Looking at depth: Shaping root systems for resource-efficient crops

Resilient and sustainable crop production depends, among other things, on smart uptake of water and soil nutrients by crop root systems. Scientists have accumulated evidence that tailored root systems reaching deep soil layers will help reduce environmental impacts and improve resilience to climate change. Exploring these new paths starts with root system observation and investigation which requires very specific and complimentary instrumented facilities.

This policy brief explores the importance of roots in the future sustainable agriculture and calls for continued supportive policy that is needed to amplify root research capacity and commit it to support the agroecological transition.