Using wild ancestor plants to make rice more resilient to increasingly unpredictable water availability Research grant aiming to aid in sustainable food production in the face of global population growth, using selection and uptake of drought-tolerant rice varieties in India, where 45% of rice production is in rain-fed areas and at serious risk from climate change. Benefits to Indian farmers. The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) supports cutting-edge research to address challenges faced by developing countries. The fund addresses the UN sustainable development goals. It aims to maximise the impact of research and innovation to improve lives and opportunity in the developing world. The fund addresses the UN sustainable development goals. It aims to maximise the impact of research and innovation to improve lives and opportunity in the developing world.