As the Earth’s population climbs toward 9 billion by 2050 — and the world climate continues to change, affecting temperatures, weather patterns, water supply, and even the seasons — future food security has become a grand world challenge. An interdisciplinary project called Crops in silico is investigating how computer models of food crops can complement traditional field experiments. These models include data-driven scientific visualizations which will help researchers, farmers, and food consumers understand how the world’s vital food crops are grown.