Scientists have found a way of genetically modifying cereal crops to grow in salty water in a move that could help alleviate hunger in some of the world’s poorest nations. [...] Professor Mark Tester, from the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at the University of Adelaide, said preliminary tests on rice plants were ”very promising”. [...] ”The research has been undertaken in a model plant and it is important to show that this also works in crops,” [Dr Giles Oldroyd, of the John Innes Centre] said.