New Plants for Extreme Heat: Research for Nutrition
How Scientists Develop Varieties Resilient to Drought and Heatwaves
Heat and drought pose new challenges for agriculture worldwide. Rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns can impair yields and increase pressure on food production. Researchers are therefore looking for plants and varieties that deliver stable yields even under more difficult climatic conditions.
Why Heat Becomes a Problem for Plants
Plants react differently to high temperatures. Critical factors include the duration and intensity of the heat, the amount of water available, and the timing during the growing season. Particularly sensitive developmental phases can be affected by heat or drought.
For agriculture, heat and water scarcity often occur simultaneously. According to Agroscope, dry periods and heatwaves will become more frequent in Switzerland in the future. The consequences for a crop depend strongly on the location and the specific variety. oai_citation:1‡Agroscope
Breeding Aims to Make Plants More Resilient
An important adaptation strategy is the breeding of varieties that can cope better with heat and drought. This involves utilizing traits already present in various varieties or plant species. According to Agroscope, selecting suitable varieties and crops is one of the key measures for more climate-resilient agriculture. oai_citation:2‡Agroscope
New breeding technologies are also being investigated. Agroscope indicates that new methods generally offer potential for developing resilient plants. At the same time, such methods are legally and socially controversial in Switzerland. oai_citation:3‡Agroscope
Traditional Breeding Also Remains Important
However, adaptation to climate change is not limited to new technologies. The selection of suitable crops, classical plant breeding, and the combination of various traits also play an important role. When choosing varieties, breeders and agriculture must consider not only heat but also drought, diseases, pests, and the requirements for yield and quality.
Agroscope is therefore investigating different approaches for climate-resilient arable farming. In a study on arable farming 2035, drought and heat-tolerant varieties, adapted crops, irrigation, and diverse crop rotation are named as elements of a comprehensive adaptation strategy. oai_citation:4‡Agroscope
Swiss Research Seeks Adapted Plants
Concrete research projects are also underway in Switzerland. Agroscope, for example, is investigating which plants and varieties cope better with changed climatic conditions. This includes crops that previously had less importance in Switzerland.
Sorghum, among others, is being investigated. This millet species is adapted to warm and dry conditions and could therefore become more interesting in certain regions of Switzerland in the future. Agroscope is also researching other alternative crops and developing varieties that can better withstand both heat and the changeable weather conditions typical for Switzerland. oai_citation:5‡Agroscope
Adaptation possibilities are also being sought for existing crops. Agroscope, for example, is examining the climate suitability of winter wheat and grain maize. This shows that not only temperature is crucial: water availability, development time, and the timing of sensitive growth phases also influence yields. oai_citation:6‡Agroscope
Drought-Resistant Plants in Field Tests
A trial in the Swiss mountainous region demonstrates how such adaptations can work. Agroscope is testing various forage crop mixtures under simulated conditions with severe summer drought. Plant species that cope differently well with water scarcity are being compared.
In the initial trials, mixtures with drought-resistant species proved more resilient. In the 2024 simulation, their yield loss was around 30 percent, while conventional mixtures saw a decline of about 50 percent. At the same time, differences in forage quality became apparent. Researchers are therefore seeking the best possible balance between resilience, yield, and quality. oai_citation:7‡Agroscope
New Varieties Alone Are Not Enough
However, adapting agriculture will not succeed through new plants alone. Heat and drought interact with other factors such as diseases, pests, and changes in water availability. Irrigation, soil management, crop rotations, and the selection of suitable crops also play a role.
The Federal Office for Agriculture points out that higher temperatures and more frequent dry periods can lead to crop failures. Simultaneously, pests can spread more widely. This makes the adaptation of the entire food system more important – from production and processing to supply. oai_citation:8‡Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft
A Race Against Climate Change
The development of resilient plants is therefore a long-term process. New varieties must not only withstand heat and drought but also be economically and qualitatively convincing under normal conditions. Furthermore, the development and testing of new varieties often take many years.
For Swiss agriculture, climate change therefore means a combination of various adaptation measures. Robust varieties can make an important contribution. Agroscope views the breeding of drought and heat-tolerant varieties as one component of a comprehensive strategy for climate-resilient arable farming. oai_citation:9‡Agroscope
Research into climate-adapted plants could therefore play a larger role in food security in the future. It will not be able to eliminate the consequences of climate change but can help agriculture adapt to changed conditions.
