Latest news with #INIA
South China Morning Post
03-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
No more rice paddy? New strain that only needs irrigation is adapted to global warming
A cold, dry part of Chile might not sound like the best place to grow rice, a famously thirsty grain that thrives in tropical conditions. Advertisement However, a new strain of the world's favourite cereal developed by scientists in the drought-plagued South American country has generated hope that rice can be grown in seemingly inhospitable conditions. Using an innovative planting technique, Javier Munoz has been trying out the 'Jaspe' strain created by experts at the Agricultural Research Institute's (INIA) rice breeding programme. The INIA is part of the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture. It is one of several research efforts worldwide to come up with less resource-hungry crops at a time of increased water scarcity in parts of the world because of global warming. A sign that reads 'Historical Varieties' is pictured at the INIA experimental rice cultivation site in Chile. Photo: AFP An aerial view of INIA's experimental rice crops in Chile. Typically grown in wetter, tropical areas, rice cultivation in Chile has been hampered by an unprecedented megadrought, now in its 15th year. Photo: AFP Using Jaspe in combination with a growing method that requires only intermittent watering cuts the Munoz family's water consumption in half in a country that has for generations cultivated rice in flooded fields, or paddies.
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First Post
30-04-2025
- Science
- First Post
If Chilean tests go right, rice lovers can eat staple guilt free: Paddy to drink less water
A new variety of rice, called Jaspe, has been developed by scientists. Combined with a less water-intensive growing technique, the Jaspe strain has significantly lowered water use while boosting yields in trials read more Rice farming could soon use lesser water for growth. File image/Reuters In the middle of a 15-year megadrought, Chilean farmers are testing a new rice strain that could offer relief to growers in dry regions and reduce the environmental toll of one of the world's most water-intensive crops. The variety, called Jaspe, has been developed by scientists at Chile's Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) by crossing a native strain with a Russian seed better suited to cold, arid climates. Combined with a less water-intensive growing technique, the Jaspe strain has significantly lowered water use while boosting yields in trials. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'This is the future,' said Javier Munoz, a 25-year-old farmer in the Nuble region of southern Chile. 'If we want… food security and care about the environment, this is the way.' From flooded fields to targeted irrigation Traditionally, rice is grown in paddies that are flooded throughout the growing cycle. This helps control weeds and protect seedlings but requires about 2,500 litres (660 gallons) of water for every kilogram of rice produced. However, in the trial led by Munoz, water use was slashed by 50% by watering intermittently rather than flooding the fields. The Jaspe strain also proved to be more productive, with each seed yielding up to 30 plants— nearly 10 times more than conventional fields. Munoz used a technique called System of Rice Intensification (SRI), developed in Madagascar in the 1980s, which spaces seedlings wider apart and enriches the soil, encouraging stronger roots. The combination of this method with the Jaspe hybrid made cultivation possible even in Nuble, one of the southernmost rice-growing regions in the world. Chile consumes about 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of rice per person each year, with nearly half grown locally. Most of it still using traditional flooded methods. The country's rice sector has been struggling to adapt as drought conditions driven by climate change worsen. Lower emissions, bigger yields Scientists say that shifting to this method could also bring environmental benefits. Flooded rice fields contribute about 10 per cent of human-driven methane emissions, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Jaspe's drier growing conditions reduce the microbial activity responsible for methane release. The Chilean government approved Jaspe for commercial use in 2023, and the team behind it hopes to introduce the strain in Brazil and other parts of South America. Karla Cordero, the lead agricultural engineer on the project, said the goal is to test the system in larger rice-producing areas hit by drought. 'The plants are much more robust, which allows rice to be produced without flooding,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD FAO rice expert Makiko Taguchi called the project 'a promising approach to improving rice production while reducing the environmental impact,' noting that similar research is underway in Japan and other countries facing climate pressures. Munoz now plans to expand his rice cultivation area fivefold by next year. 'This method lets us do more with less,' he said.
