Research summary
Climate change, environmental degradation and population growth underline the need to enhance the sustainability and productivity of our farms. The best way to achieve this is through plant diversity, yet we currently use only a fraction of the available diversity to grow our food. As Canada Research Chair in Agri-Food and Sustainable Agriculture, Dr. Zoë Migicovsky is trying to change this by quantifying and harnessing plant diversity.
She and her research team are using large, multi-dimensional datasets to make data-driven decisions in plant breeding and management in order to increase the resiliency and sustainability of our food production systems. Their work will help producers adapt to a changing climate, manage pests and pathogens, and meet consumer preferences, and will have positive impacts on local, national and international agriculture.