US rice industry aiming for sustainability

At the 2010 USA Rice Outlook Conference panelists participating in a sustainability session presented new research findings on rice industry sustainability. Rice producer Jennifer James, chairman of USA Rice Federation's Sustainability Task Force, presented findings from a new research report that examines rice production's impact since 1987 in five key areas, including land use, soil loss, water and energy use, and climate impact."The results show that rice farmers are producing more with fewer resources," James said.

The study, U.S. Rice Resource Efficiency and Sustainability Metrics, shows that rice production has become increasingly efficient on a national level over a 20-year period, resulting in a 21 percent decrease in land required to produce 100 pounds of rice; a 43 percent decrease in soil loss; a 33 percent reduction in water use; a 52 percent reduction in energy use; and a 29 percent reduction in soil methane per 100 pounds of rice over a 20-year period.

Holdorf announced that Kellogg's is working with the Louisiana State University's Master Farmer Program and Louisiana rice millers to develop an education program to raise awareness about sustainably grown rice. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.