Temperature Increase Affects Rice Production in Asia

The net impact of projected temperature increases as a result of climate change will slow down the growth of rice production in Asia. This was the finding of a research team that analyzed six years of data from 227 irrigated rice farms in 6 major rice-growing countries in Asia, which produces more than 90% of the world's rice. The report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).

"Up to a point, higher day-time temperatures can increase rice yield, but future yield losses caused by higher night-time temperatures will likely outweigh any such gains because temperatures are rising faster at night," said Jarrod Welch, lead author of the report and graduate student of economics at the University of California, San Diego.  "And if day-time temperatures get too high, they too start to restrict rice yields, causing an additional loss in production." Welch added that there is a need to change rice production methods or develop new rice strains that can withstand higher temperatures.

Other members of the research team are experts from Duke University, University of California (Berkeley), the International Rice Research Institute, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. 

See the original news at http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/general/08-06HigherTemperatures.asp