As climate change intensifies heat and drought conditions worldwide, the cultivation of common beans a staple food for millions is becoming increasingly challenging. Scientists are turning to the tepary bean, a desert-native legume, to develop more resilient bean varieties that can thrive under extreme conditions.
The tepary bean, native to the Sonoran Desert, is uniquely adapted to hot and dry environments. “They are able to grow under drought and high heat conditions,” says Carlos Urrea, a dry edible bean breeding specialist at the University of Nebraska.
Urrea and his team are working to harness the drought and heat tolerance of tepary beans by identifying and transferring their resilient genes into common beans. They’re also integrating disease resistance traits, creating hybrid varieties that combine the nutritional value of common beans with the hardiness of tepary beans.
Field-Testing for Global Impact
These new bean varieties are currently undergoing field tests in regions prone to drought, including Nebraska, California, Puerto Rico, Uganda, and Tanzania. If successful, these hybrids could offer a lifeline to communities that depend heavily on beans as a primary food source.
Urrea emphasizes the potential impact: “Now we are able to move genes from the tepary beans to the common beans.”
In areas where food security is under increasing pressure due to climate change, these resilient beans could play a vital role in ensuring a stable food supply. By leveraging the natural adaptations of tepary beans, researchers aim to provide farmers with crops capable of withstanding the challenges of a warming planet.
This innovation could help sustain the nutritional needs of millions while bolstering agricultural resilience in the face of climate change.