Question: How do you intend to improve human health with the aid of new crops?

anon answered on 16 Jun 2021:

Hi Amber, the aim of the Darwin Tree of Life project is to provide a lot of genetic data for scientists to work from. We’re not researching ways to improve agricultural plants as part of this work, though some of the researchers may collaborate with (or be a part of) groups that do. Some of the data we generate may be useful to crop researchers in providing a starting point for their own work; this could include an investigation into an understudied group of species or a search for genes of interest that may promote, for example, resistance to heat or cold – something that would be really useful as the climate changes.