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Sustainable intensification for a larger global rice bowl

Author

Listed:
  • Shen Yuan

    (Huazhong Agricultural University)

  • Bruce A. Linquist

    (University of California-Davis)

  • Lloyd T. Wilson

    (Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center)

  • Kenneth G. Cassman

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

  • Alexander M. Stuart

    (International Rice Research Institute)

  • Valerien Pede

    (International Rice Research Institute)

  • Berta Miro

    (International Rice Research Institute)

  • Kazuki Saito

    (Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), 01 B.P. 2551)

  • Nurwulan Agustiani

    (Indonesian Center for Rice Research)

  • Vina Eka Aristya

    (Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technology (AIAT) Central Java)

  • Leonardus Y. Krisnadi

    (Assessment Institute of Agricultural Technology (AIAT) East Java)

  • Alencar Junior Zanon

    (Universidade Federal de Santa Maria)

  • Alexandre Bryan Heinemann

    (Santo Antônio de Goiás)

  • Gonzalo Carracelas

    (National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA)-Road 5, km 386)

  • Nataraja Subash

    (ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research)

  • Pothula S. Brahmanand

    (ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management)

  • Tao Li

    (Applied GeoSolutions, DNDC Applications Research and Training)

  • Shaobing Peng

    (Huazhong Agricultural University)

  • Patricio Grassini

    (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Abstract

Future rice systems must produce more grain while minimizing the negative environmental impacts. A key question is how to orient agricultural research & development (R&D) programs at national to global scales to maximize the return on investment. Here we assess yield gap and resource-use efficiency (including water, pesticides, nitrogen, labor, energy, and associated global warming potential) across 32 rice cropping systems covering half of global rice harvested area. We show that achieving high yields and high resource-use efficiencies are not conflicting goals. Most cropping systems have room for increasing yield, resource-use efficiency, or both. In aggregate, current total rice production could be increased by 32%, and excess nitrogen almost eliminated, by focusing on a relatively small number of cropping systems with either large yield gaps or poor resource-use efficiencies. This study provides essential strategic insight on yield gap and resource-use efficiency for prioritizing national and global agricultural R&D investments to ensure adequate rice supply while minimizing negative environmental impact in coming decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Shen Yuan & Bruce A. Linquist & Lloyd T. Wilson & Kenneth G. Cassman & Alexander M. Stuart & Valerien Pede & Berta Miro & Kazuki Saito & Nurwulan Agustiani & Vina Eka Aristya & Leonardus Y. Krisnadi &, 2021. "Sustainable intensification for a larger global rice bowl," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27424-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27424-z
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    2. Zhou, Zeyu & Jin, Jiming & Liu, Jian & Si, Yajun, 2023. "Optimizing the sowing window for direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) considering high yield and methane emissions in Central China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    3. Zhang, Junwei & Xiang, Lingxiao & Zhu, Chenxi & Li, Wuqiang & Jing, Dan & Zhang, Lili & Liu, Yong & Li, Tianlai & Li, Jianming, 2023. "Evaluating the irrigation schedules of greenhouse tomato by simulating soil water balance under drip irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    4. Shen Yuan & Kazuki Saito & Pepijn A. J. van Oort & Martin K. van Ittersum & Shaobing Peng & Patricio Grassini, 2024. "Intensifying rice production to reduce imports and land conversion in Africa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Weixing Zhao & Jieming Chou & Jiangnan Li & Yuan Xu & Yuanmeng Li & Yidan Hao, 2022. "Impacts of Extreme Climate Events on Future Rice Yields in Global Major Rice-Producing Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.

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