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HomePosts Tagged "Rice cultivation"
Climate, Environment, R&D, Soil Health, Sustainability

At the multi stakeholder COP29 panel discussion , ADB’s $14 billion food security commitment and the emerging partnerships reflecting the urgency of fostering sustainable and inclusive agricultural systems were highlighted, paving the way for bold and transformative innovations across sustainable agricultural practices, nutrition-focused interventions, and global resilience in Asia Pacific

During the first week of COP29, the urgency to address agriculture’s role in climate resilience and food security has never been clearer. The Asia-Pacific region, home to some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations, is at the forefront of this challenge. Climate change, water scarcity, and political conflicts threaten food security, disrupt livelihoods, and exacerbate nutritional deficiencies across the region.

ADB Senior Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Dr. Qingfeng Zhang pointed to the centrality of International Financial institutions (IFIs) in Asia-Pacific’s food systems and climate goals. “Moving forward, our focus is on three key priorities. First, we will shift from a production-based approach to demand-side interventions, with a strong emphasis on nutrition security. Second, we aim to advance smart agriculture, restore natural capital, and strengthen fisheries and agricultural systems while supporting food productivity, reducing food loss and waste, and promoting open trade. Finally, we will harness digital technology and champion inclusive agricultural policies to drive equitable and sustainable development.”

IFIs play a vital role in shaping global agricultural transformation. Their contributions span multiple areas, including policy dialogue, where they align incentives for farmers and private investors to prioritize climate resilience. In parallel, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Director for Agricultural Development Martien van Nieuwkoop highlighted context-specific and innovations-driven initiatives as natural spaces “where science meets finance” and where IFIs can address market failures and build systems that truly benefit farmers.

“When it comes to technological innovation, there is no universal solution or “Tesla car” that works in all conditions. Instead, solutions must be adapted to local contexts, which highlights the importance of bundling technologies into tailored packages. This is where initiatives like the new ADB-CGIAR Clearinghouse play a critical role,” noted van Nieuwkoop, adding that platforms that can integrate these bundled solutions and address multiple constraints simultaneously will be crucial in ensuring that they are practical, scalable, and impactful.

Amidst all these, innovation and technology play a key role in reshaping farming practices. AI-driven weather forecasting is providing real-time, actionable insights for farmers, optimizing planting schedules and resource use. “AI tools are revolutionizing agriculture, enabling small-scale farmers to make data-driven decisions,” noted Michael Kremer, Director, Development Innovation Lab, University of Chicago.

Nutrition programming was also cited as an invaluable element of this transformation, addressing the broader health and resilience challenges linked to food security. Sarah LaHaye, Lead for Climate Action and Nutrition at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) underscored, “Nutrition is often an afterthought in climate and food security programming. It’s vital to intentionally integrate nutrition to ensure that crop diversification and resilience efforts also improve nutritional outcomes.” LaHaye cited GAIN programs in Indonesia, which tackled food loss and waste while addressing emissions and nutritional benefits, as a key example of how climate and nutrition goals can align effectively.

ADB Director General – Chief Compliance Officer for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department Bruno Carrasco closed the session with a resounding call to action, “We must invest in science, innovation, and partnerships to address today’s challenges while building a food-secure future.”

At the multi stakeholder COP29 panel discussion

Agrotech, Foodgrains, India, Interaction, Seeds, Sustainability

Experts opined at a conference “DSR for Sustainable & Profitable Rice Production” organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) in New Delhi.

 Direct-seeded rice (DSR) has the potential to bring a reduction in water consumption, cut methane emissions, minimize soil erosion, reduce manual labour, and provide better crop residue management in rice cultivation in India. DSR is a result-oriented and successful method for sustainable rice cultivation in India. The success of DSR lies with the farmers’ confidence. Farmers need confidence that they will get better yield, their plants will establish well, and effectively manage weeds, pests and diseases, experts opined at a conference “DSR for Sustainable & Profitable Rice Production” organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) at The Park Hotel, New Delhi today.

Rice is India’s leading foodgrain crop and is a staple food for the 1.4 billion population of the country. Grown in a variety of agro-climatic zones, according to industry estimates, rice is responsible for 50 per cent of crop-related methane emissions and approximately 40 percent of water consumption in agriculture, leading to depleting groundwater levels, soil degradation due to water runoff, and intensive manual labour in traditional and transplanted rice cultivation.

To successfully drive this transition from transplanted puddled rice to DSR with minimum fear and risk, allowing farmers to experience first-hand convenience and an equivalent or higher return on investment would require the agri input industry to closely work with the Central and state governments, plant breeders, farm machinery industry and farmers.

