An international team of scientists is attempting to develop a new rice strain that will use less water and fertilizer but could boost yields by up to 50 percent to meet growing demand, a research institute said Wednesday. [...] The project aims to improve the efficiency of a rice plant’s photosynthesis, the process by which plants use solar energy to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into carbohydrates.

Some species, including rice, have a mode of photosynthesis known as C3 in which the capture of carbon dioxide is relatively inefficient. Other plants, such as maize and sorghum, have evolved a much more efficient form of photosynthesis known as C4.