The possibility of methane reduction of the floury rice _Baro-mi 2_ was confirmed
Public Relations Division
2023.11.28
322
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Minister Chung Hwang-keun, MAFRA) and the Rural Development Administration (Director Cho Jae-ho, RDA) confirmed the possibility of reducing carbon emissions of floury rice.
National Institute of Crop Science of the Rural Development Administration analyzed the total methane emissions of "Baro-mi 2," a type of floury rice, and "Saeil-mi," a type of rice cultivated for a longer period of time and widely grown in Korea (accounting for 85.9% of the total rice cultivation area) and found out that rice paddy fields of "Baro-mi 2" produced 36% less methane.
According to the analysis, it is because ▲ the floury rice "Baro-mi 2" is transplanted in late June and therefore suitable for late season culture and ▲ its period of cultivation and water storage is shorter than that of a rice variety which is cultivated for a longer period of time. Methane emissions in rice paddy fields are highly affected by weather conditions including temperatures, the period of capturing water and growth level of rice. * "Baro-mi 2" and "Saeil-mi" are cultivated in the late season culture (rice transplant on June 30) and normal season culture (rice transplant on May 30) , respectively.
The floury rice "Baro-mi 2" has shorter period of cultivation (117 days on average) than rice varieties which require longer period of cultivation (136 days on average) and therefore captures water for a shorter period of time. Also, the growth of rice peaks at high temperatures in normally July to August and methane emissions hit highest during the growth period of rice. Floury rice is suitable for late season culture and emits less methane than other rice varieties as a result. As methane has 21 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide, it is important to cut CH4 emission from rice paddies in order to overcome climate crisis.
Based on the results of the study, the Rural Development Administration will conduct a follow-up study of wider areas including Jeollabuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do and measure the effects of methane reduction of the floury rice "Baro-mi 2" in more details. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will review the system which will actually help the agricultural and food sectors including the certification system of low-carbon agricultural products by using the outcomes of the follow-up empirical study through active administration.
The government mentioned, "The transformation from cultivation of conventional rice varieties to floury rice will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality in the agricultural sector." The government also asked for the participation of the agricultural and food industries in achieving carbon neutrality by creating an ecosystem of floury rice so that low-carbon effects of floury rice cultivation can lead to green consumption.