A New Strain of Rice developed by the Scientists that could boost Crop Yields

Scientists developed a new strain of rice that could increase crop yields by a fifth for small farmers. It grows well in soils lacking the nutrient phosphorus. The gene will be now transferred to modern varieties of rice using classic methods of cross-breeding, not genetic engineering.

Many soil types bond tightly to phosphorus, allowing only a small quantity of the precious mineral to plant roots.To solve this problems, farmers seek help of phosphorus fertilisers. But in poor countries, this option costs too much, which means the plant is left undernourished. Ultimately, this meagre growth affects yields.

In October 2011, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said the global population of seven billion could rise to at least 10 billion by 2100. Therefore, we need more yields. Phosphate fertilisers are typically extracted from layers of rock which were ocean sediments millions of years ago.