*5.7. Agronomy*

The keys to the green revolution, whose father was the Nobel laurate Norman Borlaug, were improved seeds, especially the short straw lodging resistant wheat varieties giving higher yields due to a better harvest index and resistance to diseases such as rust. The breeding program was led by Norman Borlaug and supported by inputs (chemicals and fertilizer) and irrigation water [83]. The green revolution spread in all developing and developed regions and helped more than one billion people to survive. The key factor was to find a connection between breeding and agronomy that helped to exploit the greater abilities of the new varieties. This is essentially an update the basic ideas of the Green revolution by Baranski [83] adapted to present needs and balancing the negative e ffects of climate change.

Breeding for more yield resulted in increasing nitrogen and water dependence. We can mention possible shortage in phosphorus and potassium. Today, several breeding companies are focusing on shorter season crops, less water use, and gene editing, among other things. There is an improving efficiency of utilization of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, but insu fficient supply of microelements is also a growing problem. The decoupling of nitrogen from yield dependence is another central research area. Nevertheless, breeding for higher yields still has priority. Wang et al. [84] summarized the possibilities for wheat, but similar patterns exist also for other crops. Pest managemen<sup>t</sup> is also relevant in agronomy to protect grain against pests, pathogens, and weeds. E ffective disease control is indispensable in epidemic years. However, the contemporary storage needs also pesticides for insect control and specific fungicides against diseases.
