Drought-Resistant Rice Genes Make Sturdy Crop
By Emily Sohn
Around the world, rice sustains billions of people with a cheap source of nutrition. There’s only one problem: Rice generally requires lots of water, and many people who depend on the crop live in extremely dry places. When the rain stops, rice wilts. Hunger follows.
Now, for the first time, scientists have identified a group of genes that consistently double the yield of rice in drought conditions. The discovery could help provide a reliable source of food for people in some of the poorest places.
“This was far more than we ever would have expected,” said Jerome Bernier, who recently completed his Ph.D. at the University of Alberta Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, and will begin working with Dow Agro-Sciences in Hawaii in January. If the crop proves its worth, he added, “The applications will be tremendous.”
In Myanmar, Bangladesh, and other Asian countries, rice provides up to 60 percent of people’s calories. But growing conditions are not always ideal.
For related news, visit our Health Channel for Change
Photo: Praziquantel/Flickr
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Related causes: Environment, Health
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