Scientists in India and United States have finally been able to develop a new high-protein variety of rice, which is the dietary staple for half the world's population.

In the study, Hari B. Krishnan and colleagues have successfully created a hybrid by crossing a commonly cultivated rice species called Oryza sativa with a wild species, Oryza nivara. The product showed a protein content of 12.4 %, which is 18 % and 28 % higher than those of the parents.

Rice already is a main source of calories as well as protein intake for billions of people, and its enrichment of protein would have a positive impact on millions of poor and malnourished people in developing countries.