A HFFA report published in 2021 has identified the impact that plant breeding has had on crop production since the turn of the millennium. It highlights the value of breeder’s efforts to the future of crop production and estimates that, without plant breeding, farmers’ income would have reduced by £17,000 per year since the turn of the millennium.
The report shows that plant breeding is responsible for more than 1% yield growth in the UK per annum. This 1% growth was higher than the EU countries taking part in the study. During the next decade plant breeding can also help to compensate for the extensification needed to produce more from less in a more sustainably way.