The climate crisis makes rice more expensive and of lower quality

New research shows that climate change, especially the increase in night temperature, has a direct effect on the decline of rice quality in China and Japan. Rice, which is the staple food of billions of people in the world, is highly sensitive to climate conditions, and these changes can pose a serious threat to food and economic security.

According to Tekna news media’s environmental news service, a study that examined 35 years of data shows that night temperature is the most important factor in reducing the quality of rice. In Japan, temperatures above 12 degrees Celsius and in China temperatures above 18 degrees decrease the amount of starch in seeds and increase their fragility. In addition to night temperature, solar radiation, decrease in rainfall and increase in vapor pressure are also other factors that reduce product quality.

In this study, the quality of rice was measured by the “Head Rice Rate” (HRR) index. The average HRR in China was about 62% and in Japan 66%, but this index has decreased by 1.45% and 7.6% respectively every decade. Also, the decrease in quality is greater from north to south in both countries, as the southern regions experience higher nighttime temperatures due to their proximity to the equator.

Forecasts show that if the current trend of greenhouse gas emissions continues, the quality of rice will decrease significantly by the year 2100. For example, in China, the HRR index may drop by more than 5%. The impact will be more severe in China than in Japan, especially in the southern provinces, which are the main rice-growing areas, and will face more challenges to adapt.

These findings show that measures such as improving rice cultivars to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to ensure sustainable food supply, human nutrition and economic stability in the future.