Initial situation/scientific issue

Climate change poses challenges for agriculture. Quality wheat is mostly grown in dry regions of eastern Austria, where the yield is heavily dependent on the water supply. Maize is also increasingly suffering from drought stress and increasingly needs to be irrigated. In addition, climate models are forecasting longer periods of drought for Austria, which will severely affect cultivation. Austrian agriculture must therefore take efficient adaptation measures.
One solution is the development of varieties with improved heat and drought tolerance. So far, farmers have had to rely on information from company brochures, as insufficient parameters have been collected and there is still no standardised assessment in variety value testing. Currently, the yield in regions with low precipitation remains the sole orientation for drought stress tolerance, a precise indicator is missing. In order to be able to carry out a meaningful assessment of drought resistance, suitable methods are required. The aim is therefore to test available, innovative methods in order to evaluate their suitability for variety value testing and to establish sustainable variety testing.

Project description/methodology

The following innovative approaches and methods are being evaluated in this feasibility study:
- dry areas and also so-called ‘rain-out shelters’ are equipped with soil sensors to accurately record the extent of drought
- Modern phenotyping methods with special cameras on drones and handheld near-infrared spectroscopy measuring devices
- Analysis of so-called ‘heat shock’ proteins and important metabolic enzymes using modern proteomics methods
- Intensive multivariate data analysis, validation with satellite data

This multidisciplinary concept makes it possible to precisely record the effects of water shortage on the metabolic activity of plants, quality and yield performance. Only with the knowledge gained can conclusions be drawn as to how the individual varieties behave and react to drought stress. In addition, important information such as water retention capacity can be obtained for AGES locations and important competences can be expanded, thereby optimising variety value testing in Austria.
The data obtained in the feasibility study will be used to evaluate the most suitable methods for variety testing. A final evaluation with a SWOT analysis will provide recommendations for later implementation in variety value testing in order to be able to carry out a precise evaluation in a cost-efficient manner.
There is an urgent need for action here, also in view of the European efforts to expand variety value testing to include sustainability criteria. Modern and innovative methods for assessing drought resistance within variety value testing can make an important contribution to climate change adaptation and make Austrian agriculture fit for the future. This will also improve food security and the competitiveness of Austrian agriculture.

Outcomes