Immediate action must be taken to tackle the climate emergency.
SRI is a proven nature-based solution that significantly curbs methane emissions, simultaneously providing benefits for our planet, people, and prosperity.
Cutting methane emissions is the best way to slow climate change over the next 25 years
The challenges our world faces today are clear.
SRI provides an opportunity to adapt rice cultivation to work in tandem with nature providing a significant opportunity to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, while providing numerous social and economic benefits for farmers and their families.
Rice is the staple food for over half the world's population. As populations rise, so does the demand for rice. With rice cultivation contributing between 8-12% of human-caused global greenhouse emissions, urgent action to adopt sustainable rice cultivation worldwide is essential.
SRI provides a solution.
SRI contributes to mitigating climate change, meeting food demands, and enhancing the environment in which rice is grown, all while providing benefits to the lives of those practicing its methods and beyond.
SRI benefits our planet, people, and prosperity together.
SRI has multiple benefits for the climate, environment, and surrounding waterways.
SRI can significantly mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and also support farmers to adapt to rapidly changing climates.
SRI methods substantially reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly curbing the generation of methane gas.
SRI plants are more resilient and robust, and are therefore better able to resist and adapt to the hazards of climate change such as droughts, storms, pests and diseases.
SRI offers both mitigation and adaptation measures that can significantly contribute to country Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
SRI works through nature's methods, improving soil health, reducing erosion, and enhancing biodiverse ecosystems.
SRI provides higher grain yields per hectare. With improved land productivity the need to expand cultivated areas to meet human food needs can be reduced.
SRI improves soil health allowing soil organisms to flourish. Similarly, SRI encourages cleaner waterways, increasing aquatic life in local water bodies.
SRI uses alternate wetting and drying instead of continuous flooding and encourages the use of natural organic material over agrochemicals. This significantly reduces water input requirements and results in cleaner water systems. SRI plants also require less water as their root systems are larger and more productive.
SRI improves food security and reduces poverty and inequalities.
SRI also supports women's empowerment.
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SRI raises rice yields by up to 50% and often by 100% or more allowing small-holder farms to meet and exceed household food requirements.
SRI rice panicles have fewer unfilled grains, and there is less breakage of grains during milling, meaning the amount of milled rice from harvested paddy is up to 15% more, enhancing food supply during post-harvest processing.
SRI methods increase the nutrient uptake by the plant, resulting in improved nutritional qualities in the grain. Practicing SRI through organic methods increases the nutritional benefits by eliminating synthetic chemical uptake.
SRI raises rice yields by up to 50% and often by 100% or more improving household incomes and enhancing food security.
Many SRI benefits positively impact all genders and their communities. Women, however, play a major role in rice cultivation globally and SRI can empower women to increase their incomes while reducing the pain and drudgery associated with conventional rice cultivation. SRI has shown improved health and nutrition outcomes for women, with improved status and diversified lifestyles.
SRI uses already available resources, requiring few to no extra purchases meaning it is particularly beneficial for families with limited access to extra land or capital.
As well as SRI plants enhancing the nutritional quality of grains, SRI also reduces the reliance on agrochemicals meaning there is less buildup of nitrates and chemicals in water bodies and groundwater, aiding human health.
With reduced inputs and increased outputs, SRI generates more capital for both households and nations. By increasing the profits of rice cultivation, along with mechanisation reducing labour requirements, SRI is an attractive livelihood opportunity for the youth.
Seed, water, and chemical inputs are greatly reduced when following SRI methods. This raises net profits and provides higher household incomes that can be used for further investment by the family.
Traditional varieties of rice, preferred by consumers, hold higher market values making SRI more profitable and economically attractive while also conserving these varieties of rice.
SRI is modern, more profitable, and less arduous with mechanisation. SRI is transforming rice farming into a more respected and remunerative occupation for young men and women, reducing migration from rural areas and strengthening rural communities.
