Characterising Rice Genetic Diversity of the Past to Safeguard the Future

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Rice is a versatile carbohydrate essential to diets worldwide and a staple food for over 50% of the human population. However, climate change is threatening rice's wide availability. This joint project between the RBG Kew and the Earlham institute aims to understand how modern agriculture has impacted rice genetic diversity. Genetic diversity in local landraces and across historic collections will be measured. Their genetic makeup will be investigated and deleterious mutations that hinder the further improvement of rice and its adaptation to future climates will be quantified.