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New report highlights role of wild plants in delivering food security for the future

A new report Crop Wild Relatives: Plant Conservation for Food Security published today (25th January 2011) by Natural England shows how the scarce wild relatives of modern crops could hold some of the seeds of success in the fight for global food security.

All of our food crops were originally wild plants whose descendants have for centuries been selectively bred to develop higher yielding crops.  In the process a great deal of their original genetic diversity has been lost. In the 20th century, for example, 75% of genetic diversity in crops was lost due to increased use of scientifically bred varieties.

The result is that we are now dependent upon a limited genetic range for most of our main food plants, leaving them susceptible to problems such as new pests and diseases and the effects of climate change. Experts agree that to continue adapting resilient new varieties to help feed growing 21st century populations the genes from crop wild relatives will be an essential resource for future plant breeding.

The English countryside is surprisingly rich in these ancient ancestors. Sugar beet has its roots in wild species of sea beet, there are several relatives of barley, and wild cabbage and turnip are the ancestors of oil seed rape. England’s wild plants include the wild relatives of cabbage, radish, asparagus, leek and lettuce while many forage or fodder crops have their origins in our wild grasses and clovers. 

However, many of England’s crop wild relatives are increasingly rare and in urgent need of targeted conservation. Some - such as the least lettuce and wild asparagus - are now classed as endangered species while others are very local in their range.

Helen Phillips, Natural England’s Chief Executive, said: “Crop wild relatives are an important genetic resource that will help us adapt modern crop varieties to enable them to withstand the future effects of climate change, pests and diseases. By recognising the potential role that wild plants can play in supporting future agricultural production we can help secure the resilience of our food crops and bring a boost to biodiversity in England.” 

The report brings together published findings about the importance of Crop Wild Relatives and the options for their conservation. It is available for download.

Notes to Editors:

About Natural England

Natural England is the government’s independent adviser on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

- We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.

- We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.

- We run Environmental Stewardship and other green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.

- We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.

- We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.
 
For further information contact: The National Press Office on: 0300 060 1405, press@naturalengland.org.uk out of hours 07970 098005.  For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk