Ky Hendrick Hint is an agricultural engineer. He is conducting trials to find out if exotic crop species like these can guarantee Germany's food supply in the future. It's a colorful mix that includes some plants cultivated in the past that could be revived, but we also have other plants from tropical and subtropical areas of South America and Africa that will probably be better able to withstand the expected warming and changes in rainfall patterns. Amaranth was cultivated by the Aztecs; its grains are gluten-free, and many consider it a superfood today. However, its performance in this German field has been low so far. Nor is its neighbor, quinoa, growing particularly well. Quinoa is something special. A study by the World Food Programme states that it has the potential to become a staple food worldwide, but not here at the moment, at least compared to what we usually grow here. We don't know, for example, how to control weeds, so we have fewer options. In fact, that is currently one of the biggest problems with these new crops. The future of quinoa, a cereal originating in South America and already present in the German market, seems more promising. Basic development is very good, and it has also managed to outcompete weeds very well. However, the fruits of these plants pose a challenge for farmers; they don't all ripen at the same time but continue to develop. Flowers keep appearing down here; the plant doesn't mature all at once, which is a big difference compared to what has been cultivated in Germany until now, whether cereals, rapeseed, or similar crops. A few kilometers away, Laurence SCM is conducting its own field trials at the German Research Institute for Cultivated Plants. Here, they are also focusing on the effects of climate change. At the institute, 12 different varieties of sorghum, a type of millet that is a staple food in Africa, are being cultivated. Some varieties have grown well, but most have not. The plant needs summers even warmer than that of 2023, which was unprecedented for Germany. It doesn't tolerate cold temperatures; it needs more heat, so it may not ripen enough in the autumn and cannot be fully harvested. I think there is still a lot to be done, but it is certainly an interesting crop because of its high tolerance to heat and drought. So, no exotic plant has represented a major breakthrough, at least for the moment, but they are also being cultivated. Adapting more traditional edible plants in Europe to cope with climate change To create drought stress conditions, test fields can be covered to prevent rain from reaching certain areas. In another experiment, different varieties of native wheat were exposed to high levels of CO2 to simulate what the atmosphere in Germany is predicted to be like in 2050. The results are currently being evaluated. Researchers systematically analyze all components of the plant. One variety of native wheat crossed with rye turned out to have surprising properties: it has a higher yield and also more biomass. Plants need CO2 to photosynthesize and grow, so they respond with better photosynthetic performance, which is reflected in a more abundant harvest. This has encouraged other German researchers to continue developing native varieties by crossing them. Of all the crops we have here, maize is probably the one that will best withstand the consequences of climate change. It withstands very high temperatures and is also quite efficient in its water consumption. Scientists are also looking for varieties with deeper roots that improve their access to water during periods of drought while preventing. The plant could be washed away by water if it rains too much. Crops like soybeans are also of interest here. This summer, the plants haven't received enough sun, yet they're still standing, having survived the storms and rain. We'll see how the harvest goes overall. Its potential yield here in Lower Saxony is lower than in the warmer areas of southern Germany. Its market potential is also enormous, since American soybeans are often genetically modified, something prohibited in Germany. Although these crops haven't been very successful here so far, further research is urgently needed. Climate change could reduce the yield of traditional crops like potatoes in 30 or 40 years. This doesn't mean that all farms will suddenly switch to completely new crops, but there will certainly be a tendency to cultivate a wider variety to minimize risks. Thus, it's possible that in the future, there will be fields of amaranth, quinoa, or yams in Germany.