Rice Genetically Modified To Be More Salt Tolerant Could Be a Key To Reducing Food Shortages

According to researchers at the University of Sheffield, reducing the number of stomata in rice makes it more tolerant to salt water.

As sea levels rise, seawater is reaching previously unreachable areas, causing increased crop damage.

Sheffield scientists had previously discovered that rice with fewer stomata is more drought resistant, requiring up to 60% less water; now, they have demonstrated that the same plants can also grow in salty conditions.

Genetically modified rice could be key to tackling food shortages

(Photo : Pierre Bamin/Unsplash)

Rice that has been genetically modified to be more salt tolerant could be grown in places where it would otherwise fail, according to new research from the University of Sheffield, as per ScienceDaily.

As sea levels rise due to climate change, more and more places around the world are experiencing seawater inundation, which occurs when salt water from the sea floods further inland, destroying crops that can't cope with the increased salinity.

Rice is one of the worst affected crops; as the most important carbohydrate on the planet, it is relied on by 3.5 billion people every day, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to grow in countries such as Vietnam due to increasing seawater interference.

According to research from the University of Sheffield's Institute for Sustainable Food, genetically modifying rice to reduce the number of stomata (tiny openings used for water loss) makes it more salt-resistant.

Stomata are plant openings that regulate carbon dioxide uptake for photosynthesis as well as the release of water vapor.

Sheffield scientists discovered several years ago that reducing the number and size of stomata in rice plants allows them to use up to 60% less water, making them extremely beneficial in drought-prone areas.

These findings, along with the new ones published in the New Phytologist, indicated that rice can be adapted to survive in harsher environments as a result of climate change, which will aid in the fight against global food insecurity.

However, the researchers discovered that reducing the number and size of stomata could make rice more difficult to grow in extremely hot temperatures.

As a result, various modifications will be required to ensure that rice grows as efficiently as possible in various countries and environments.

Rice with fewer, larger stomata, for example, may be better suited to growing in extremely hot temperatures.

Also read: GMO 'Kill Switch' Makes Them Safer for Nature

A Solution to Hunger?

World hunger and food insecurity are recurring issues in most developing countries. Among the many potential biotechnologies available and the various applications, genetic modification (GM) of crops deserves special attention, as per the UN.

Genetically modified crops containing genes from various species could potentially alleviate global food shortages.

Although there was initial excitement surrounding the use of GM crops, with the expectation that they would provide farmers with larger and better harvests, there are still questions about the benefits of such crops.

Furthermore, the general public may be opposed to the development of "super plants" as a viable solution to global hunger.

The environmental impact of GM crops is critical in terms of ensuring food security in developing countries.

Genetically modified crops have the potential to fail to germinate, to kill organisms that are beneficial to plants and reduce soil fertility, and to transfer insecticidal properties or virus resistance to wild relatives of the crop species.

A subset of the scientific community frequently suggested that higher agricultural yields can help reduce food insecurity and hunger in developing countries.

However, there are numerous issues and challenges that question the feasibility of this proposal.

A few crop varieties created specifically for biotechnology can increase yields, but biotechnology cannot solve the problem of hunger in the developing world.

Nonetheless, the potential benefits of biotechnology in a wide range of agricultural applications include livestock management, agricultural product storage, and maintaining current crop yields while reducing the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.

The real question is whether we are intelligent enough to reap the benefits of biotechnological solutions.

But what exactly are these solutions?

Biotechnology provides a promising alternative to synthetic foods as well as an improvement over traditional plant-breeding technology.

It, in conjunction with other advanced agricultural technologies, provides an exciting and environmentally responsible way to meet consumer demand for sustainable agriculture.

More Green Revolutions may become a reality as the benefits of GM crops reach small and marginal farmers.

Related article: GMO Feed is NOT Hurting Our Livestock, Say Researchers