- Asian Scientist
- Posts
- Growing heat-resistant crops 🌾
Growing heat-resistant crops 🌾
As prolonged periods of drought increase, scientists in Southeast Asia are developing heat-resistant crops to ensure the region stays fed.
Feature of the week
From rice to legumes: How scientists are developing heat-resistant crops 🔥
In 2023, Earth was about 1.4 degrees warmer than the late 19th-century average—making 2023 the hottest year on modern record.
In Southeast Asia, this heat was further exacerbated by El Niño, which brought record-high temperatures in July—raising concerns over the impact on food production in the region. Although many staple crops have evolved to withstand heat, they are often unable to adapt to extreme heat and drought, leading to lower yields and, sometimes, crop failures.
In response, scientists in Southeast Asia have begun to develop heat-resistant crops and advise local policymakers and farmers on the best agricultural practices to ensure that the region—home to 8.5 percent of the world’s population—stays fed.
Editorial highlights
 | IN THE LAB A previously overlooked local rice variety in Vietnam could be used to help breed more climate-resilient crops, find scientists. |
 | HEALTH Kyushu University researchers have developed an innovative AI model for accurate osteosarcoma prognosis, thereby improving cancer detection and treatment. |
 | As more countries embrace climate modeling, researchers turn to AI to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their models. |
Prefer to read our magazine in print?Subscribe to the print version of Asian Scientist Magazine and receive a complimentary copy of our sister print title, Supercomputing Asia. |  |
Meet the Asian Scientist 100 Community
Sandhya Sriram →Shiok Meats | Singapore 🇸🇬 | Sustainability Sriram and her co-founder Ka Yi Ling were co-recipients of the Nikkei Asia Award for developing stem-cell-based alternative seafood with their company, Shiok Meats. Founded in 2018, the company addresses overfishing and environmental damage caused by fish farm construction. |  |
Daoxin Xie →Tsinghua University | China 🇨🇳 | Agricultural Sciences Xie was conferred the 2022 The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) award in agricultural science for his contributions in plant hormone signaling. He notably contributed to unlocking important signaling mechanisms involving two plant hormones, jasmonate, and strigolactone. |  |