A ground breaking technology from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) may provide a solution to the problem of droughts and dry spells which are likely to become harsher with global warming.

The work was published in the journal Plant Cell and Environment.

Global warming increases the amount of moisture that evaporates from land and water, leading to drought in most parts of the world and in drier regions.

As global temperature rises, the land mass affected by drought is expected to increase, with potentially devastating consequences for agriculture.

In recent years, scientists have been researching on how to improve drought resistance in plants, so as to enhance growth and productivity of crops in dry weather conditions.

The new technology, developed by HKU, which can provide drought resistance to plants, has just been licensed to an internationally recognised agricultural company specialising in the development of new varieties of oil crops Camelina sativa.