Extreme heat events currently threaten the livelihoods and health of over a billion people, causing half a trillion work hours to be lost annually, with the prospect for damage to livestock herds and crop yields set to soar higher in the future. Agricultural workers and agrifood systems are on the frontlines, absorbing the greatest impacts from extreme heat.The frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events have risen sharply over the past half century, with worrying impacts on agrifood systems and landscapes, according to “Extreme heat and agriculture,” a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Heat stress during germination critically impairs maize seedling establishment and yield stability, yet its genetic basis remains poorly understood. Here, 21 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for heat tolerance were identified in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population under heat stress (39 °C vs. 28 °C), including a major hypocotyl diameter QTL (qHDT2-1, LOD = 23.68). Concurrently, genome-wide association study (GWAS) in an association panel detected 213 significant SNPs associated with heat tolerance. Population-stable SNPs, pleiotropic SNPs and high-impact QTLs were integrated to identify candidate genes.

The Government of Vietnam has amended its agricultural biotechnology regulations with the issuance of Decree 43/2026/ND-CP, a move aimed at modernizing the country's food and feed sectors. Effective in early 2026, the new framework significantly accelerates market access for genetically engineered (GE) products by slashing standard approval timelines for food and feed from 90 working days down to 45 for products already cleared in at least five OECD or G20 nations. This reform aligns with Vietnam's 2025 designation of biotechnology as a strategic pillar for agricultural growth and is expected to facilitate more efficient trade and domestic production.