A major study reveals the unique resilience of rice, with minimal projected yield drops compared to other key crops
In a warming world that has been affecting farming yields, one crop may be better positioned than others.
New research looking at future production of six staple crops including wheat, soybeans and sorghum found that rice alone should have the smallest decline in global yields. The results present a sobering picture of how climate change may affect the global food system while also suggesting that there were actions farmers could take to offset some of the losses.
“Rice is more adaptable, so it’s more protected,” said Andy Hultgren, the lead author of the new Nature study and an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “It’s a combination of the characteristics of the crop and then the actions that farmers can take to take advantage.”
Extreme heat in particular can take a toll on crop yields, especially high daytime temperatures.
