<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta name="description" content="Agricultural biotechnology can be an important tool for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change and for achieving important societal goals such as reduced poverty, improved global food security, and reduced environmental impacts from agriculture. That’s why agricultural biotechnology is part of USDA’s toolkit for a healthy planet and sustainable future." />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology/climate-change" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Biotechnology and Climate Change" />
<meta property="og:description" content="Agricultural biotechnology can be an important tool for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change and for achieving important societal goals such as reduced poverty, improved global food security, and reduced environmental impacts from agriculture. That’s why agricultural biotechnology is part of USDA’s toolkit for a healthy planet and sustainable future." />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/oce-biotech-preview-img.jpg" />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Agricultural biotechnology can be an important tool for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change and for achieving important societal goals such as reduced poverty, improved global food security, and reduced environmental impacts from agriculture. That’s why agricultural biotechnology is part of USDA’s toolkit for a healthy planet and sustainable future." />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Biotechnology and Climate Change" />
<meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology/climate-change" />
<meta name="msvalidate.01" content="36F1A09D7116D0E8D667792CE040A6C3" />
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="qUN2GJfA5CL2sBzEQEtHGaF7tScF8afQLCP2MfqO5YA" />
<meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" />
<meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" />
<meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology/climate-change" />
<link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.usda.gov/node/47888" />
<script src="/sites/default/files/google_tag/primary/google_tag.script.js?sbt7gu" defer></script>

    <title>Biotechnology and Climate Change | USDA</title>
    <!-- Favicons
    ================================================== -->
    <!-- 128x128 -->
    <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/ico" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon.ico" />
    <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon.png" />
    <!-- 192x192, as recommended for Android
    http://updates.html5rocks.com/2014/11/Support-for-theme-color-in-Chrome-39-for-Android
    -->
    <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-192.png" />
    <!-- 57x57 (precomposed) for iPhone 3GS, pre-2011 iPod Touch and older Android devices -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-57.png">
    <!-- 72x72 (precomposed) for 1st generation iPad, iPad 2 and iPad mini -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-72.png">
    <!-- 114x114 (precomposed) for iPhone 4, 4S, 5 and post-2011 iPod Touch -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-114.png">
    <!-- 144x144 (precomposed) for iPad 3rd and 4th generation -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-144.png">

    <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.css?sbt7gu" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/ckeditor_accordion/css/accordion.frontend.css?sbt7gu" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/usda/css/styles.css?sbt7gu" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/themes/usda/css/print.css?sbt7gu" />

    
    <!-- We participate in the US government's analytics program. See the data at analytics.usa.gov. -->
    <script async type="text/javascript" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=USDA&sp=lookup,locate&exts=pdf,xls,zip,jpg,gif,mp3&dclink=true&yt=true&enhlink=true" id="_fed_an_ua_tag"></script>
    <!-- Google Analytics USDA -->
    <script>
      (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
      (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
      m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
      })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

      ga('create', 'UA-27627304-1', 'auto');
      ga('create', 'UA-96909960-1', 'auto', {'name': 'usdaTracker'}); // New tracker.
      ga("create", "UA-27627304-46", {"cookieDomain":"auto"});

      ga("require", "displayfeatures");

      ga('send', 'pageview');
      ga('usdaTracker.send', 'pageview'); // Send page view for new tracker

      ga('send', 'event', 'MP3', 'play', 'USDA Radio Stories');
      ga('send', 'event', 'WAV', 'play', 'USDA Radio Stories');

    </script>
  </head>
  <body class="path-node page-node-type-page">
        <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-N65GDDH" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>
      <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>
    
<a href="#main-content" class="usa-skipnav">
  Skip to main content
</a>
<header class="usa-header usa-header-extended" role="banner" aria-label="Page Header">
  <div class="usa-banner">
    <div class="usa-accordion">
      <header class="usa-banner-header" aria-label="Official United States Government Website Disclaimer">
        <div class="usa-grid usa-banner-inner">
        <img src="/themes/usda/img/favicons/flag-favicon-57.png" alt="U.S. flag">
        <p>An official website of the United States government</p>
        <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-banner-button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner">
          <span class="usa-banner-button-text">Here’s how you know</span>
        </button>
        </div>
      </header>
      <div class="usa-banner-content usa-grid usa-accordion-content" id="gov-banner" aria-hidden="true">
        <div class="usa-banner-guidance-gov usa-width-one-half">
          <img class="usa-banner-icon usa-media_block-img" src="/themes/usda/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" alt="Dot gov">
          <div class="usa-media_block-body">
            <p>
                <strong>
                    Official websites use .gov
                </strong>
                <br>
                A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            </p>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div class="usa-banner-guidance-ssl usa-width-one-half">
          <img class="usa-banner-icon usa-media_block-img" src="/themes/usda/img/icon-https.svg" alt="SSL">
          <div class="usa-media_block-body">
          <p>
              <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong>
              <br>
              A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description"><title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title><desc id="banner-lock-description">A locked padlock</desc><path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"></path></svg></span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

