields are increasingly threatened by droughts and heat waves linked to global warming. By engineering climate-resilient chickpeas, this research provides a vital adaptation strategy, helping to build resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, in line with the targets of SDG 13.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The creation of the chickpea pangenome represents a significant scientific innovation. It provides a powerful technological foundation for the agricultural industry, enabling the breeding of superior crop varieties tailored to specific regional challenges. This fosters innovation and enhances the scientific capabilities of the agricultural sector.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Improving crop resilience contributes to more sustainable production patterns. By reducing the risk of crop failure due to abiotic stresses like drought, the research helps minimize food losses at the production stage, promoting efficiency and sustainability in the food supply chain as targeted by SDG 12.

Broader Implications and Future Outlook

Impact on Global Agriculture

The identification of specific genetic markers, such as the “QTL hotspot” chromosome region, has proven effective in improving crop hardiness in other arid regions, including Ethiopia. This demonstrates the global applicability of the research findings. Efforts are underway to introduce these improved chickpea varieties to Australian growers, bolstering the nation’s significant role in global chickpea production.

Context of Climate-Resilient Crop Development

This work is part of a broader scientific effort to adapt critical food crops to environmental pressures. Similar research is being conducted on other staple and high-value crops, including:

1. Sorghum: Studied for its exceptional drought and heat resilience.
2. Corn: Genetically modified to create shorter, more durable stalks.
3. Cherries: Improved through genetic tinkering to enhance quality and resilience.

The successful development and deployment of these improved chickpea varieties will provide a powerful tool for farmers to combat the effects of climate change, ensuring the stability of the food supply and supporting global sustainability objectives.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
     
     Explanation: The article focuses on developing chickpea varieties with “drought tolerance,” “acid soil tolerance,” and resistance to “diseases.” This research aims to create resilient agricultural practices to safeguard food production against climate change impacts like “droughts and heat waves,” directly aligning with this target.
   • Target 2.a: Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure and agricultural research and extension services, in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries.
     
     Explanation: The project is a collaboration between Murdoch University and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, representing a significant investment in “advanced gene research” to “boost national chickpea production.” This is a direct example of investing in agricultural research to enhance productive capacity.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers and public and private research and development spending.
     
     Explanation: The creation of a “chickpea pangenome” by Murdoch University scientists is a clear example of enhancing “scientific research” and leveraging technological innovation to improve the agricultural industry. The article highlights identifying “34,345 gene families” as a foundation for breeding improved varieties.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     
     Explanation: The research is explicitly motivated by the need to adapt to “changing conditions associated with our overheating planet.” By developing chickpeas with “drought resilience,” scientists are directly strengthening the agricultural sector’s adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards like “droughts and heat waves.”

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
     
     Explanation: The research aims to improve “acid soil tolerance” in chickpeas. This directly addresses the issue of land degradation, as it provides a means to make degraded, acidic soils productive again, contributing to the restoration of land quality.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. For Target 2.4 (Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture)

   • Indicator (Implied): Agricultural yield and productivity.
     
     Explanation: The article mentions the goal is to “produce stronger yields” and notes that Australia harvested “2.6 million tons” last year. It also contrasts this with global yield drops of up to “13%” for other crops, positioning yield as a key metric of success.
   • Indicator (Implied): Crop resilience to specific climate stressors.
     
     Explanation: Progress can be measured by the performance of new chickpea varieties under specific adverse conditions. The article identifies the desired traits as “drought tolerance,” “acid soil tolerance,” and resistance to “diseases,” which serve as measurable indicators of resilience.

2. For Target 9.5 (Scientific Research and Innovation)

   • Indicator (Implied): Number and scope of genetic discoveries.
     
     Explanation: The article quantifies the research output by stating that the team “identified 34,345 gene families, including 13,986 dispensable families enriched for genes associated with key agronomic traits.” This number serves as a direct indicator of scientific progress.

3. For Target 13.1 (Climate Resilience)

   • Indicator (Implied): Development and adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties.
     
     Explanation: The primary outcome of the research is the development of new chickpea varieties with “improved drought resilience.” The article states that “Work has started to introduce the modified chickpeas to Australian growers,” implying that the number of new varieties developed and the rate of their adoption by farmers are key indicators of progress.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: thecooldown.com