Agriculture is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change, but it is also a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, the Sustainable Rice in Latin America project was born — a regional initiative implemented in Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Uruguay, aimed at transforming the way rice is cultivated in Latin America by promoting a more sustainable, resilient, and low-emission production, particularly of methane, one of the main GHGs associated with rice cultivation.

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The project focuses on designing, validating, and scaling climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in rice systems, through the use of sustainable techniques and innovative agricultural practices, promoting the adoption of new technologies for rice producers.

Sustainable Rice in Latin America has seven key action areas to comprehensively address the transition to sustainable practices:

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1. Diagnose the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of farmers to identify factors that may determine technology adoption and scaling.

2. Design experimental plots to evaluate different rice cultivation variables, including irrigation regimes, weed control, among others.

3. Test and adjust the scaling of sustainable practices through demonstration plots.

4. Measure methane emissions in rice crops to assess the impact of mitigation through sustainable techniques.

5. Design business models for the commercialization of sustainable rice, evaluating the rice market, identifying the target audience, purchase intent, and key attributes of sustainable rice.

6. Identify financing barriers and opportunities to develop mechanisms for scaling sustainable rice.

7. Contribute to the discussion on sectoral targets in rice policy for climate action.

 

In this way, Sustainable Rice in Latin America seeks not only to reduce the environmental impact of rice cultivation but also to strengthen the capacities of farmers, improve their resilience to climate change, and facilitate their access to markets, contributing to the debates and conversations surrounding the consolidation of climate policies.

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The project is led by Global Methane Hub (GMH) and implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Uruguay (INIA), the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Ecuador (INIAP), the Chilean National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), the Guayas Prefecture, the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina, Brazil (Epagri), and the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute of Brazil (IRGA).