Collaboration between Chinese and Swedish researchers has breed a high-yield rice variety that emits up to 70 per cent less methane than normal rice and almost doubles the yield of common rice varieties.
The research team, comprising experts from Hunan Agricultural University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, successfully created a rice hybrid that emits up to 70% less methane than conventional rice varieties.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has a warming effect 25 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide. It is estimated that rice growing is responsible for around 12 per cent of human actirelated release of methane
The researchers recently publishedtheir findings in a study published in the peer-reviewed science journal Molecular Plant on February 3, 2025. The scientists were reported by the South China Morning Post as saying their new low-methane hybrid rice offered a promising strategy to address a future rise in rice-related emissions because of global warming and an increasing global population.
The breakthrough came after researchers identified that two chemical compounds – fumarate and ethanol – released by rice roots play a crucial role in methane emissions. By developing a variety that produces less fumarate and more ethanol, the team achieved a substantial reduction in methane production.
The new variety, developed through traditional breeding methods rather than genetic modification, has demonstrated impressive results during field testing across China. With an average yield of 8.13 tonnes per hectare, it significantly outperforms the global average of 4.27 tonnes per hectare.
The research holds particular significance as rice cultivation currently accounts for approximately 12% of global human-caused methane emissions. With the increasing global population and rising rice demand, this innovation could play a crucial role in reducing agricultural impact on climate change.
Sources:
South China Morning Post, February 5, 2025. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3297335/more-rice-less-gas-chinese-and-swedish-scientists-create-hybrid-cut-methane-emissions
ScandAsia, February 19, 2025. https://scandasia.com/chinese-swedish-research-breakthrough-creates-rice-with-70-lower-methane-emissions/
The published journal article is available at: https://www.cell.com/molecular-plant/abstract/S1674-2052%2825%2900029-2
China Environment News 