Crop wild relatives for climate change-resilient crops

Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs) are often considered the COUSIN ​​of domesticated crops, given their close kinship and their role as important sources of natural genetic variation. In this sense, they represent a valuable resource for the urgently needed agroecological transition. This transition translates into more diverse, sustainable, and nutritious food, in line with the EU Green Deal policy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and CDRs can be important allies. In fact, currently 75% of the world’s food is produced from just twelve plant species, and since the 20th century, around 75% of plant genetic diversity has been lost, as farmers worldwide have abandoned their diverse array of local and heirloom varieties for genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties. From this perspective, Crop Wild Relatives hold promise for the future.