The Crop Breeding Cluster is dedicated to tackling pressing challenges such as hunger, poverty, malnutrition, environmental degradation, and climate change. At the heart of our efforts lies an innovative breeding program that focuses on enhancing crop resilience, nutrition, and sustainability. Our primary goal is to develop improved varieties of legume, cereal, and oilseed crops that play a crucial role in ensuring food security in dryland regions.
ICRISAT's breeding pipeline stands on the forefront of technological advancements, integrating cutting-edge tools and techniques. One of our key resources is the Rapid-Gen Advancement Facility, which streamlines the development of new cultivars by reducing costs and time requirements. Moreover, we have established state-of-the-art phenotyping facilities, including the Automatic Rainout Shelter, LeasyScan, and LysiField. These facilities enable precise and comprehensive assessment of plant traits, enhancing our ability to select superior varieties.
Integrated genomics, marker-assisted selection, and breeding for pest and disease resistance form essential components of our breeding pipeline. By leveraging the power of genomics and utilizing markers associated with desirable traits, we expedite the breeding process and develop crop varieties with improved resistance to pests and diseases.
At ICRISAT, we strongly believe in the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Our improved crops and germplasm are widely disseminated to partners worldwide. To date, over 1230 varieties have been released in 81 countries, making a substantial impact on agricultural practices and food production.
Through our innovative breeding program, ICRISAT is committed to transforming dryland agriculture, making it more resilient, sustainable, and capable of addressing the pressing challenges of our time. By developing improved crop varieties that are adapted to the specific needs of dryland regions, we strive to enhance food security, uplift smallholder farmers, and contribute to a more sustainable and nourished future.
