Background: Livestock production is indispensable for global food security, yet it faces constant pressure to maintain a sustainable balance between environmental, economic, and ethical demands. Objective: This study explores the past, present, and future of the livestock industry through genomic technologies. Methods/Approach: Tools such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS), Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), and Genomic Selection (GS) have accelerated precise genetic improvement of traits like feed efficiency, productivity, and disease resistance. Key Tools: CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing further fosters livestock with improved genetic potential. Impact: Genomic-based breeding strategies reduce environmental impacts through lower methane-emitting ruminants and rumen microbiome utilization, while enhancing animal welfare via selection for stress resilience and innate disease resistance, reducing veterinary intervention. Conclusion: Overall, genomic approaches provide a powerful pathway for healthier, more productive, and sustainable livestock, supporting global food security amid climate and resource challenges.
Sustainable crop development aims to maintain or increase yields while reducing environmental impact and managing the challenges imposed by climate change. As the global population grows and arable land becomes scarcer, the integration of molecular breeding with bioinformatics has emerged as an effective strategy for long-term crop improvement. Bioinformatics enables researchers to analyze and interpret the vast quantities of genetic data generated by high-throughput sequencing, making it possible to identify molecular markers, candidate genes, and regulatory networks linked to specific agronomic traits, which breeders then translate into focused, ecologically sustainable breeding programs. This approach has enabled major progress across several fronts: the identification of genes conferring resistance to biotic stressors (pests, pathogens) and abiotic stressors (drought, salinity, heat); the development of nutrient-efficient, low-input crop varieties; the improvement of agronomic performance and nutritional quality through identification of yield- and quality-related genes; and the conservation and deployment of genetic diversity to safeguard long-term breeding sustainability. By combining genomic data with precision breeding techniques, researchers are developing crops that are better adapted to a growing population and a changing climate, positioning the integration of molecular breeding and bioinformatics as a central pillar of future global food security.
Muhammad Shahid Iqbal, Z. Sarfraz, Muhammad Mujahid et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Livestock production in Africa occurs across highly heterogeneous agroecological and management environments, ranging from extensive pastoral and mixed crop–livestock systems to intensive enterprises. These systems are characterized by seasonal and spatial variation in feed resources, reliance on locally available forage and agricultural by-products, climatic stress, endemic diseases, and the use of indigenous and locally adapted breeds. Such conditions create distinctive microbiome–host interactions that remain poorly represented in global livestock omics research. Although the gut microbiome is central to nutrient utilization, immune function, metabolic homeostasis, and resilience, the functional mechanisms linking microbial communities, diet, host physiology, and productivity in African livestock remain insufficiently characterized. African systems are particularly underrepresented in integrated microbiome–metabolomics datasets, longitudinal studies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled predictive models, limiting the development of context-specific precision nutrition strategies. This review examines the integration of metabolomics and AI with microbiome and host data to advance precision livestock nutrition within an African and One Health context. It identifies both substantial constraints and strategic opportunities. Limited research infrastructure, high-quality regional datasets, computational capacity, and specialized expertise remain major barriers. Conversely, Africa’s diversity of livestock breeds, feed resources, agroecological conditions, and naturally occurring resilience phenotypes provides an important opportunity to identify microbiome–metabolite signatures associated with feed efficiency, disease resilience, climate adaptation, and product quality. Emerging metabolomics and computational capacity, particularly in South Africa, could support regional research networks and continental data infrastructures. Furthermore, the review proposes an Africa-specific approach that develops locally grounded, scalable, and resource-sensitive precision nutrition strategies, strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, animal health, food safety, climate resilience, sustainable livestock production, and broader One Health objectives.
K. T. Ncube, F. Tugizimana· Agriculture· 0 citations
Increasing climatic variability poses a major threat to sustainable livestock production through rising temperatures, heat waves, drought, water scarcity, extreme weather events, and changing disease and parasite patterns. These stresses adversely affect animal health, growth, production, reproduction, feed availability, and survival. Climate-resilient livestock can maintain productivity, health, reproductive performance, and survival under environmental stress through traits such as heat and drought tolerance, disease and parasite resistance, feed efficiency, and water-use efficiency. Indigenous breeds are valuable genetic resources because of their adaptation to harsh environments and their ability to utilize poor-quality feed and withstand climatic and disease challenges. Genetic selection provides a sustainable approach to climate adaptation, with conventional methods such as phenotypic, pedigree, and progeny selection complemented by marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, GWAS, and precision livestock breeding. Candidate genes such as SLICK, HSP70, HSP90, and HSF1 contribute to thermotolerance and heat-stress responses. However, breeding for climate resilience is challenged by low heritability, difficulty in phenotyping, genotype × environment interactions, limited genomic information, high technological costs, loss of genetic diversity, and inadequate infrastructure. Integrating indigenous genetic resources with conventional and advanced genomic approaches can accelerate the development of climate-smart livestock capable of maintaining productivity, health, welfare, and resource-use efficiency under changing climatic conditions, thereby improving sustainability, profitability, and food security.
