The social valuation as a limiting factor in plant breeding research

The case of Iberian rye

Bibliographic Data

ID12243853
AuthorsAlberto González Remuiñán (0000-0001-6837-6651, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, corresponding author), Dulce Freire (0000-0003-2969-4440, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies)
Year2026
Pages1-15
Publication date2026-01-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRural History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0956-7933 • E-ISSN: 1474-0656
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0956793325100186
OpenAlexW7124917185
LanguageEN
References cited24

Focusing on Iberian rye, we explain how social opinion about crops can influence botanical scholars’ studies and breeding engineers’ research. Rye was an essential plant in some agricultural systems of the Iberian Peninsula for centuries because of its resistance. However, despite rye’s superiority over other cereals in adverse environments, its inferior position compared to wheat regarding food preferences helps to explain a lower consumption and an overall adverse social reputation. The early botanical investigation that formed the basis of later scientific research reflected this appreciation. Thus, with such weak foundations, given the lack of interest, when Iberian rye engineering began to develop in the 20th century, it looked abroad to find varieties of agronomic interest, barely studying native landraces. Analysing this phenomenon is a significant step towards drawing attention to a multifunctional plant adapted to the territory, which can offer solutions to present food and environmental challenges

Agriculture · Consumption (sociology · Limiting · Peninsula · Plant Breeding · Valuation (finance · Organic Food and Agriculture · Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology · Wine Industry and Tourism

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