Stories about Asia and the environment...that you probably haven’t heard yet. A new perspective on how different countries in Asia are tackling a changing planet.
Over half of the world’s population eats rice as its staple food. But did you know that rice production also contributes to about 10% of the world's methane emissions? And that methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the planet? Reining in rice methane is a sticky problem. Different rice types and growing strategies to limit methane often create other problems like lower farming yields. An innovative SRI method developed in Madagascar in the 1960s increases yields and has the promise of reducing greenhouse gas emissions And if that’s not good enough news…Scientists in China, the world's largest rice producer, are collaborating with U.S. researchers to cultivate a hybrid rice that will be a game changer for our ever-warming planet.
Guests (in order of appearance):
Dr. Uphoff, Cornell University
Dr Niu Kunyu, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Kenneth Graves, Arkansas Rice Growers Association
Dr Lu Shihua, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Tim Crews, The Land Institute
Dr Fengyi Hu, Yunnan University
Production credits:
Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long
Co-Host and Producer: Chermaine Lee
Sound Engineer: Estima
Associate Producers: Sam LiXiaoYu, Zack Chiang, Lara-Nour Walton
Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter
Music Composition: Cole Chiu
Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin
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Resources:
This podcast series is part of a Wilson Center China Environment Forum and Ohio State University initiative called Cultivating U.S. and Chinese Climate Leadership on Food and Agriculture. The initiative explores the actions both these “food superpowers” are taking to rein in agri-food greenhouse gas emissions and identifies potential areas of mutual learning and collaboration.
Blogs from the China Environment Forum:
China Environment Forum Webinars:
LOGO images Created by Jennifer Nguyen and Ann Williams
Cartoon tractor is from NatBasil/Shutterstock, farmer from Canva
