Drought- and flood-tolerant food crops

CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research group, plays a crucial role in improving plant and animal genetics to enhance agricultural productivity. Its Mexico lab was the site of Norman Borlaug's groundbreaking research on wheat, which sparked the Green Revolution. Inspired by Borlaug's work, CGIAR researchers have developed high-yielding, disease-resistant rice, livestock, potatoes, and maize, which have helped reduce poverty and improve nutrition. In the future, CGIAR will be essential in creating new climate-smart crops and livestock to benefit the world's impoverished farmers.

One notable achievement is CGIAR's work on drought-tolerant maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the crop's significance to over 200 million households in the region, maize yields are the lowest in the world. Erratic weather patterns pose a risk of low or no harvest for farmers. CGIAR's experts created dozens of drought-resistant maize varieties adapted to specific African regions. Initially, farmers were skeptical of these new seeds. However, as CGIAR's experts worked with local farmers and seed dealers to educate them about the benefits of these varieties, more people adopted them. The results have been transformative for many families. For example, Zimbabwean farmers in drought-stricken areas who planted drought-tolerant maize harvested up to 600 more kilograms of maize per hectare than those who used conventional varieties, providing enough food for a family of six for nine months. For farmers who chose to sell their harvest, the extra income helped them meet their household needs and send their children to school. CGIAR's affiliated experts have since developed other maize varieties that thrive in poor soil, resist pests, diseases, or weeds, and raise crop yields by up to 30 percent, contributing to the fight against malnutrition.

CGIAR's efforts have also led to the rapid spread of drought-tolerant rice varieties in India, where climate change has caused more dry spells during the rainy season. Additionally, they've created "scuba" rice, which is capable of surviving underwater for up to two weeks by remaining dormant due to the activation of the SUB1 gene during floods. CGIAR's focus isn't solely on new seeds, as they have also developed a smartphone app to help farmers identify pests and diseases attacking cassava in Africa, as well as using drones and ground sensors to assist farmers in determining the amount of water and fertilizer their crops need. To provide more advances like these, CGIAR and other agricultural researchers will need more funding. Agricultural research is commonly underfunded, and the Global Commission on Adaptation, led by Bill Gates, Ban Ki-moon, and Kristalina Georgieva, has recommended doubling CGIAR's funding so it can reach more farmers. CGIAR's research generates about $6 in benefits for every dollar invested, making it a worthwhile investment that saves lives.

Gates, Bill. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (p. 165-167). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.