A changing climate is threatening crop growth around the world, and its effects are taking place today. But scientists already hold the solution in their hands: gene editing.  

By making small changes to crops’ DNA, scientists can protect them from rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions. In addition to helping crops withstand environmental stresses, scientists can improve their attributes, helping them to grow faster and require less water, for example. 

Consumer choices have a significant impact on whether these climate-friendly crops will succeed in the market. 

“When you think about land use and the predictions for climate change, much of it depends on consumer preferences,” says Christine Foyer, a professor of plant sciences at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. “People decide what they eat, and economics drives the crops which drives the science. Everybody matters.”