Sustaining
Food Supplies

Food for the World

Most Americans may take rice for granted, but for much of the world, the grain is a staple of their diet. If a crop fails, it can mean starvation for thousands—even millions. UC Davis plant pathologist Pamela Ronald and her colleagues have worked to identify a rice strain that can withstand longer periods of flooding. Because the plants are the product of precision breeding, rather than genetic modification, they are not subject to the same regulatory testing that can delay release of genetically modified crops and researchers anticipate that the plants will be available to farmers in Bangladesh and India within another year. UC Davis researchers have also identified genes that make wheat more tolerant to frost and higher in zinc and iron.

Learn more about the importance of safeguarding food supplies from extreme climate forces.