Data science to feed a changing world: superior drought tolerance in nutritious traditional beans

The growing number of extreme weather events threatens humankind's efforts to ensure global food security, eradicate poverty and achieve fair, sustainable societies. There is consequently a need to identify and improve staple food crop varieties that are more tolerant of climate extremes, such as drought and heat stress.
The project will use hyperspectral imaging and genomics methods to screen the response to water deficit stress of common bean landraces from the Andes, one of their centres of origin. Common beans are the primary source of proteins and essential nutrients for a third of the world population as well as useful forage and soil fertilisers. The project will help to informing bean breeding to safeguard future bean yields under climate change.