A new study reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from global rice paddies have nearly doubled since the 1960s, now averaging 1.1 billion tons of CO2-equivalent per year. This growth is driven by the expansion of cultivation areas and intensified farming practices, such as increased synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use and the plowing of crop residues back into the soil. Researchers suggest that climate-smart techniques, including intermittent flooding and the use of biochar, could reduce these emissions by 10% by midcentury. However, the study emphasizes that mitigation strategies must be tailored to specific regions, as practices like reduced tillage have varying effects depending on local temperatures and soil conditions.
