"The drought does, however, underline how exposed crop production can be to sustained heat and low rainfall." Defra has already outlined the importance of new, more resilient crop varieties in its long-term strategy. He said: "For plant breeders, producing a variety that performs well in research or field trials is not the end of the process. In the UK, plant breeders’ rights (PBR) give holders control over commercial use of a variety, including sale, export and propagation. He emphasised that while intellectual property cannot solve the climate crisis, it underpins the commercial success of new plant varieties.