This project supports an innovative sorghum breeding program at ICRISAT, in collaboration with the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)—a global leader in Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) research.
Modern agriculture relies heavily on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, yet 50–70% of applied nitrogen is often lost through leaching and greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the microbial process of nitrification. A sustainable and cost-effective solution lies in enhancing crops with the BNI trait, which harnesses the plant’s natural ability to slow down this conversion and retain more nitrogen in the soil.
Sorghum, a climate-resilient and nutrient-rich cereal native to Africa, is a vital food source for over 500 million people. It naturally produces a compound called sorgoleone, a potent nitrification inhibitor. This project aims to develop a breeding toolbox for the BNI trait in sorghum, integrate the trait into farmer-preferred varieties, and create a global map identifying soils most suited for nitrification inhibition.
Building on JIRCAS’s success with the BNI trait in wheat (in collaboration with CIMMYT), this partnership is well-positioned to achieve similar breakthroughs in sorghum.
Ultimately, the initiative will to reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers in sorghum cultivation—lowering both environmental impact and production costs while promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.
