Summary
This review examines how conventional crop breeding approaches, optimised for monoculture, must be reconsidered to support intercropping and polyculture agriculture. The authors synthesise evidence across plant breeding, crop ecology, and systems agronomy to outline breeding strategies and crop traits that enhance performance in mixed-crop systems. The work contributes a genetics and breeding perspective to the broader transition towards more biodiverse and integrated farming approaches.
Regional applicability
The breeding principles outlined are applicable to UK horticulture and arable systems, where intercropping interest is growing alongside policy drivers for sustainable intensification and reduced chemical inputs. However, UK breeding programmes and seed supply chains remain strongly monoculture-oriented, limiting immediate practical uptake.
Key measures
Crop traits relevant to intercrop performance; breeding priorities for polyculture systems; agronomic design principles for mixed-crop production
Outcomes reported
The paper synthesises evidence on how crop breeding and agronomic design can be adapted to enhance suitability for intercropping systems. It addresses trait prioritisation and genetic improvement strategies that support mixed-crop productivity and sustainability.
Topic tags
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