Climate change is increasingly threatening global food security by reducing food production as temperatures rise. For every 1 °C increase in global temperature, food production decreases by about 4.4% of the recommended daily intake per person. Environmental stressors like increased soil salinity, drought, and extreme temperatures contribute significantly to crop-yield losses. In places like coastal Bangladesh, climate change has led to more cyclones and rising sea levels, damaging millions of hectares of farmland. As the global population grows, with many already undernourished, scientists are exploring synthetic biology to create crops that can withstand harsh conditions. This involves using gene-editing tools to enhance stress tolerance in crops. However, questions remain about whether synthetic biology can effectively and equitably address food insecurity.
QUESTION: How might advancements in synthetic biology change the way we approach food production in the future?
Engineering resilient food systems in a warming world
