Short Wave Perennial Rice: Plant Once, Harvest Again And Again
Mar 27, 2023
Explore the revolutionary concept of perennial rice, a crop that regrows after harvest, promising significant boosts to food security and environmental sustainability. Discover how this innovation could save farmers time and resources, particularly benefiting smallholders. The podcast also sheds light on other groundbreaking agricultural practices, including newly developed perennial grains, demonstrating how science is redefining our approach to farming. Tune in for expert insights and the transformative potential of sustainable agriculture.
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Environmental Impact of Annual Rice Farming
- Current rice farming practices involve annually killing vegetation and planting seeds.
- This leaves the ground bare, causing nutrient loss, soil erosion, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Labor Costs and Perennial Rice
- Planting and transplanting rice is labor-intensive, often done by hand by women and children.
- Perennial rice reduces this labor, freeing up time for other income-generating activities.
Development of Perennial Rice
- Perennial rice was developed by crossing domesticated Asian rice with a wild African relative.
- This cross, initially difficult, was achieved through embryo rescue and years of selective breeding.