Rice, corn, and soybeans—three global food staples—are under threat from climate change. With less land and tougher growing conditions like heat; drought; and elevated carbon dioxide, or CO2 levels; future farmers face big challenges. Scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, are doing their part, researching today to build more resilient crops for tomorrow, so farmers in Mississippi and beyond have the tools necessary to feed, clothe, and fuel the world in the face of increasing climate change.

Resilience in Rice

MAFES researchers are leading efforts to develop climate-resilient rice varieties in response to global climate change.

Dr. Raju Bheemanahalli Rangappa, assistant research professor in plant and soil sciences, and Dr. Raja Reddy, William Giles Distinguished Professor, also in the plant and soil sciences, are collaborating with Dr. Prashant Subudhi of Louisiana State University (LSU) on a USDA-funded multi-state project called CRISP Rice, or Climate Resilient Innovations for Sustainable Production of Rice.

Rangappa's passion for rice runs deep having studied it throughout his master's and doctoral programs and while working at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.

"I can't imagine a day without rice; without eating it, my day feels incomplete," he said.

Rangappa said that improving the sustainability of rice systems is critical for food security both nationally and internationally.

"The U.S. is the fifth-largest rice exporter, and the challenges of climate change threaten productivity," he said.

The project aims to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties that can thrive under extreme temperatures, drought, and elevated CO2, with MSU focused on the early-seedling stage.

"What happens if we sow seed, and it doesn't rain and the soil is chilled?" Rangappa asked. "How do temperature extremes and elevated CO2 levels affect rice? Though CO2 is food for plants, there is a point of saturation that's not advantageous. Can we make a plant that takes in more CO2 to produce more food?"

Reddy pointed out that increased CO2 alters the nutritive value of the grain that impacts health of over 3.5 million people globally who depend on this crop for daily calories. He is director of the MAFES SPAR unit, or Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Research which allows researchers to simulate future climate conditions and evaluate how different rice genotypes respond. The team is working with 250 rice genotypes to understand their genetic resilience to climate-induced stress.

Reddy said the team will use the data to determine which varieties to breed for resiliency.

"We hope to find the genes that are more responsive to stressors and pair them with genotypes that are resilient in our region," he said.

For Reddy, rice research is personal.

"I grew up in an agricultural community and as a kid, I worked in rice fields alongside my father and brothers. It was one of the biggest crops we produced," said Reddy, who has studied rice for decades at MSU. "Our goal is to develop varieties that adapt to these conditions, ensuring sustainable rice production under changing environments."

The research will help Mississippi's more than 200 rice producers and has global implications for improving food security and sustainability.

"Rice is a staple for billions, and U.S. innovations in sustainable rice production could serve as a model for other countries," Reddy said.

Building a Better Soybean

MAFES researchers are tackling the rising climate change challenges facing one of the Southeast's key crops—soybeans. With projections suggesting a 40 percent drop in soybean production over the next 25 years due to heat and drought, MSU's interdisciplinary team is pioneering efforts to safeguard the crop against these threats.

"We are focusing on heat and drought—the most critical climate factors threatening soybean yields," said Dr. Nuwan Wijewardane, assistant professor in agricultural and biological engineering and MAFES scientist, who is the MSU lead on the project.

The project, called the Interdisciplinary Program of Advancing Climate Extreme Resilience in Soybeans, or iPACERS, aims to enhance soybean resilience using advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, or AI, which can lead to new, hardier varieties.

AI plays a significant role in the research, analyzing both plant traits and genetic data. The team uses classical and advanced phenotyping to measure stress adaptive traits like reproductive fitness and plant health, then combines this with molecular studies to pinpoint the network of genes that boost resilience.

"Ultimately, our AI models will help us identify the genes that contribute to heat and drought tolerance, giving us the ability to breed more resilient soybeans," Wijewardane said.

The project also explores soil microbes' role in strengthening plants against environmental stresses. AI will help uncover which microbial communities are most beneficial for soybean growth under challenging climate conditions.

The MSU team, which focuses on stress physiology and phenotyping, is evaluating their methods both in greenhouses and in field-based facilities. Using classical stress physiology tools in combination with sensors onboard unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles, they are collecting extensive data on plant traits to better understand soybean responses in real-world environments. This dual approach ensures their findings are applicable across various conditions.

This project brings together experts from stress physiology, engineering, molecular biology, microbiology, and agricultural outreach. Wijewardane highlights the importance of this collaboration.

"No single discipline can solve the complex challenges posed by climate change. We need a comprehensive approach to develop effective solutions," he said.

Dr. Raju Rangappa, assistant research professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and MAFES scientist, is also involved in the research.

"In my plant stress physiology lab, we focus on exploring the reproductive organs and physiology of the soybean plants to unlock the secrets behind their resilience or sensitivity to combined heat and drought stressors. We will evaluate them at different scales—first in the growth chambers, then the greenhouse, and finally field-based tunnels," he said.

