A Glimpse into the Ways in Which Noble Plant Development has benefited the World

Over the last three decades, thanks to development of noble plant varieties, history has seen a major rise in productivity of crop plants owing to better yielding varieties that have higher agronomic traits like stress tolerance, disease resistance and pesticide properties that overall benefits the farm in the bottom line.

This article traces the various ways in which noble plant development has benefited the farms of today:

• New varieties of wheat: Development of plants with respect to important agricultural crops like wheat, introduced the latter to the orient in the year 1906, with special mention to the 'Marquis’, the variety that paved the way for development of newer and improved strain.

• Higher yields of corn: Vegetable crops like corn faced a tremendous increase yield, up to 400% in the last 60 years, thanks to noble techniques of development of plants. Hybrid corn grown in North American farms has rewarded farmers with all round increase in the corn yields throughout the year.

• Improved cropping options: Canola was a crop that didn't quite exist prior to 1973, but now due to the overwhelming surge of development techniques for plants, this same crop contributes to a whopping $3 billion to the agricultural economy of Canada.

• Better resource-management: Newer development techniques of crop plants have led to the production of hybrid varieties that ultimately rewarded farmers and boosted the agricultural economy of the countries by incorporating desirable traits like herbicide tolerance, disease resistance and stress tolerance. Owing to the presence of these traits, farmers could devote their time, energy and money towards other fruitful ventures rather than worrying about damage to their crops every now and then.

• High-value crop markets: With the boom in noble, hybrid varieties of crops bearing desirable traits, markets were brim with high yielding varieties and specialty crops. The markets of Japan became famous for selling specialty soya beans that was a notch above the ordinary variety available before.

• Value-added crops: Development of noble plants that were nutritionally enriched as well as healthier alternatives to their predecessors not only increased their sale but also increased the net income of the farmer. Growing specialty crops that facilitated industries helped in the production of biodegradable products.

Much like a bottomless pit, development of noble plants is an ever-continuing process that knows no end. While some hybrid varieties are produced naturally, understanding of development techniques has made it possible for humans to intervene in the natural process and exploit it for their own good.