Malay Mail
29-04-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Less-thirsty rice offers hope in drought-stricken Chile
ÑIQUÉN (Chile), April 30 — A cold, dry part of Chile might not sound like the best place to grow rice, a famously thirsty grain that thrives in tropical conditions. But a new strain of the world's favorite cereal developed by scientists in the drought-plagued South American country has generated hope that rice can be grown in seemingly inhospitable conditions. Using an innovative planting technique, Javier Munoz has been trialling the 'Jaspe' strain created by experts at the Agricultural Research Institute's (INIA) Rice Breeding Program. It is one of several research efforts worldwide to come up with less resource-hungry crops at a time of increased water scarcity in parts of the world due to global warming. Using Jaspe in combination with a growing method that requires only intermittent watering cut the Munoz family's water consumption in half in a country that has for generations cultivated rice in flooded fields, or paddies. At the same time, yield rocketed, with each seed yielding about thirty plants—nearly ten times more than a conventional rice field. Irrigating rather than flooding rice fields 'is a historic step... towards the future,' Munoz, 25, told AFP at his farm in the region of Nuble, a nearly five-hour drive south from the capital Santiago. Next year, he said, he hoped to increase his production area from one hectare to five. Chile's Maule and Nuble regions contain the southernmost rice fields in the world. Typically grown in wetter, tropical areas, rice cultivation in Chile has been hampered by an unprecedented megadrought, now in its 15th year and driven by climate change, according to scientists. Each Chilean eats on average 10 kilograms of rice per year—nearly half of which is grown domestically and 80 percent of that in flooded fields, according to the SRI-Rice research center at Cornell University. The flooding method, which requires about 2,500 litres of water per kilogram of rice, is used around the world to combat weeds and regulate the temperature around vulnerable seedlings. Less methane The Jaspe rice strain was obtained by INIA agricultural engineer Karla Cordero and colleagues by crossing a Chilean seed with a Russian one better adapted to cold and dry climates. The modified seed is then grown using the SRI growing technique developed in Madagascar in the 1980s that involves spacing the seedlings further apart in enriched soil, and watering only sporadically to build a more resilient root system. Cordero presented the results of nearly 20 years of experimentation—conducted with backing from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) -- at an International Rice Research Conference in Manila in 2023. The findings have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, but Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service, an arm of the agriculture ministry, gave the green light in 2023 for the new strain of long-grain white rice to be rolled out commercially. Apart from using less water and fewer seeds, the new Jaspe-SRI method also emits less methane, a potent planet-warming gas more famously produced by cows. Rice cultivation in flooded paddies crawling with microorganisms is responsible for about 10 percent of human-caused methane emissions, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. 'Climate-smart' Jaspe has proven to be more resistant to storms, floods and heatwaves. 'The plants are much more robust, which allows rice to be produced without flooding,' Cordero said. Makiko Taguchi, a rice cultivation expert at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), told AFP the Chilean work amounted to 'a promising approach to improving rice production while reducing the environmental impact.' Pointing to similar work being done in Japan, she said: 'Obtaining resistant varieties is one of the main ways to increase resilience to climate change.' Cordero said the results suggested the approach could also work in other parts of the world 'where large quantities of rice are produced and where there are droughts.' The team hopes to test Jaspe soon in Brazil—the largest rice producer in the region—and in other South American countries. 'This is the future,' said Munoz. 'If we want... food security and care about the environment, this is the way.' — AFP
RTÉ News
29-04-2025
- Science
- RTÉ News
Less-thirsty rice offers hope in drought-stricken Chile
A cold, dry part of Chile might not sound like the best place to grow rice, a famously thirsty grain that thrives in tropical conditions. But a new strain of the world's favourite cereal developed by scientists in the drought-plagued South American country has generated hope that rice can be grown in seemingly inhospitable conditions. Using an innovative planting technique, Javier Munoz has been trialling the "Jaspe" strain created by experts at the Agricultural Research Institute's (INIA) Rice Breeding Programme. It is one of several research efforts worldwide to come up with less resource-hungry crops at a time of increased water scarcity in parts of the world due to global warming. Using Jaspe in combination with a growing method that requires only intermittent watering cut the Munoz family's water consumption in half in a country that has for generations cultivated rice in flooded fields, or paddies. At the same time, yield rocketed, with each seed yielding about thirty plants - nearly ten times more than a conventional rice field. Irrigating rather than flooding rice fields "is a historic step... towards the future," Munoz, 25, said at his farm in the region of Ñuble, a nearly five-hour drive south from the capital Santiago. Next year, he said, he hoped to increase his production area from one hectare to five. Chile's Maule and Ñuble regions contain the southernmost rice fields in the world. A worker cuts rice samples at the INIA experimental rice crops in San Carlos, Ñuble region Typically grown in wetter, tropical areas, rice cultivation in Chile has been hampered by an unprecedented megadrought, now in its 15th year and driven by climate change, according to scientists. Each Chilean eats on average 10kg of rice per year - nearly half of which is grown domestically and 80% of that in flooded fields, according to the SRI-Rice research centre at Cornell University. The flooding method, which requires about 2,500 litres of water per kilogramme of rice, is used around the world to combat weeds and regulate the