            </p>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="usa-banner">
  <div class="usa-navbar">
    <button class="usa-menu-btn">Menu</button>
    <div class="usa-logo">
      <span href="/" title="Home" rel="home" class="usda-logo">
      <img src="/themes/usda/img/usda-symbol.svg" alt="USDA Logo" class="usda-logo-img" />
    </span>
      	  		<a class="usda-logo-text" href="/" title="Home" aria-label="The U.S. Department of Agriculture Home Page" rel="home">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>
  	  </div>

  </div>
</div>

  <nav class="usa-nav" aria-label="Navigation">
    <div class="usa-nav-inner">
      <button class="usa-nav-close">
        <img src="/themes/usda/img/close.svg" alt="close">
      </button>
          <nav aria-labelledby="block-usda-main-menu-menu" id="block-usda-main-menu" class="usda-block">
            
  <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-usda-main-menu-menu">Main navigation</h2>
  

        
        <ul class="usa-nav-primary usa-accordion">
          <li>
                            <a href="/" class="usa-nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>"><span>Home</span></a>
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link usa-current" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-2">
            <span>Topics</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-2" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/topics" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53242"><span>Topics</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/animals" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6503">Animals</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/biotechnology" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6440">Biotechnology</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/broadband" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26733">Broadband</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/conservation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6372">Conservation</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/coronavirus" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42619">Coronavirus</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/data" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6509">Data</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/disaster-resource-center" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42098">Disaster Resource Center</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/farming" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6691">Farming</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/food-and-nutrition" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6376">Food and Nutrition</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/forestry" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6422">Forestry</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/health-and-safety" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6418">Health and Safety</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/invasive-species" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/51338">Invasive Species</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/opioids" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21406">Opioids</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/organic" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6151">Organic</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/plants" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6505">Plants</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/recreation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6710">Recreation</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/research-and-science" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6374">Research and Science</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/rural" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6423">Rural</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/trade" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6411">Trade</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/urban" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48397">Urban Agriculture</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-3">
            <span>Our Agency</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-3" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4831"><span>Our Agency</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/about-usda" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6139">About USDA</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/agencies" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6421">Agencies</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/careers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6399">Careers</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/employee-services" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20196">Employee Services</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/farmbill" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33270">Farm Bill</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/future-of-work" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48224">Future of Work</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/initiatives" title="Initiatives and Highlighted Programs from across the department." data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6698">Initiatives</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/staff-offices" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6695">Staff Offices</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-4">
            <span>Priorities</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-4" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/priorities" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49667"><span>Priorities</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/equity" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/54195">Equity at USDA</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/climate-solutions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49668">Climate Solutions</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/nutrition-security" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49669">Food and Nutrition Security</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/markets" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48905">More, New, and Better Market Opportunities</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-5">
            <span>Media</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-5" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/media" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6697"><span>Media</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/agency-news-releases" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6512">Agency News Releases</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/agency-reports" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/agency-reports">Agency Reports</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/blog" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/blog">Blog</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/digital" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6704">Digital</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/press-releases" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/press-releases">Press Releases</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/radio" title="Latest Radio news from daily newsline and weekly features" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/radio">Radio</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
        </ul>
  



  </nav>


      <form class="usa-search usa-search-small js-search-form" action="https://usdasearch.usda.gov/search" action="get">
        <div role="search">
          <input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓">
          <input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="usda">
          <label class="usa-sr-only" for="header-search">Search usda.gov</label>
                    <input id="header-search" autocomplete="off" accesskey="i" name="query" type="search">
          <button type="submit">
            <span class="usa-sr-only">Search</span>
          </button>
          <input name="commit" type="hidden" value="Search">
        </div>
      </form>
      <div class="usa-nav-secondary">
            <nav aria-labelledby="block-usda-utilitynavigation-menu" id="block-usda-utilitynavigation" class="usda-block">
            