Rangappa said the project was originally inspired by the work of his first graduate student at Mississippi State—Sadikshya Poudel, who is now working on her doctoral degree at Washington State University.

"The idea was born at MSU and funded by the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board for two years. My student, Sadikshya, published four papers from that project, whose preliminary data was the basis of the initial iPACERS proposal," he said.

The iPACERS work will have a direct impact on Mississippi farmers, as well as farmers across the Southeast, where heat and shifting rainfall patterns are already affecting crops. By identifying soybeans with greater resilience and discovering microbial applications that enhance plant strength, MSU aims to equip farmers with new tools to combat climate-induced stress.

Beyond breeding improvements, the project also offers strategies for managing environmental stress, such as targeted irrigation and improved crop rotation. Through partnerships with the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board and outreach efforts, MSU will share these innovations with farmers to ensure the sustainability of soybean production in Mississippi and beyond.

Wijewardane said he was inspired to become involved in the work to ultimately help Mississippi farmers.

"The drought last year inspired me to get involved with this. Farmers were complaining about it, and we need to do something to help them in the future," Wijewardane said.

Other MSU faculty involved in the project include Drs. Xin Zhang, agricultural and biological engineering assistant professor; Nesma Osman, human sciences assistant professor; and Mary Love Tagert, agricultural and biological engineering associate extension professor.

Climate Change and Corn

Corn, a staple crop for Mississippi, is increasingly challenged by shifting weather patterns. By studying how rising temperatures, fluctuating rainfall, and other climate factors impact corn yields, MAFES researchers are helping farmers prepare for the future.

Dr. Jagmandeep Dhillon, assistant professor, and Raman Sharma, post doctoral fellow, both in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, analyzed 30 years of Mississippi corn and weather data to identify trends in climate and their effects on production.

Their study examined maximum daytime temperatures, minimum nighttime temperatures, diurnal temperature range—the difference between a day's lowest and highest temperatures—precipitation, and relative humidity.

The research aimed to assess how climate variables have shifted over the past three decades and how these changes impact corn production. Using advanced statistical models, the team uncovered some compelling trends.

"Both daytime and nighttime temperatures have risen, but nighttime temperatures are increasing at more than twice the rate of daytime temperatures—0.27 degrees celsius per decade compared to 0.13 degrees celsius. This uneven warming poses a unique challenge for crop growth. We found that a rise in maximum temperature led to a short-term yield reduction of 7.39 percent, with long-term effects cutting yields by 26.33 percent," Sharma said.

This research forms part of Sharma's doctoral thesis. His passion for working with large data sets made this project particularly rewarding.

"For climate studies, you need at least 30 years of data. It was exciting for me to work with such a big data set and see what the numbers reveal in terms of future management practices," Sharma added.

Interestingly, precipitation, often considered a major factor in crop production, had a surprisingly minimal impact on corn yields. Despite slight increases in rainfall, no significant effect on production was detected.

Relative humidity and diurnal temperature range also showed minimal impact, underscoring the conclusion that temperature is the dominant climate factor affecting corn yields.

Dhillon expressed enthusiasm about being part of such a pioneering study.

"This type of study hasn't been done in Mississippi, so it was exciting to hypothesize, complete, and demonstrate the impact of climate change on Mississippi corn over the past thirty years," Dhillon said.

As Sharma's advisor, Dhillon is also proud of his student's growth through this research.

"It's been great to see how much Raman has grown through this study. He was interested in exploring climate change research and has published six manuscripts and now he's an expert in this methodology, which is exciting to see," Dhillon said.

With rising temperatures threatening corn yields, the research offers practical guidance for Mississippi farmers. One key recommendation is improved irrigation management during critical growing months like June and July.

"If extreme heat and drought stress occurs during these months, farmers with access to irrigation can reduce heat stress on their crops," Dhillon advised. "Ensuring crops receive water at crucial stages can help mitigate the negative effects of high temperatures."

The study also emphasizes breeding heat-resistant corn hybrids as a long-term strategy. As temperatures continue to rise, selecting hybrids better suited for hot climates will be vital for maintaining yields.

Following their findings on corn, the team has expanded their research to other crops. They recently published results on cotton's response to climate change and plan to explore additional challenges like early-season flooding.

As farmers face an increasingly unpredictable climate, MAFES scientists are committed to delivering the insights and strategies needed to keep the agriculture industry resilient in Mississippi and beyond. Through innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advanced technologies, MAFES scientists are not only addressing the challenges of today but also preparing for the future of farming. Together, we're paving the way for a more sustainable, food-secure world—one field at a time.

Resilience in Rice is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Drew Gholson, assistant professor in MSU's plant and soil sciences and coordinator of the MSU-USDA National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, is also involved in the work. University collaborators include Clemson University, the University of Arkansas and its Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, and Texas A&M. Contributors integrate genetics, bioinformatics, and agricultural extension in their research. Building a Better Soybean is funded by an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, grant from the National Science Foundation. Climate Change in Corn is funded by the MAFES Strategic Research Initiative.