Genetic resources in crops and livestock can play a crucial role in feeding the world and “much more needs to be done to study, preserve and utilize the biological diversity that underpins world food production,” said the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in releasing a book, “Coping with climate change.” The task of studying the potential of adaptation of agricultural plants and animals “will require updating the goals of agricultural breeding programs – and in some cases introducing varieties, breeds, species, that have not been previously raised,” said FAO. “In particular, improving knowledge, conservation and use of crop wild relatives is important — they are likely to have genetic traits that can be used to develop well-adapted crops for use in climate change-affected food systems.”