  <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-usda-utilitynavigation-menu">Utility navigation</h2>
  

        
              <ul class="usa-unstyled-list usa-nav-secondary-links">
              <li>
        <a href="/glossary" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6282">Glossary</a>
              </li>
          <li>
        AskUSDA
              </li>
          <li>
        Recalls
              </li>
          <li>
        Contact Us
              </li>
        </ul>
  


  </nav>


      </div>
    </div>
  </nav>
</header>
<div class="usa-overlay"></div>


  <div class="usa-hero" style="background-image: url('/sites/default/files/img/2022-02/oce-biotech-hero.jpg')"></div>

  <div class="usda-breadcrumb-with-sidebar">
  
  </div>


<main id="main-content"
  class="usa-grid usa-section usa-content usa-layout-docs with-sidebar with-hero    ">

      <aside class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-layout-docs-sidenav">
        <div>
    <nav aria-labelledby="block-secondarynavigation-menu" id="block-secondarynavigation" class="usda-block">
            
  <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-secondarynavigation-menu">Secondary Navigation</h2>
  

        
            <ul class="usa-sidenav-list"/>
                                                      <li>
          <a href="/topics/animals" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6503">Animals</a>
                  </li>
                                                                                                                                                                                                            <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6440">Biotechnology</a>
                                  <ul class="usa-sidenav-sub_list">
                                                      <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/bioeconomy" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/52952">Bioeconomy</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/how-federal-government-regulates-biotech-plants" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6447">How the Federal Government Regulates Biotech Plants</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/biotechnology-frequently-asked-questions-faqs" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6404">Biotechnology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/biotechnology-glossary" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6339">Biotechnology Glossary</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/roles-usda-agencies-biotechnology" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6446">Roles of USDA Agencies in Biotechnology</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/advisory-committee-biotechnology-21st-century-agriculture-ac21" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6504">Advisory Committee on Biotechnology & 21st Century Agriculture (AC21)</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/biotechnology/climate-change" class="usa-current is-active" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/47888">Biotechnology and Climate Change</a>
                  </li>
              </ul>
  
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/broadband" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26733">Broadband</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/conservation" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6372">Conservation</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/coronavirus" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42619">Coronavirus</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/data" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6509">Data</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/disaster-resource-center" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42098">Disaster Resource Center</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/farming" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6691">Farming</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/food-and-nutrition" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6376">Food and Nutrition</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/forestry" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6422">Forestry</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/health-and-safety" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6418">Health and Safety</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/invasive-species" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/51338">Invasive Species</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/opioids" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21406">Opioids</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/organic" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6151">Organic</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/plants" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6505">Plants</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/recreation" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6710">Recreation</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/research-and-science" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6374">Research and Science</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/rural" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6423">Rural</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/trade" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6411">Trade</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/topics/urban" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48397">Urban Agriculture</a>
                  </li>
              </ul>
  


  </nav>

  </div>

    </aside>
  
  <div class="usa-width-three-fourths usa-layout-docs-main_content">
    

    <div id="block-usda-page-title" class="usda-block usda-page-title-block usda-page-title-block-with-hero">
  
    
      
  <h1 class="usda-page-title usda-page-title-with-hero"><span>Biotechnology and Climate Change</span>
</h1>


  </div>
<div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div>
<div id="block-usda-content" class="usda-block">
  
    
      <article>

  
    

  
  <div>
    
  <p>Agricultural biotechnology can be an important tool for addressing the causes and consequences of climate change and for achieving important societal goals such as reduced poverty, improved global food security, and reduced environmental impacts from agriculture. That’s why agricultural biotechnology is part of USDA’s toolkit for a healthy planet and sustainable future.</p>

<h3 class="usda-featured-header">Causes and impacts of climate change</h3>

<p>Human influence on the climate through emission of greenhouse gases is clear. In the U.S., agriculture and forestry contributed an estimated 10.5% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 (USDA-ERS). Impacts of climate change on agriculture include increased temperatures and increased incidence or severity of extreme weather events.</p>

<center><img src="/sites/default/files/climate-change-img.jpg" alt="Diagram representing the impacts of climate change on agriculture, with radial arrows pointing to: lower yields; more droughts; increased soil salinity; higher temperatures; more wildfires; increased storm severity; more flooding; and more pests and diseases."></center>

Impacts of climate change image adapted from Application of Gene Editing for Climate Change in Agriculture(2021).

