Monsanto for example has created a drought-tolerant corn called DroughtGuard, approved for cultivation in the US in 2011. Genetically engineered crops could help Africa mitigate the effects of climate change , writes Steven Le Cerier for the Genetic Literacy Project . With temperatures increasing by half over the last decade and predictions of 4C to 6C rises by 2071 - 2100 , corn yield losses could reach over 30 % . As only 6 % of African farmland is irrigated , other crops are also expected to suffer . Meanwhile , Africa 's population is set to grow from 1.3 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050 , putting strain on food production . Technology such as drought and insect resistant crops or CRISPR - treated crops less prone to disease could lessen the impact .
Genetically engineered crops could help Africa mitigate the effects of climate change , writes Steven Le Cerier for the Genetic Literacy Project . With temperatures increasing by half over the last decade and predictions of 4C to 6C rises by 2071 - 2100 , corn yield losses could reach over 30 % . As only 6 % of African farmland is irrigated , other crops are also expected to suffer . Meanwhile , Africa 's population is set to grow from 1.3 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050 , putting strain on food production . Technology such as drought and insect resistant crops or CRISPR - treated crops less prone to disease could lessen the impact .