Speaking on the research and development in the field of DSR techniques, Dr AK Singh, Director, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), said, “Ongoing research and development efforts in the field of agriculture aim to improve DSR techniques, develop new varieties, and address any challenges associated with its adoption, ensuring continuous improvement and sustainability. In essence, Direct Seeded Rice in India represents a shift towards more sustainable, resource-efficient, and economically viable rice cultivation practices. As the agricultural landscape evolves, DSR will play a crucial role in meeting the demand of a growing population while addressing environmental and economic challenges.”

“Farmers need to adopt appropriate practices, such as selecting suitable rice varieties and managing weeds effectively, to maximize the benefits of this cultivation method. DSR eliminates the labour-intensive process of rice transplantation, saving on labour costs. Since DSR reduces the duration of flooded fields compared to traditional rice cultivation, it contributes to lower methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas associated with flooded rice fields, leading to climate change and global warming,” Dr Singh added.

Speakers during the inaugural session discussed how remunerative is DSR for farmers as compared to traditional and transplanted rice cultivation, challenges in the adoption of DSR, training and capacity building of farmers, developing an ecosystem to encourage DSR adoption and synergies between Central and state government policies.

Addressing the conference, Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII and Managing Director & CEO, Savannah Seeds, said, “The industry sees DSR as a technological advancement in rice cultivation. Direct seeding through machinery and drones, has the potential to further enhance efficiency and reduce dependence on manual labour, aligning with the modernization trends in Indian agriculture. The shift toward DSR creates opportunities for agribusinesses involved in the production and distribution of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and farm machinery. As more farmers adopt DSR, the demand for suitable inputs and equipment is likely to increase.”

“With a growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices, the industry recognizes DSR as a practice that contributes to resource conservation. The reduced water usage and lower methane emissions align with global sustainability goals, making DSR an attractive option for environmentally conscious stakeholders. The reduced need for water and seedling nurseries contributes to overall cost reduction in terms of inputs and resources. This is particularly crucial in regions facing water scarcity. DSR is a win-win situation for the farmers. While reducing costs, DSR provides better yields which results in better incomes for farmers.” Rana added.

The benefits of DSR are well known as it is resource efficient, environment and soil friendly, has higher yields and less manpower requirement due to the shift from flooded to direct seeding system which leads to variation in water, tillage, nutrients, the crop faces challenges of weeds, pest and diseases attacks, and lodging.

The majority of rice farmers constantly struggle with issues of water availability and cultivation costs. Rice is a staple food and has good export potential. At the same time, this rice is resource-intensive and has a severe impact on the environment. DSR promises to address these challenges however this requires the support of government policies and procurement systems to encourage farmers to switch from traditional rice cultivation methods to DSR.

Ultimately, industry players evaluate the economic viability of DSR both for farmers and the broader agricultural value chain. The potential for increased yields reduced input costs, and improved sustainability positions DSR as a valuable component of the agricultural landscape in India.

By Nitin Konde

Experts opined at a conference “DSR for

Agrotech, Company News, Environment, Europe, Foodgrains, Sustainability

The new methodology will open a new source of income from the sale of carbon credits.

Geneva based Gold Standard have released a new methodology which will reduce methane emission from rice cultivation. Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, said, “At Gold Standard our vision is climate security and sustainable development for all. By not only delivering a quantifiable reduction in the emissions of a potent greenhouse gas, but also providing a source of income to farmers this new methodology will bring us closer to that goal.”

Methane is produced when organic matter decomposes in flooded rice fields without access to oxygen. The new methodology will reduce the emission of methane by:

changing the water regime during the cultivation period from continuously to intermittently flooded conditions and/or a shortened period of flooded conditions.

using the alternate wetting and drying method.

adopting aerobic rice cultivation methods;

switching from transplanted to Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR).

As with all Gold Standard methodologies any reductions will be verified by an independent audit before any carbon credits are issued. The new methodology will open a new source of income from the sale of carbon credits. Around 140 million smallholders in Asia who produce most of the world’s rice.

These credits could be used towards corporate ‘beyond value chain mitigation’ targets, to take responsibility for ongoing emissions. Rice is also a commodity purchased by corporations through their value chains. Mitigation outcomes could therefore become reportable towards value chain targets, such as Scope 3. For companies purchasing rice from producers applying the methodology, these outcomes can be incorporated into accounting and reporting, subject to alignment with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Further work, through Gold Standard’s AIM Platform will assess the potential for market-based allocation of outcomes in future.

The new methodology is fully IPCC aligned and includes improved monitoring guidelines. It is also applicable to a broader scope of project – large and small-scale or micro-scale projects or PoAs. Put together this means that it is more user friendly than the previous methodology.

This methodology is adapted from the small-scale CDM methodology AMS-III.AU – Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice, cultivation – Version 4.0. The CDM methodology is applicable for 30 days from the date of publication of the new methodology.

The methodology has been developed with inputs from the Eurecat Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, and from the International Rice Research Institute as part of a partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of Australia through the Business Partnerships Platform.

The new methodology will open a new