Source: Nature – 08 September 2026

Climate change is altering agricultural production conditions by intensifying heat stress, precipitation extremes and pest pressures. One way of adapting to such changes involves development of plant varieties for increased resilience. Here we conduct a US national-level spatial analysis of the impacts of genetically engineered (GE) crop adoption over the past four decades to show that GE adoption is broadly associated with yield benefits. We show higher yields and lower yield volatility for corn and soybean, with partial attenuation of adverse climate effects on yield, and more modest effects for upland cotton, implying that GE development and associated forces have improved resilience to climate-induced stress.