German-Ethiopian SDG Graduate School CLIFOOD – Subproject: Grain quality characteristics of Ethiopian barley genotypes as affected by climate change

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is emitted from various human activities, which results in atmospheric CO₂ enrichment and in turn climate variability, thus affecting agro-ecosystems in many areas worldwide. The project thus focuses on plant-environment interaction under multiple climate change conditions in order to identify the impacts of projected future CO₂ enrichment and climate variability on the performance of Ethiopian barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare), which are expected to differ in their responses. Genetic diversity of Ethiopian barley will be screened under atmospheric CO₂ enrichment in controlled exposure experiments. In addition, climate scenarios will be simulated in order to identify the interactions of CO₂ enrichment and extreme climate-related events (e.g. droughts, heat waves, etc.) on selected barley genotypes. The project will assess the resource use efficiency for e.g., water and nutrients, of barley genotypes under CO₂ enrichment and variable climatic conditions and evaluate the impacts on yield and yield quality in terms of food production (future food security and malnutrition). Crop ideotypes will be evaluated in order to quantify the mitigation potential for food and nutrition security (e.g., “hidden hunger”). In addition, the mitigation potential via modifications of the diet (nutritional interventions) will be analyzed in the context of feed as well as bioenergy supply and processing. This information will be used to identify agro-economic implications of CO₂ enrichment and climate variability on yield and yield quality with regard to appropriate genotype selection and adaptation of regional cropping systems (e.g., management and breeding strategies).

This subproject is part of the CLIFOOD project which is part of the Food Security Center.