About Rice

Why Sustainable Rice?

Rice feeds the world

3.5

Over 3.5 billion people eat rice as a staple part of their diet.*

60%

Almost 60% of people experiencing hunger rely on rice for food and income.*

20%

20% of the world’s dietary energy comes from rice.*

But the global rice sector faces growing threats.

We understand the scale of the challenge: rice is highly vulnerable to climate change. Each year, rice yields are affected by extreme weather events, water scarcity, and more. With climate change at a tipping point, these issues are exacerbated.

Meanwhile, conventional rice farming methods are a major contributor to climate change. Rice is a leading driver of habitat and biodiversity loss in wetland forests. It also uses one-third of the world’s freshwater.

Today’s unsustainable farming practices put global food security at risk. This would adversely impact the world’s most vulnerable populations, including rice farmers.

With the global population expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050*, even more people will rely on rice for nutrition. If we don’t bring change to the sector today, we may not be able to produce enough rice to feed the future.

As one of the most important food staples, we must transform the rice sector in order to Feed the world. Sustainably

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The impact of rice on people and planet

Rice and food systems

For much of the world, rice is life.

It nourishes over 3.5 billion people*. Nearly 60% of people experiencing hunger live in geographies where rice makes up over 40% of the annual diet. Changes in supply or price would impact more than half of the people on Earth. And it would be detrimental to our most vulnerable populations.

The impact of rice on people and planet

Rice and livelihoods

Rice is a source of livelihood for nearly 1 billion people.

That livelihood lacks resilience. The world’s 144 million rice smallholders bear a disproportionate share of the production risks – they are often poorly equipped to safeguard their livelihoods against shocks, whether economic or climate-driven.

We need to help protect women farmers.

In many countries, women farmers contribute up to 80% of farm labor* while overseeing the education and health of households. Their essential contributions go unrecognized, and they are often systemically excluded from access and decision-making processes.

Smallholder farmers make a big difference in feeding the world. Yet they are among the most vulnerable and food-insecure.

The impact of rice on people and planet

Rice and the environment

To feed our population, we need a healthy planet.
Current agricultural practices pose a threat to the planet. Rice cultivation is a leading driver of habitat loss in wetlands. It uses one-third of the world’s freshwater and is responsible for 10% of global man-made methane emissions*.

By 2050, the world’s rice supply is expected to drop by nearly 20% due to climate change*. If we want to maintain current rice yields using conventional agricultural practices, we would need additional land area equivalent to the size of Chile. We would also need to decrease methane emissions by 300 MT CO2.