Why a food and drinks giant is betting big on crop science

Forty-five billion. That’s how many potatoes are used every year to make Lay’s, Ruffles, and other snacks produced by food and beverage giant PepsiCo. These potatoes are a crucial link in PepsiCo’s global supply chain, so it’s in the company’s best interest to make sure every farmer’s annual harvest is dependably strong. These days, however, farmers are dealing with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. A sustained drought leaves fields dry and dusty. A sudden flash flood washes away c...