Climate change challenges, plant science solutions
Nancy A. Eckardt, Elizabeth A. Ainsworth, Rajeev N. Bahuguna, Martin R. Broadley, Wolfgang Busch, Nicholas C. Carpita, Gabriel Castrillo, Joanne Chory, Lee R. DeHaan, Carlos M. Duarte, Amelia Henry, S. V. Krishna Jagadish, Jane A. Langdale, Andrew D. B. Leakey, James C. Liao, Kuan‐Jen Lu, Maureen C. McCann, John McKay, Damaris A. Odeny, Eder Jorge de Oliveira, John Damien Platten, Ismail Rabbi, Ellen Youngsoo Rim, Pamela C. Ronald, David E. Salt, Alexandra M. Shigenaga, Ertao Wang, Marnin Wolfe, Xiaowei Zhang
Abstract
Climate change is a defining challenge of the 21st century, and this decade is a critical time for action to mitigate the worst effects on human populations and ecosystems. Plant science can play an important role in developing crops with enhanced resilience to harsh conditions (e.g. heat, drought, salt stress, flooding, disease outbreaks) and engineering efficient carbon-capturing and carbon-sequestering plants. Here, we present examples of research being conducted in these areas and discuss challenges and open questions as a call to action for the plant science community.