Global rice paddy greenhouse gas emissions have doubled over the past 60 years, according to a study led by Boston College scientists published in Nature Food. The findings highlight a major but often overlooked contributor to atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Rice paddies produce methane when organic matter decomposes in waterlogged, oxygen-free soils. As rice cultivation has expanded to feed a growing population, emissions have risen sharply—posing a challenge for international climate goals that target methane reductions.
The research team found that methane emissions from rice farming have doubled during that six-decade period. However, the authors note that practical changes in farm management could cut these emissions significantly without reducing food production.
If widely adopted, such measures could support global climate targets while maintaining rice yields. The study underscores the potential for targeted agricultural interventions to address both food security and climate change.
“Our findings show that mitigation is possible without compromising food supply,” the researchers said, calling for policy support to encourage adoption of these practices.