Plant breeding is the business and science of crop improvement. It is an innovation–based sector, focused on developing plants better adapted to human needs.

The demand for new varieties of agricultural and horticultural crops, adapted to our unique growing conditions, is never ending, driven by the challenges of new pest and disease pressures, weather patterns and changing market requirements.   

The development of crop varieties with improved yields, end-use quality and environmental performance provides the essential foundation for sustainable, efficient agriculture, and the starting point for the UK’s £90bn food supply chain.

As the world faces up to major challenges of population growth, climate change and pressure on finite natural resources, the contribution of plant breeding is increasingly recognised as a key factor in addressing global concerns over food security and sustainable development.

An independent review by ADAS of the scientific literature relating to key EU food and forage crops for the 10-year period 2005-2015 has shown how the plant breeding industry contributes to more sustainable agriculture and food production, increasing productivity, improving resource use efficiency and reducing negative environmental effects.