<h3 class="usda-featured-header">Mitigating and adapting to climate change</h3>

<img src="/sites/default/files/hands-holding-corn-img.jpg" alt="President Barack Obama holds ears of corn affected by drought in August 2012. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza." align="left" hspace="5">
<p>Agricultural biotechnology provides ways to both mitigate and enhance adaptation to environmental changes. Products developed with agricultural biotechnology may contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as cover crops that provide sustainable biofuels, fruits and vegetables that stay fresh longer and reduce food waste. Researchers are also developing ways to draw excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere with trees and even microbes.</p>

<p>Using agricultural biotechnology, plant and animal breeders can more quickly develop plants and animals that are adapted to changing environmental conditions, such as drought, increased temperatures, new diseases, and other stressors.</p>

<img src="/sites/default/files/oce-biotech-cattle.jpg" alt="Cattle with the SLICK gene have sleek, short hair that helps keep them cool in subtropical heat." align="left" hspace="5">
<p>For example, plant breeders are using agricultural biotechnology to develop drought-tolerant crops including wheat, rice, tomato, soybean, and cotton. Drought-tolerant corn, including certain varieties developed with genetic engineering, is already being grown across drought-prone areas in the United States. Drought-tolerant wheat is approved for use in Argentina and Brazil.</p>

<p>Animal breeders are using agricultural biotechnology, including genome editing, to develop heat-tolerant cattle that are better able to regulate body temperature during hot conditions. These cattle have reduced heat stress, due to shorter hair and metabolic changes.</p>

<h3 class="usda-featured-header">Creating a more sustainable world</h3>

<img src="/sites/default/files/oce-biotech-butterfly.jpg" alt="Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly feeding on a pink Zinnia elegans flower at the Bee Research Lab pollinator garden in Beltsville, Maryland." align="left" hspace="5">
<p>In addition to helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change, application of agricultural biotechnology can help advance the sustainability of food systems. The United States is a leader in agricultural research and development to improve productivity and promote climate-smart use of natural resources in agriculture.</p>

<p>Through evidence-based innovation and science, including agricultural biotechnology, we can expand the toolbox for farmers, fishers, and other producers to produce more with less – less land, less water, fewer inputs and resources. Innovative and creative solutions are necessary for food systems to keep pace with evolving needs and challenges. Increasing agricultural productivity can reduce agriculture’s environmental impacts, and also alleviate poverty, improve food security and nutrition, and raise standards of living.</p>


  </div>

</article>

  </div>

  </div>

</main>


  <footer class="usa-footer usa-footer-slim">
    <div class="usa-grid usa-footer-return-to-top">
      Return to top
    </div>
      <div>
    <div class="usa-footer-primary-section">
  <div class="usa-grid-full">
    <nav class="usa-footer-nav" aria-labelledby="block-mainnavigation-2-menu" id="block-mainnavigation-2" class="usda-block">
                                
      <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-mainnavigation-2-menu">Main navigation - Footer</h2>
      

                    
        <ul class="usa-unstyled-list">
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>"><span>Home</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/topics" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53242"><span>Topics</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/our-agency" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4831"><span>Our Agency</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/priorities" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49667"><span>Priorities</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/media" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6697"><span>Media</span></a>
              </li>
        </ul>
  



          </nav>
  </div>
</div>
<div class="usa-footer-secondary_section">
  <div class="usa-grid-full">
    <nav class="usa-footer-nav usa-width-two-thirds" aria-labelledby="block-usda-footernavigation-menu" id="block-usda-footernavigation" class="usda-block">
                                
      <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-usda-footernavigation-menu">Footer navigation</h2>
      

                    
        <ul class="usa-unstyled-list usda-footer-navigation">
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        AskUSDA
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Pandemic Assistance
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Contact Us
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/sitemap" data-drupal-link-system-path="sitemap">Site Map</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/policies-and-links" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6232">Policies and Links</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/our-agency/about-usda/performance" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6373">Our Performance</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Careers
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Report Fraud on USDA Contracts
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Inspector General
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/plain-writing" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6095">Plain Language Writing in USDA</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/open" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6370">Open</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/ogc/office-information-affairs/foia-division" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/45641">FOIA</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/accessibility-statement" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6539">Accessibility Statement</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/privacy-policy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6516">Privacy Policy</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/non-discrimination-statement" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6409">Non-Discrimination Statement</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/oascr/civil-rights-statements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34642">Anti-Harassment Policy</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Information Quality
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        USA.gov
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        WhiteHouse.gov
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/federal-web-site-inventory" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6118">eGov</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Feedback
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/nofear" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26595">No FEAR Act Data</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Office of Special Counsel
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Whistleblower Protection Coordinator
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/vulnerability-disclosure-policy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42655">Vulnerability Disclosure Policy</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/ocfo/plans-reports/agency-financial-reports" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49604">Agency Financial Reports</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/partner-portal" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53405">USDA CARES Partner Portal</a>
              </li>
        </ul>
  