temperature around vulnerable seedlings. Less methane The Jaspe rice strain was obtained by INIA agricultural engineer Karla Cordero and colleagues by crossing a Chilean seed with a Russian one better adapted to cold and dry climates. The modified seed is then grown using the SRI growing technique developed in Madagascar in the 1980s that involves spacing the seedlings further apart in enriched soil, and watering only sporadically to build a more resilient root system. Cordero presented the results of nearly 20 years of experimentation - conducted with backing from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture - at an International Rice Research Conference in Manila in 2023. The findings have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, but Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service, an arm of the agriculture ministry, gave the green light in 2023 for the new strain of long-grain white rice to be rolled out commercially. Apart from using less water and fewer seeds, the new Jaspe-SRI method also emits less methane, a potent planet-warming gas more famously produced by cows. Rice cultivation in flooded paddies crawling with microorganisms is responsible for about 10% of human-caused methane emissions, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 'Climate-smart' Jaspe has proven to be more resistant to storms, floods and heatwaves. "The plants are much more robust, which allows rice to be produced without flooding," Cordero said. Makiko Taguchi, a rice cultivation expert at the FAO, said the Chilean work amounted to "a promising approach to improving rice production while reducing the environmental impact." Pointing to similar work being done in Japan, she said: "Obtaining resistant varieties is one of the main ways to increase resilience to climate change." Cordero said the results suggested the approach could also work in other parts of the world "where large quantities of rice are produced and where there are droughts." The team hopes to test Jaspe soon in Brazil - the largest rice producer in the region - and in other South American countries. "This is the future," said Munoz. "If we want... food security and care about the environment, this is the way."
France 24
29-04-2025
- Science
- France 24
Less-thirsty rice offers hope in drought-stricken Chile
But a new strain of the world's favorite cereal developed by scientists in the drought-plagued South American country has generated hope that rice can be grown in seemingly inhospitable conditions. Using an innovative planting technique, Javier Munoz has been trialling the "Jaspe" strain created by experts at the Agricultural Research Institute's (INIA) Rice Breeding Program. It is one of several research efforts worldwide to come up with less resource-hungry crops at a time of increased water scarcity in parts of the world due to global warming. Using Jaspe in combination with a growing method that requires only intermittent watering cut the Munoz family's water consumption in half in a country that has for generations cultivated rice in flooded fields, or paddies. At the same time, yield rocketed, with each seed yielding about thirty plants -- nearly ten times more than a conventional rice field. Irrigating rather than flooding rice fields "is a historic step... towards the future," Munoz, 25, told AFP at his farm in the region of Nuble, a nearly five-hour drive south from the capital Santiago. Next year, he said, he hoped to increase his production area from one hectare to five. Chile's Maule and Nuble regions contain the southernmost rice fields in the world. Typically grown in wetter, tropical areas, rice cultivation in Chile has been hampered by an unprecedented megadrought, now in its 15th year and driven by climate change, according to scientists. Each Chilean eats on average 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of rice per year -- nearly half of which is grown domestically and 80 percent of that in flooded fields, according to the SRI-Rice research center at Cornell University. The flooding method, which requires about 2,500 liters (660 gallons) of water per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice, is used around the world to combat weeds and regulate the temperature around vulnerable seedlings. - Less methane - The Jaspe rice strain was obtained by INIA agricultural engineer Karla Cordero and colleagues by crossing a Chilean seed with a Russian one better adapted to cold and dry climates. The modified seed is then grown using the SRI growing technique developed in Madagascar in the 1980s that involves spacing the seedlings further apart in enriched soil, and watering only sporadically to build a more resilient root system. Cordero presented the results of nearly 20 years of experimentation -- conducted with backing from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) -- at an International Rice Research Conference in Manila in 2023. The findings have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, but Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service, an arm of the agriculture ministry, gave the green light in 2023 for the new strain of long-grain white rice to be rolled out commercially. Apart from using less water and fewer seeds, the new Jaspe-SRI method also emits less methane, a potent planet-warming gas more famously produced by cows. Rice cultivation in flooded paddies crawling with microorganisms is responsible for about 10 percent of human-caused methane emissions, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. 'Climate-smart' Jaspe has proven to be more resistant to storms, floods and heatwaves. "The plants are much more robust, which allows rice to be produced without flooding," Cordero said. Makiko Taguchi, a rice cultivation expert at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told AFP the Chilean work amounted to "a promising approach to improving rice production while reducing the environmental impact." Pointing to similar work being done in Japan, she said: "Obtaining resistant varieties is one of the main ways to increase resilience to climate change." Cordero said the results suggested the approach could also work in other parts of the world "where large quantities of rice are produced and where there are droughts." The team hopes to test Jaspe soon in Brazil -- the largest rice producer in the region -- and in other South American countries. "This is the future," said Munoz. "If we want... food security and care about the environment, this is the way."
