A study led by researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) and Wageningen University & Research has revealed strategies to protect rice crops from climate change and domesticate wild relatives that can grow in unproductive habitats. The research, published in Nature Genetics, explores the DNA changes across rice species, aiming to enhance yields and introduce rice into regions where production is currently impossible. The study finds that wild rice relatives have a greater genetic diversity, enabling adaptation to various environmental stresses, and identifies genes that have enhanced plant robustness against extreme temperatures, drier, and saltier soil. This discovery could lead to the development of robust rice crops that can withstand harsh environments, essential for the well-being of over 3.5 billion people who rely on rice as a staple food source.