Keywords: Climate-resilient livestock; Heat stress; Genetic selection; Indigenous breeds; Genomic selection; Climate-smart breeding.
R. Shitole, S. Dhage, U. Gaikwad et al.· International Journal of Cre...· 0 citations
Agricultural systems are increasingly challenged by climate change, resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and the need to ensure food security for a growing global population. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires innovative, science-driven approaches that enhance productivity while promoting ecological sustainability. This editorial examines the evolving role of plant biotechnology as a key driver of modern agricultural advancement, highlighting recent developments in genomics, multi-omics technologies, molecular breeding, genome editing, plant tissue culture, and digital agriculture. It discusses how these technologies contribute to the development of resilient crop varieties with improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, and superior agronomic performance. The editorial further emphasizes the integration of artificial intelligence, high-throughput phenotyping, bioinformatics, and systems biology into precision crop improvement, enabling more efficient translation of molecular discoveries into field applications. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, responsible innovation, biosafety, and science-based regulatory frameworks is also considered in supporting the sustainable deployment of emerging biotechnologies. Looking ahead, the convergence of advanced molecular tools with computational and ecological sciences is expected to accelerate the development of resilient agricultural systems capable of addressing future environmental and food production challenges. Continued investment in research, technological innovation, and international collaboration will be essential to maximize the societal and environmental benefits of next-generation crop improvement strategies.
Md. Mosharraf Hossen· Journal of Agriculture and F...· 0 citations
Global food security faces unparalleled obstacles due to climate change, increasing population, and micronutrient shortages, which impact billions of people worldwide. Conventional crop breeding methods, although essential, fall short of meeting the swiftly changing agricultural needs of the 21st century. This assessment explores the groundbreaking possibilities of CRISPR-driven genome editing and biofortification methods for creating climate-resilient, nutrient-rich crops. We examine the latest developments in precision genome editing techniques, concentrating on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 for improving stress resistance, disease resistance, and nutritional value in key staple crop species. Combining genomic methods with biofortification offers unique chances to address hidden hunger and enhance climate adaptation at the same time. Compared with traditional plants, CRISPR-modified plants present better drought resilience, greater disease resistance, and higher micronutrient levels. Nevertheless, obstacles persist in regulatory structures, societal acceptance, and fair technology accessibility, especially for small-scale farmers in emerging areas. This review combines existing insights, highlights areas lacking research, and suggests future pathways for utilizing biotechnological advancements to increase agricultural sustainability and human nutrition.
P. B. Angon, Sujit Mondal, A. Roy et al.· Frontiers in Plant Physiolog...· 0 citations
Vegetable crops play an indispensable role in global food and nutritional security, yet their production is limited by many challenges. Biotechnology has revolutionised the improvement of vegetable crops worldwide through modern technologies such as genetic engineering, marker-assisted selection, CRISPR/Cas genome editing, tissue culture and molecular breeding, resulted in the development of climate-resilient, nutritionally enriched and highyielding cultivars that have helped to reshape the vegetable production system. Landmark achievements in plant biotechnology, namely virus-free planting material, multiple disease resistance, Bt brinjal, Flavr Savr tomato, Purple Tomato™, genome-edited GABA tomato and high anthocyanin/carotene content have revolutionised vegetable production systems globally. In addition, new intervention options such as biofortification, edible vaccines, RNA interference and biotechnology-based hybrid breeding are not only creating possibilities at the interface of agriculture and nutrition but also in public health. This status paper highlights recent advances, successful applications and emerging opportunities of biotechnology to strengthen vegetable production under changing climatic conditions.
Anjali, Akhilesh Sharma, D. Chaudhary et al.· Himachal journal of agricult...· 0 citations