Drought‑Tolerant Maize and Resilient Wheat Boost Food Security

Researchers in Colombia have engineered new varieties of maize that tolerate prolonged drought by modifying genes that control hormone signaling, stomatal behavior, root efficiency and protective proteins. The goal is to maintain yields and reduce water loss as climate change increases the frequency of dry periods, thereby strengthening food security.

In the Middle East, a five‑year collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian scientists, funded with €2.2 million from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, produced a climate‑resilient wheat line called “Ufuq”. Led by Professor Zvi Peleg of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and supported by Wageningen University, the wheat is bred to sustain productivity under limited rainfall and higher temperatures, addressing the region’s shrinking growing season and supporting agricultural stability.