Perennial Rice Now A Reality
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Two decades of research and development by The Land Institute and its domestic and international research partners have made perennial rice a reality. The new paddy rice variety is taking off across Asia and into Africa, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and other test regions. Since 2018, three cultivars have been released in China to more than 44,000 perennial rice farmers.
“It’s achieved 4 years of perenniality with two crops a year,” says Tammy Kimbler, The Land Institute. “Yields are on par with conventional rice harvests.”
The new rice has not yet been approved by the USDA. When it is, the tropical rice will be suitable for Florida and the Gulf regions.
Reduced labor with the perennial rice is a huge benefit to areas with small farms and limited mechanization. However, even in the highly mechanized U.S., the rice has significant benefits in soil retention and carbon sequestration.
The Land Institute has made developing perennial crops a central component of their regenerative farming efforts. Developing Kernza from native wheat grass was their first significant success. While research continues into that crop, it has moved from plots to farm fields and is being commercialized in brewing, baking, and other food products.
Unlike Kernza, perennial rice is a cross between a domesticated Asian rice and a wild rice relative from Africa. Kimbler explains that mapping the genome for rice was key to the project’s success, as it was for Kernza. Going forward, it will speed up the development of other varieties.
“Once you have a perennial variety that’s functioning, you can select within its genetic diversity for alternative seed size and other characteristics,” says Kimbler. “Currently, they’re working with paddy rice. We’re very interested in upland rice for a host of ecological impacts associated with paddy rice.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Land Institute, 2440 E. Water Well Rd., Salina, Kan. 67401 (ph 785-823-5376; www.landinstitute.org).
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Perennial Rice Now A Reality CROPS New Crops Two decades of research and development by The Land Institute and its domestic and international research partners have made perennial rice a reality The new paddy rice variety is taking off across Asia and into Africa Bangladesh the Philippines and other test regions Since 2018 three cultivars have been released in China to more than 44 000 perennial rice farmers “It’s achieved 4 years of perenniality with two crops a year ” says Tammy Kimbler The Land Institute “Yields are on par with conventional rice harvests ” The new rice has not yet been approved by the USDA When it is the tropical rice will be suitable for Florida and the Gulf regions Reduced labor with the perennial rice is a huge benefit to areas with small farms and limited mechanization However even in the highly mechanized U S the rice has significant benefits in soil retention and carbon sequestration The Land Institute has made developing perennial crops a central component of their regenerative farming efforts Developing Kernza from native wheat grass was their first significant success While research continues into that crop it has moved from plots to farm fields and is being commercialized in brewing baking and other food products Unlike Kernza perennial rice is a cross between a domesticated Asian rice and a wild rice relative from Africa Kimbler explains that mapping the genome for rice was key to the project’s success as it was for Kernza Going forward it will speed up the development of other varieties “Once you have a perennial variety that’s functioning you can select within its genetic diversity for alternative seed size and other characteristics ” says Kimbler “Currently they’re working with paddy rice We’re very interested in upland rice for a host of ecological impacts associated with paddy rice ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup The Land Institute 2440 E Water Well Rd Salina Kan 67401 ph 785-823-5376; www landinstitute org
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