Scientists in the Philippines Are Breeding Climate-Smart Rice

It’s resistant to drought, flooding and sea-level rise and will help farmers continue to grow food in extreme weather. The scientists are using a process called ‘marker-assisted breeding’. First, they identify traits from more resilient rice varieties then breed those genes into the common rice stock. Drought-resistant genes mean that crops can survive for weeks without water and grow with minimal irrigation. Flood-tolerant rice can survive submerged for 2 weeks longer than regular rice. While salt-tolerant genes enable farmers to continue to cultivate crops, even if rising seas inundate their land.