A UK government-funded initiative, backed by £54 million, is exploring innovative biotechnology to help nature adapt more quickly to the climate crisis. The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) has launched the Accelerated Adaptation Programme, which supports 14 research teams aiming to use genetic engineering and other advanced techniques to help wild species survive threats like climate change and disease. These projects, which will receive £30 million in initial funding over two years, focus on species such as the English oak and the buff-tailed bumblebee. The goal is to develop tools that can complement traditional conservation efforts, such as protected reserves, by offering more targeted solutions. The initiative is led by Yannick Wurm, a professor of evolutionary genomics, who argues that the pace of environmental change due to climate change and human activity has outstripped the ability of many species to adapt naturally. “This is a first exploration of how we can responsibly use biotechnology to help wildlife overcome challenges,” he said. The projects are designed to work alongside traditional conservation methods and are compared to tools like mRNA vaccines, which have revolutionized human medicine. Aria was established by Dominic Cummings, a former senior advisor to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who envisioned it as a platform to fund high-risk, high-reward scientific research. However, the agency has faced criticism for funding controversial research, including geoengineering and projects involving US tech firms. Recent controversies have also included the resignation of Aria’s chair, Matt Clifford, over a conflict of interest after he joined Anthropic, a company developing AI chatbots. Among the projects, researchers at the University of Exeter are using Crispr-Cas9 gene-editing to help the swallowtail butterfly, an endangered species, resist insecticides. Meanwhile, Rothamsted Research is exploring genetic modifications to accelerate the reproduction of long-lived tree species like oaks, enabling them to adapt more quickly to drought and disease. These efforts are part of a broader global debate about the use of biotechnology in conservation, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently adopting a policy that sets strict guidelines for such interventions. While some scientists see potential benefits, others caution that the effects of these technologies on ecosystems may be unpredictable and difficult to assess.