Sorghum: a Star Crop to Combat Abiotic Stresses, Food Insecurity, and Hunger Under a Changing Climate: a Review

Climate change poses considerable challenges to global crop production, manifesting in harsh abiotic stresses like drought, high temperatures, and extreme weather events. These adversities exacerbate food insecurity, hunger, and poverty, particularly impacting vulnerable communities in underdeveloped countries. Amid this pressing scenario, a pivotal shift towards resilient crops capable of withstanding such environmental strains is imperative. Sorghum emerges as a promising climate-smart crop, uniquely equipped to endure adverse climatic conditions, and address nutritional needs. This review critically assesses the landscape of sorghum resilience amidst climate change and outlines its multifaceted role in bolstering food security and alleviating hunger. It goes beyond prior studies by emphasizing specific gaps in understanding sorghum’s adaptability to diverse abiotic stresses and its underexplored potential in mitigating food crises. Notably, it delves into novel perspectives, such as the efficacy of biostimulants in enhancing sorghum resilience and the cultivation of sweet sorghum for biofuel production in marginal lands. By elucidating the unmet potentials and highlighting avenues for harnessing sorghum’s resilience, this study aims to catalyze informed strategies for combating the deleterious impacts of climate change on global food security and hunger.