At a USDA lab in Salinas, California, scientist Renee Eriksen is trying to create a drought-tolerant lettuce, says the Salinas Californian. Drawing on the work of a predecessor, Eriksen identified four varieties that merit further examination. “She will be testing them to determine how they tolerate adequate and low-water conditions,” says the Californian. Research geneticist Beiquan Mou told the newspaper that a lettuce that could thrive on 10 to 20 percent less water would mean lower costs for the grower and ultimately lower prices for consumers. “Drought tolerance is a very complex trait,” Eriksen says. “It will become more and more important with climate change.”