Facts:
The story of Field cress
The crops we cultivate today have evolved from wild plants through a process of domestication. Surprisingly, there are only about 250 plant species that can be considered fully domesticated, but approximately ten times as many have undergone some form of domestication process. Currently, 15 crops account for over 70% of the global calorie intake, making our food system very vulnerable. Domesticating and improving plants is a protracted process, and many of today's crops have a history spanning thousands of years.
Domestication eventually occurs when plants with beneficial traits are repeatedly selected to parent the next generation of seeds. This selection process is called plant breeding when done deliberately, and has only been practiced for the past hundred years or so. Many modern plant breeding methods, aim to utilize existing genetic variation found in commercial varieties, older landraces, and wild specimens. Plant individuals with beneficial traits then can be crossed with cultivars to improve the yield and agricultural performance.
Crops like wheat, peas, and rapeseed have been adapted over thousands of years to grow in cooler climates, but their origins lie in warmer regions such as the Mediterranean or Middle East. Consequently, cultivars developed for southern and central parts of Europe are often unproductive or cannot be grown at all in northern countries like Sweden. The deteriorating conditions for farming in northern Sweden pose challenges to the agricultural sector, including depopulation of rural areas and a significant decrease in active farmers. An estimated 300,000 to 400,000 hectares lying fallow or repurposed in northern Sweden, approximately one tenth of the total arable land in the country. This leads to abandoned fields, reducing food production and negatively impacting biodiversity. One-third of protected and endangered species in Sweden are found in agricultural landscapes, many of which are located in the northern regions.
Farmers in northern Sweden struggle with low profitability, limited crop options, and a lack of crop rotation due to the dominance of forages (feed for animals) and spring-sown cereals. Except for forages, there are no crops suitable for autumn sowing, covering the fields during winter and being harvested the following summer. The absence of autumn-sown crops leaves fields bare during winter, increasing nutrient leakage and water pollution while also incurring costs for farmers. Additionally, autumn-sown crops typically have higher yields than spring-sown crops, depriving northern farmers of this advantage. Introducing new crops could help alleviate these problems.
One example of an aspiring crop with potential is field cress (Lepidium campestre). The initiative to domesticate field cress came from the late Professor Arnulf Merker at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) for more than 30 years ago. Field cress belongs to the mustard family and is evolutionary related to rapeseed (canola). It is a winter-hardy plant that can be sown in the autumn, covering the fields during winter and producing oil-rich seeds for various purposes. These seeds can be used in human food products, as a feed ingredient for livestock, or for biofuel production. The potential benefits of field pennycress include increased profitability for farmers, reduced nutrient leakage, enhanced biodiversity, and increased food security.
Research and development efforts are underway to evaluate the viability of field cress as a new crop in northern Sweden. Studies are being conducted to improve its agronomic traits, oil content, and seed quality, as well as to optimize cultivation techniques. Collaborations between scientists, plant breeders, farmers, and industry stakeholders are crucial for the successful introduction of new crops like field cress. As climate change impacts large cultivation areas in the Southern hemisphere, the focus shifts to cultivating more food, feed, and industry feedstock in the northern parts of Europe to ensure future sustainability and resilience. Thus by diversifying crop options, promoting sustainable agriculture, and harnessing the potential of innovative breeding techniques, it is possible to address the challenges faced by agriculture and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable food system.