Have researched into Kerrepei when I did my Nuffield Scholarship. Too many genes involved. It would be a masterful effort and would take many many years to perfect. A bit like perennial wheat which I also looked into all as means of managing high oil prices and shrotages should they begin to unfold. All these complex characteristics are functions of expressions of a number of different genes which makes the exact set of genes very hard to identify in the first place. Thats where the big battle is.
Now meat commodities are finally starting to surge I anticipate a major protein boom into 2009 and we will finally see a revaluation in pulses and legumes. At this point it will become very interesting because we will likely still have deficit staple cereal markets and the last thing these markets will want to see is a swing back to legumes which output wise give you half the volume of food of cereals.
I really don't think even the most bullish of forecasters in the agriculture scene really appreciate how hard this is going to run. Its scary but it is very exciting as well as I always dreamed of agriculture becoming central to economic growth once again. After all we are energy producers ... ;)
