Challenges facing sustainable protein production: Opportunities for cereals
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(Published version)
Date
2023
Authors
Safdar, L.B.
Foulkes, M.J.
Kleiner, F.H.
Searle, I.R.
Bhosale, R.A.
Fisk, I.D.
Boden, S.A.
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Journal article
Citation
Plant Communications, 2023; 4(6):100716-1-100716-15
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Luqman B. Safdar, M. John Foulkes, Friedrich H. Kleiner, Iain R. Searle, Rahul A. Bhosale, Ian D. Fisk, Scott A. Boden
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Abstract
Rising demands for protein across the world are likely to increase livestock production, as meat provides ∼40% of dietary protein. This will come at significant environmental expense; therefore, a shift towards plant-based protein sources would provide major benefits. While legumes provide substantial plant-based proteins, cereals are the major constituents of global foods with wheat alone accounting for 15-20% of the required protein intake. Improving protein content in wheat is limited by phenotyping challenges, lack of genetic potential of modern germplasms, negative yield trade-off, and the environmental cost of nitrogen fertilisers. Presenting wheat as a case study, we discuss how increasing protein content in cereals through a revised breeding strategy combined with robust phenotyping can ensure a sustainable protein supply while minimising the environmental impact of nitrogen fertiliser.
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Available online 14 September 2023
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© 2023 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).