Word: droughts
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Children take up arms against their classmates and the first thing that crosses a television producer's mind is ratings. A supersonic jet spews huge flames from its tail as it dives into Hotelissimo and the news industry breathes a thankful prayer that the dreadful summer news drought is finally over...
...rice as the first modest start of a new green revolution, in which ancient food crops would acquire all manner of useful properties: bananas that wouldn't rot on the way to market; corn that could supply its own fertilizer; wheat that could thrive in drought-ridden soil...
...Maroc 737 for his return to the capital. The cabin is bedecked in flowers and silk carpets. He slips quietly into Seat 2A and chats with flight attendants who offer tea, canapes and chocolates. Near the end of the one-hour flight, he reflects on his tour of the drought-stricken south. "These people need some moral support and some comfort," he says quietly as the plane banks over Rabat. "It is now time for authority to serve the people, and not for the people to serve authority...
...genetically modified rice that is fortified with beta-carotene--which the body converts into vitamin A--and additional iron, and they are working on other kinds of nutritionally improved crops. Biotech can also improve farming productivity in places where food shortages are caused by crop damage attributable to pests, drought, poor soil and crop viruses, bacteria or fungi...
Viruses often cause massive failure in staple crops in developing countries. Two years ago, Africa lost more than half its cassava crop--a key source of calories--to the mosaic virus. Genetically modified, virus-resistant crops can reduce that damage, as can drought-tolerant seeds in regions where water shortages limit the amount of land under cultivation. Biotech can also help solve the problem of soil that contains excess aluminum, which can damage roots and cause many staple-crop failures. A gene that helps neutralize aluminum toxicity in rice has been identified...