          </nav>
    <div id="block-constantcontactsignuplist" class="usda-block">
  
    
      
            <div><div class="usa-sign_up-block usa-width-one-third">

        <h3 class="usa-sign_up-header">Sign Up for Updates</h3>

  <a style="color:white;font-weight:bold;" class="usa-button usa-button" href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Sk_8Aa13394xonLLUknSR_CtAy6sVkj7-WTntErj4YHitEGv_xZXTgEreyr8MdkMKJ6cnoDLHPraoNtEuHeVpYuA7EHtjdGdcHtASf8lweU%3D" target=

        "_blank">Subscribe</a>

      </div>

    </div>

  </div></div>
      
  </div>

  </div>

    <div class="usa-grid usda-footer-branding">
        <div>
    <div class="usa-logo">
      <span href="/" title="Home" rel="home" class="usda-logo">
      <img src="/themes/usda/img/usda-symbol.svg" alt="USDA Logo" class="usda-logo-img" />
    </span>
      	  		<a class="usda-logo-text" href="/" title="Home" aria-label="The U.S. Department of Agriculture Home Page" rel="home">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>
  	  </div>

  </div>

      <div class="footer-social">
        <div class="footer-social-set">
          <a class="usa-link-twitter" href="https://www.twitter.com/usda/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Twitter</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/usda/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Facebook</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/usda" target="_top"><span>USDA on LinkedIn</span></a>
          <a alt="USDA Constant Contact" class="usa-link-constant-contact" href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Sk_8Aa13394xonLLUknSR_CtAy6sVkj7-WTntErj4YHitEGv_xZXTgEreyr8MdkMKJ6cnoDLHPraoNtEuHeVpYuA7EHtjdGdcHtASf8lweU%3D" target="_top"><span>USDA Constant Contact</span></a>
        </div>
        <div class="footer-social-set">
          <a class="usa-link-instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/usdagov/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Instagram</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-flickr" href="https://flickr.com/usdagov" rel="publisher" target="_top"><span>USDA on Flickr</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/usda/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Youtube</span></a>
        </div>
        <div class="footer-social">
          <div class="footer-social-set">
            <a class="usa-link-rss" href="/rss-feeds" target="_top"><span>USDA RSS</span></a>
          </div>
        </div>

      </div>
    </div>
  </footer>

  </div>

    
    <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/47888","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":false,"extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"^https?:\/\/[^\/]+\\.(gov|us|mil)\/","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"You are now leaving the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website and entering an external link or a third-party site.\n\nThe USDA website provides links to other websites to provide additional information that may be useful or interesting, and is being provided in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the content you are viewing on the website. USDA is providing these links for your reference. Once you access another site through a link that we provide, you are subject to the copyright and licensing restrictions of the new site.\n\nIt is the sole responsibility of you, the user of this site, to carefully examine the content of the site and all linked pages for privacy, copyright and licensing restrictions and to secure all necessary permissions if applicable.","mailtoClass":"0","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","whitelistedDomains":null}},"ckeditorAccordion":{"accordionStyle":{"collapseAll":1,"keepRowsOpen":0,"animateAccordionOpenAndClose":1,"openTabsWithHash":1}},"ajax":[],"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"f8aee0238b8c9d927e579055ca13b7d6b049c5bab4784fb84ace390e08c3ba67"}}</script>
<script src="/core/assets/vendor/jquery/jquery.min.js?v=3.7.1"></script>
<script src="/core/assets/vendor/once/once.min.js?v=1.0.1"></script>
<script src="/core/misc/drupalSettingsLoader.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/core/misc/drupal.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/core/misc/drupal.init.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/uswds.min.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/matchHeight.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/usda.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/grid.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/modules/contrib/ckeditor_accordion/js/accordion.frontend.min.js?sbt7gu"></script>

    <script type="text/javascript">
    /*<![CDATA[*/
    (function() {
    var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true;
    sz.src = '//us1.siteimprove.com/js/siteanalyze_63343.js';
    var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s);
    })();
    /*]]>*/
    </script>
  </body>
</html>