Chinese scientists have made significant strides in developing heat-resistant crops to address the challenges posed by climate change on agriculture.

Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology utilized an innovative gene-editing tool to enhance a tomato gene called LIN5, improving its performance under heat stress.

This modification boosts the gene's expression during high temperatures, which helps mitigate sugar deficiency in fruits.

Field tests demonstrated that this approach increased tomato yields by 14 to 47 percent under normal conditions and by 26 to 33 percent during heat stress, effectively preventing 56 to 100 percent of heat-related yield losses.

In related research, genetic engineering applied to rice showed potential yield increases of 7 to 13 percent under normal conditions and up to 25 percent under heat stress, reducing heat-induced losses by 41 percent.

These breakthroughs represent a significant advancement toward developing climate-resilient crops, aligning with global food security goals.

With a projected increase of two degrees Celsius in global temperatures potentially leading to crop losses of 3 to 13 percent, the need for resilient crop varieties is more urgent than ever.

The urgency of these scientific advances is underscored by the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with an aim for 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

The research findings were published in the journal Cell, highlighting the importance of climate-smart agricultural practices.

Tests conducted in various environments, including greenhouses and open fields, confirmed the effectiveness of these innovative approaches.

Overall, these advancements mark a new era of climate-smart, high-yield, and stable crop design.