According to Hayden Montgomery, director of the Global Methane Hub’s agriculture program, the demand for rice is projected to grow by 25% by 2050.
Without new low-emission strategies, methane emissions could increase by an estimated 7% by 2030.
Till now, strategies like AWD, in which fields are intermittently drained, have been promoted as ways to save water and, more recently, reduce methane emissions.
However, such strategies have not delivered the necessary reductions at scale to significantly alter our course.
“It’s essential that we develop ways to meet current and future demand without the same level of emissions to ensure the sustainability of one of the world’s most important crops,” Montgomery told AgTechNavigator.
AWD, for instance, has been difficult to implement, especially in regions with many smallholders.
“AWD relies on farmers having a reliable water supply, and some degree of control of the water such as an irrigation system, which many small-scale producers do not have. Given that 90% of the world’s rice is grown in Asia, where 144 million smallholder farms account for most of production, it’s essential that strategies fit their needs and circumstances.”
New accelerator
On November 6, the Global Methane Hub launched a “globally coordinated research accelerator” dedicated to realising innovations that reduce methane emissions from rice cultivation with compromising yield and profitability.
“Several research organisations have historically worked towards low-emissions rice but solutions to date have faced challenges that hold back widespread adoption. The Accelerator aims to invest in new methods and varieties that meet farmers’ needs according to their unique circumstances,” Montgomery said.
“We saw both a gap and an urgent need for a globally coordinated effort to fast-track innovations that reduce methane emissions from rice farming without compromising yields and livelihoods. Cutting methane emissions from all sectors is increasingly critical if we are to limit global temperature increases in the short-term, and farming is no exception. Along with livestock production, rice farming is one of the main sources of agricultural methane.”
The accelerator will be backed by an initial investment of $30m from the Hub.
According to the press statement, the development of this roadmap will be assisted through the support of The Rockefeller Foundation with a convening to be hosted at its Bellagio Center.
“In 2026, leaders in innovation, policy, emissions measurement, finance, philanthropic, and private sectors will meet at The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center to collaborate and identify solutions that can scale impact across the rice ecosystem.”
Initially, the accelerator will focus on developing a strategy for improving the readiness and real-world performance of emerging solutions.
“This strategy is expected to be published in early 2026 and we expect that the first accelerator-funded projects will be announced soon afterwards,” said Montgomery.
Additionally, it aims to foster partnerships across the existing rice research centres, such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and AfricaRice.
The accelerator aims to raise at least $100 million in philanthropic, public and private sector funding.
It already has secured funding from the likes of the Gates Foundation, Philanthropy Asia Alliance, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory.
“In the long-term, success would mean the delivery of new, viable and attractive low-emission rice varieties and/or growing techniques that smallholder farmers can adopt at scale. It would mean reducing methane while still meeting growing demand and supporting rural livelihoods.”
