As the climate shifts to warmer conditions and higher carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as well as more variable rainfall, plant breeders are working hard to produce new varieties of crops that are better suited to the new conditions. This story from Modern Farmer discusses how plant geneticists are working to develop high-yielding, stress-resistant cultivars that can endure hot, dry growing conditions. This is especially important in places like Africa, where the future expected conditions do not support the growth of bean crops that are a staple food for people who live there. We can expect similar innovations in Southeastern crops like cotton and peanuts, along with shifts to other crops more suited for hotter temperatures and potentially drier conditions.
