Photosynthesis is one of the key factors in crop yield. In practice, however, we find that the efficiency of photosynthesis in modern varieties is far from optimal. Based on field research, researchers from the Jan Ingenhousz Institute (JII) are exploring the role that genetic variation and environmental conditions play in the efficiency of photosynthesis. As part of their research, they are developing advanced sensors and data science tools. Collaboration with other universities and agriculturalists is crucial in this, says JII research fellow Tom Theeuwen. “We really want to see what’s happening with crops in the field.”

Climate change and population growth are putting increasing pressure on food security. To be able to feed the world whilst limiting the negative impact of food production on the environment, it is vitally important that crops are cultivated as effectively as possible. Photosynthesis – the process by which plants use sunlight to convert water and CO₂ into oxygen and sugars – plays an important role in this. The more efficient the photosynthesis is, the higher the crop yield. But the relationship between photosynthesis and yield is often complex. And that makes improving photosynthesis a huge challenge, says research fellow Tom Theeuwen. “The efficiency of photosynthesis in a crop is determined by different processes in the plant, which in turn are influenced by different genes, involving a lot of variation. These processes are also dependent on external conditions, such as light and temperature, and the influence of these conditions also varies for each crop and genotype and growth phase.”

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