This scale and complexity made mapping the barley genome a daunting task. An international research consortium worked for nearly 10 years, from the mid 2000s, before an initial reference version of the barley genome was published, in Nature in 2017.

One of the contributors was the German plant geneticist Christoph Dockter (b.1978) of the Carlsberg Research Laboratory. Later, he played a key role in the development of a more detailed barley pangenome, which was also published in Nature, in 2024.

Dockter’s research has since had a major impact on translating the basic knowledge about the barley genome into concrete applications. In addition to the mapping effort, he has also helped identify several genes that control the architecture of the barley culm and which are therefore important for the plant’s strength, stability and cultivation. Through a targeted focus on this genetic area, researchers have been able to develop more robust barley varieties that are better adapted to modern agriculture.

One significant aspect of Dockter’s work is his contribution to FIND-IT (Fast Identification of Nucleotide variants by droplet DigITal PCR). The method was developed at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory and enables the rapid and precise identification of natural genetic variants with desired properties without the use of genetic engineering. In addition to allowing for an unprecedented degree of precision in the selection of plants with improved climate resilience, growth forms or resistance to disease, the approach also considerably reduces the time from idea to finished variety.

Dockter’s work on genetic variants that increase the resilience and adaptability of barley is part of a broader research focus on developing more stable and resilient crops.

As head of a research project published in Science, he helped demonstrate how a single complex gene, MKK3, that was selected by humans after the domestication of barley controls seed dormancy and the risk of grain germinating in the field before it can be harvested – a phenomenon that annually causes huge global losses of barley crops. The findings give plant breeders new ways of genetic selection to prevent this.

The intensive research focus on barley reflects the plant’s historical and contemporary significance. Barley is one of the world’s oldest cultivated cereals and is now used for animal feed, human food and, not least, in beer and whisky production. Malt quality depends on the combination of starch composition, enzyme activity and protein content. Thanks to the mapping of the genome, researchers can now target the specific genes that govern these properties and thus develop varieties that provide higher quality, bigger yield and more stable production.

Overall, genetic mapping has transformed barley breeding from a traditional agricultural art to a modern, science-driven discipline. Based on precise tools, such as FIND-IT, and interdisciplinary initiatives, such as Eske Willerslev’s research centre AEGIS, researchers and plant breeders can now develop barley varieties that meet today’s production requirements and are prepared for future climate conditions.

This is part of a broader effort to develop climate-resilient crops capable of withstanding more frequent droughts, more extreme precipitation patterns and a growing burden of crop diseases. Tapping into the plant’s natural genetic variation makes it possible to ensure more stable crops and food supplies in a world of rapid climate change.

The chapter is written by Kristian Sjøgren.