Plant genetics researcher responds to global warming article

UC Davis genetic resources analyst Adi Damania responded in a letter to the Woodland Daily Democrat to an article on global warming published in the same newspaper by another UC Davis researcher.

The original article, summarized in this blog entry, provided details of a new report about the projected impact of global warming on Yolo County agriculture.

Damania made the point that plant genetics may be the ticket to maintaining a viable agriculture industry in a warmer climate with less rain. Adapting to global warming, he wrote, "will require a change in (plants') genetic composition."

". . . we may have to once more turn to the wild germplasm gene pool in order to overcome stress to our current crops from climate change," according to the letter.

The second half of the letter lamented the fact that, due to recent financial cuts in California state funding, the ANR Genetic Resources Conservation Program was "ordered to be shut down," threatening farmers' and scientists' ability to overcome the probable agricultural complications posed by climate change.

"The closure will make it all the more difficult for California to face the challenges that lie ahead in the near future as regards its agricultural production," Damania wrote.

Adi Damania.

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