Global Initiatives

The Asia-Monsoon region is the world's largest rice-producing and consuming area. In this region, GHG emissions from paddy fields account for 10% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions from agriculture in the world. Disseminating GHG mitigation techniques in the paddy fields, i.e. midsummer drainage period extension and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), contributes to the prevention of global warming. On the other hand, the amounts of heavy metals, especially cadmium and arsenic, absorbed by rice plants depend on the environment of paddy fields, especially the water level. Hence, irrigation management of paddy fields contributes to the stable production of safe rice in the region as well as the climate mitigation effect.

This symposium mainly focuses on the recent progress of techniques to reduce GHG emissions and heavy metal absorption by rice plants through water management. Experts will discuss the possibility of introducing optimal water management techniques to the region. The symposium also aims to stabilize and improve farmers' incomes by disseminating rice production technologies that address global warming mitigation for the stable yield in the future and food safety.

Opening Remarks: Organizers including Dr. Kazuo Kyuma, President of NARO, Mr. Osamu Koyama, President, JIRCAS and Dr. Su-San Chang, Director, FFTC

Keynote Speech: Dr. Bruce A Linquist (University of California, Davis, USA)
Session 1: Water management and GHG emissions
Session 2: Water management and rice heavy metals absorption

Session 3: Other technologies for reducing GHG emissions and rice heavy metals absorption
Session 4: Panel discussion
Closing Remarks: Dr. Su-San Chang, Director, FFTC

Study visits to NARO, Experimental facilities and fields, Natural Resources Inventory Museum, etc.