A VISION FOR INNOVATION

Through groundbreaking innovations in seed and service solutions, RiceTec creates more value for farmers, consumers, and the planet.

Learn more

Why Rice Matters

Rice is vital to the global food supply, providing 20% of the world’s dietary energy. Half of the world’s population consumes rice daily, making it an indispensable part of daily diets across diverse cultures and regions. Rice is grown in most countries, with cultivation spanning approximately 165 million hectares and yielding over 500 million metric tons annually.

Rice has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years, reflecting its longstanding significance in human agriculture. Its history is deeply intertwined with the development of civilizations. With more than 40,000 varieties, it shows remarkable versatility from field to kitchen. As a row crop in the field, it transforms into a staple enjoyed in numerous culinary traditions.

Sustainability has long been a cornerstone of rice farming, though its importance hasn’t always been fully recognized or understood. Today, with strong political and societal support, sustainable practices are gaining momentum and are here to stay. Demonstrating these practices is crucial as demand for sustainable production grows. This shift profoundly impacts rice farming, ensuring effective production with better yields, reduced environmental impact, and improved livelihoods.

Sustainable solutions

Rice Farming Challenges

Traditional rice growing methods have come under scrutiny for their environmental impact, primarily due to high greenhouse gas emissions and substantial water usage. Rice farming is also labor-intensive, involving long hours and physically demanding tasks, placing a heavy burden on agricultural workers, many of whom are women. Labor shortages and rising wages increase the costs for farmers, making traditional rice farming economically challenging, especially in many parts of Asia where labor is already a significant issue.

Sustainable Rice Solutions

Hybrid rice offers a solution. Recent studies show that hybrid rice cultivars emit less methane than traditional varieties, significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrids enable changes in water management practices and are more stress-tolerant, leading to better weed management and lower water use, further reducing methane emissions. Additionally, hybrid and direct seeded rice (DSR) practices reduce physical labor demands, improving health outcomes and cutting labor costs.

More about methane

Methane in Rice Farming

Methane emission poses a significant challenge in rice farming due to the prolonged flooding of fields, which creates anaerobic (oxygen-free) conditions. These conditions are ideal for certain bacteria that produce methane as they “breathe”, similar to how humans exhale carbon dioxide. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, it’s much more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, making it a major contributor to global warming.

RiceTec’s hybrid rice offers a solution. Recent studies show that some of these hybrids let less methane escape to the atmosphere compared to traditional varieties, helping to keep methane sequestered in the soil. Hybrids are also more stress-tolerant and have reduced water requirements.

These results are additive: by combining RiceTec hybrids and better water management, we can reduce methane emissions from rice fields. This reduction can be turned into carbon credits for farmers, rewarding them for practices that lower greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable environment.

Leading innovation

Leading Rice Innovation

Sustainable rice agriculture is central to our mission, driving the passion of our employees.

Research & Development

Leading rice innovation
RiceTec’s global research and development (R&D) team brings together a diverse group of multi-disciplinary scientists from across the world that work together to develop innovative rice products and value-added traits to improve the yield, grain quality, and sustainability of hybrid rice cultivation.

Rice breeding and genetics
RiceTec’s plant breeders create customized solutions for rice growers across the globe by combining novel breeding technologies with unique rice germplasm to improve the value of hybrid rice by increasing yield, improving grain quality, and enhancing sustainability.

The use of precision agricultural technologies like drones, sensors, and satellite imagery are combined with new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) based analytical methods to create data-driven insights that enhance productivity, while minimizing environmental impact.

Molecular biology and gene editing
RiceTec invests significantly in state-of-the-art molecular technologies to better understand our genetics and improve our products. Using gene editing, DNA sequencing, molecular markers, and predictive breeding, we have developed the most comprehensive understanding of hybrid rice genetics in the world.

We use that understanding to deliver novel value-added traits and trait combinations so that every customer gets the best possible genetics optimized for their unique crop management needs.

Seed production and distribution
RiceTec’s R&D platform emphasizes the most efficient seed production methods using direct seeded techniques to fuel the creation of high-quality seeds and traits to ensure only the best genetic material is used in customers’ fields to achieve optimal yields and quality.

Sustainability practices
The R&D platform promotes sustainable rice production system and specifically tailors our genetics to achieve resistance to common pests and diseases, performance under direct seeding, and irrigation practices that save water and reduce carbon.

By making sustainability a research priority, RiceTec contributes to both food security and environmental conservation.

RiceTec’s global R&D efforts combines scientific expertise, novel germplasm, and modern technology to drive innovations in rice agriculture that benefit farmers, consumers, and the planet.

Learn more

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, over 190 world leaders pledged their commitment to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals aim to eradicate extreme poverty, overcome inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change. Achieving these objectives requires collective effort, as we work towards a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable world.

RiceTec recognizes its ability to contribute to achieving the SDGs and is taking action:

We increase the value per acre for millions of smallholder farmers in Asia. Rice is a critical crop for many of them, and we play an active role in the alleviation of poverty in the region.

We increase yields and make rice growing more resilient in areas where rice is the staple crop and the most important source of nutrients.

We drive the change in agronomic practices and substantially reduce back-breaking labor of rice workers in Asia.

We materially reduce reduction the water consumption and CO2e emissions of rice agriculture.

Visit UN SDGs

Let's Connect and Grow Together

We are here to assist you with all your rice seed and solution needs, from start to finish. Reach out to RiceTec with your questions. We look forward to building a long-standing and sustainable relationship!

NOTE: All submitted information is subject to RiceTec, Inc. Privacy Policy.

