In fields across the globe, crops that once thrived under predictable seasons are now struggling to survive. Hotter days and drier air are making it harder for farmers to grow the food the world depends on, and a recent study out of Stanford University suggests the problem may be worse than scientists originally thought.

Crops are failing in many parts of the world. Stanford researchers analyzed … the driving factors of crop failures. They found that major crops, like barley, maize, and wheat, had an estimated 4% to 13% lower production [from] rising temperatures and lack of moisture[.]

Slowing and reversing climate change consequences can take years, but scientists are working on ways to protect crops from its effects. Gene-editing technology to make crops more resilient to weather is becoming more promising, and researchers are growing plants that can survive with less water, potentially making them less vulnerable to drought.